On November 29 the Swiss will vote, for the third time since 1972, on banning the export of weapons and other military material. The government has recommended voters reject the initiative.
THE INITIATIVE
The November 29 vote is on a people’s initiative calling for a ban and transit of war materiel from Switzerland. More specifically it seeks to ban the export of small arms, military training aircraft and obsolete military equipment no longer used by the Swiss Armed Forces.
The ban would not apply to hunting and sport weapons, demining systems, goods temporarily exported by the Swiss authorities and those for civil protection.
The initiative also stipulates that the government provide economic support for regions affected by the ban, mainly the cantons of Nidwalden, Zurich, Thurgau, Bern and Lucerne.
The initiative was launched by the pacific Group for Switzerland without an Army and filed in September 2007, and has been signed by over 109,224 citizens.
In 1997 a similar initiative to ban arms exports was rejected by three out of four voters.
THE CURRENT SITUATION
War materials cannot be exported to countries involved in an internal or international armed conflict, or those systematically and seriously violating human rights.
No sales are allowed to developing states that also receive development assistance or if there is a strong risk that weapons will be used against civilians or sold to another destination.
The Group for Switzerland without an Army feels that these restrictions are inadequate and do not prevent weapons that are manufactured in Switzerland from being used in countries at war.
Luc Recordon, Green party senator for canton Vaud, has come out in favour of the proposal, saying Switzerland’s role is to contribute to global disarmament efforts.
In August 2008, the cabinet recommended voters reject the people’s initiative and clarified how existing legislation, which in theory already restricts the export of weapons to certain states, would be applied.
Economics Minister Doris Leuthard warned against acceptance of the initiative, arguing that Swiss technical innovation was at stake in addition to the industry’s 5,100 jobs.
In 2008 Switzerland exported materiel worth a record SFr722 million ($695 million) to more than 70 countries.
