Swiss Review 5/2018

Swiss Review / September 2018 / No.5 18 Society tims were promised a solidarity con- tribution of 25,000 Swiss francs. More than 9,000 of the mostly elderly vic- tims have filed for a solidarity pay- ment (see also “Review” 4/2018). Rita Soltermann is one of them. Does the federal government’s gesture of solidarity change the view of one’s own fate? It is not so simple, Rita Soltermann says. Recognition of the injustice suffered is indeed very important. But ultimately there can- not be any actual reparation. “The ex- perience as a child not to have felt love and never to have been hugged cannot be undone.” The memory of the distress she felt as a youngmother having to fight to prevent her own child being taken away cannot be erased either. The federal govern- ment’s solidarity contribution is im- portant, “but at the same time it is just a small gesture that does not make the scars go away.” The dilemma that reparation can- not put everything right has also been addressed by victims’ organisations. Robert Blaser of the organisation Fremdplatziert said that the state had done much, but also underestimated many things, such as the defensive re- action to everything official. “For many, the authorities – government, canton, municipality and church – are in the role of perpetrator. And many could not understandwhy the ‘perpe- trator’ wanted to give them money.” The solidarity contribution also rep- resented “a recognition of injustice” rather than an improvement in living conditions. Blaser goes as far as to say that for victims in a precarious life sit- uation the contribution is “disas- trous”, describing it as “five months’ wages for awrecked life”. For him that is not reparation. Luzius Mader, charged by the federal government with the dossier, does not completely contradict that – he calls it a gesture of solidarity and not reparation (see Interview, page 19). Appeal to the farmers Werner Zwahlen of the Netzwerk ver- dingt says solidarity payments cannot change any person’s life history. His network had hoped for a pension solu- tion instead of a one-time payment. Small, monthly subsidieswould “have made a greater difference to the past”, he says. Zwahlen and his fellow cam- paigners also say that it is not enough for the federal government alone to feel committed to a historical reap- praisal. Municipalities, cantons and farming organisations are hesitant in tackling their task of reappraisal. Kurt Gäggeler of the Netzwerk verdingt makes the criticism that as far as the farmers are concerned, the point is to “rehabilitate the farms, or free them from the curse of the past”. There is probably no basis for discussion on that yet – Hans Jörg Rüeggsegger, pres- ident of themajor farmers’ association in Bern, recently responded to Gägge- ler’s claim, saying that he did not know of any farms that felt stigma- tised because of the past. Daniel Huber of the Radgenossen- schaft der Landstrasse (the Jenisch umbrella organisation), which cam- paigns for the welfare of the Jenisch and Sinti, agrees that state reparation alone is not sufficient. Money as a ges- ture of solidarity is “all right and proper”. But particularly the Jenisch and Sinti who are still travelling are shown little understanding in their daily life. Huber said, “The living space for travellers is becoming ever scarcer, farmers are under more and more pressure not to permit them to set up camp.” The contrast between the be- nevolent attitude of the federal gov- ernment and everyday reality is just too great. Granny in a sea of flowers Back in Niederönz, Rita Soltermann describes other facets of a lifewithout a childhood. She did not meet her youngest sister until she was 68 years old. That shows how much one as a contract child belongs to “a family without a common history”, she says. And she talks about how easily the vi- olence and incivility suffered are passed on, “It was only in hindsight that I realised I was a very strict motherwho also dished out the lashes at times,” she says. She regrets that to- day, but says people carry the cruelty they have suffered within them. Nev- ertheless, she also speaks of great hap- piness – she feels secure today at her husband’s side, aware of being sur- rounded by a loving family. Obviously, some things are turn- ing out well. The “Söiritterin” from back then now lovingly devotes her- self to her flowers and has become “Margritli-Grosi” – Flower Granny. That is what her grandchildren call their grandmother when Rita Solter- mann smiles at them fromamidst her elaborate floral arrangements.