Letter to the Editor

The new year begins with a drum bang: The ICRC Museum in Geneva is to be discontinued due to budget problems. It may possibly be run in Abu Dhabi where there is more money although the tradition doesn’t really fit together.
  I am deeply moved by history of the Red Cross and its founder, Henry Dunant which is tightly woven with Swiss neutrality. Dunant experienced the bloodbath at the Battle of Solferino in Italy (1859) and the unbiased help of the civilians. They made no distinction between friend and enemy, all were human beings, brothers: Tutti fratelli! Dunant’s experience of war’s suffering and the deeply personal helpfulness could not be forgotten by Dunant. He gained the support of important personalities and could finally, together with General Henri Dufour, found the strictly neutral Red Cross, impartial and recognised by all war participants as an organisation of humanity in war. All of my visitors are taken to the ICRC museum – the best embodiment of neutrality in the context of war. The museum’s director, Pascal Hufschmid refers, in an interview in the “Wiler Zeitung” of 4 January to the Geneva Convention of 1864. It forms the basis of international humanitarian law. “All of this is part of Swiss DNA.” The museum incorporates the founding principles of Switzerland – peace, solidarity and the respect for human rights. These values – are they no longer needed anymore? All about us powers are revealing themselves in the purest way without any restraint. Today international law as well as the ICRC are increasingly being disrespected, staff killed. Do we want to be part of this inhumane development? There should be great resistance towards the Federal Council’s absurd austerity plans.

Renate Dünki, Oberwangen (TG)