FREEDOM FOR BERNARD RAPPAZ
Bernard
Rappaz, a pioneer of cannabis cultivation and manufacturing in
Switzerland, has been in hunger strike since 14 November 2001. That day,
he was arrested in what seems an ultimate manoeuvre of (regional)
authorities to silence him, whereas a new law proposal is currently
underway in Switzerland, making cannabis cultivation, distribution and
consumption virtually legal under certain conditions. Bernard has been one
of the people who made this possible, and it seems that his opponents now
have grabbed the last chance to punish him for it.
On 31 december
2001 an international chain of solidarity hungerstrikes started. The goal
is to obtain media attention in Switzerland and put pressure on the local
legal authorities.
At the same time, the Swiss Cannabis activists
are asking you to sign the following petition and send it to the Swiss
authorities.
PETITION: FREEDOM FOR BERNARD RAPPAZ
Bernard Rappaz is the leader of a legally established company in Martigny,
Switzerland, called Valchanvre, which is producing and selling products
containing cannabis (perfume, massage oil, food, beer, wine and others).
In his village, Rappaz and the approx. 20 farmers who produce cannabis
for Valchanvre are considered as maffiosi, just because they are cultivating
an illegal plant. A plant which, according to an increasing amount of
scientific evidence, possesses extremely useful medicinal values.
On 14 November 2001, Bernard Rappaz was arrested. Since then, an exaggerated
legal action is treating this man and his team as criminals, which will
cause his firm to go bankrupt. Meanwhile the Swiss parliament is preparing
the approval of a new legislation this year, which will legalise cultivation,
distribution and consumption of cannabis products.
Since the day of his arrest, Rappaz has started a hungerstrike which is
now reaching a critical moment. We are deeply concerned that Swiss authorities
will sacrifice the life of a human being for a law which soon will be
outdated.
Therefore, we urge you to let Bernard Rappaz go and give him a fair trial.
Please sign the petition and send it to:
1. The nearest Swiss Embassy (To check the address of the embassy closest
to you, check: [http://www.eda.admin.ch/repadd/g/home/emb/addch.html]
2. Boris Ryser of the Swiss Cannabis Consumers Association: fdcc@freesurf.ch
You can find more information on:[http://www.multimania.com/fdcc/homepage.htm]
Or call ++41 79 314 42 26
To participate in the hungerstrike chain, please mail to: liberezrappaz@cannabismail.com
ou fdcc @dplanet.ch
Pétition publiée par Encod (Belgique )
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