The protest in the village of Lützerath, which fell victim to the planned lignite mining, can now also have financial consequences for the climate activists. “Of course, all disruptors must take into account a claim for damages,” said the spokesman for the energy company RWE, Guido Steffen, from the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”. However, the final damage caused in connection with the eviction is not yet available.
For days, hundreds of demonstrators who wanted to prevent open-pit mining of lignite waged a bitter battle against the police. According to RWE, there was significant property damage during the protest and subsequent evacuation. Among other things, the group’s vehicles and systems were scrapped. Several wells and switchgear were also destroyed. The company has now announced civil legal action against the activists.
Mayor threatens disciplinary action
Meanwhile, the mayor of Erkelenz, Stephan Muckel, is threatened with disciplinary proceedings. The head of the city had defied the instruction to issue a residence and entry ban before the eviction. Heinsberg district spokeswoman Jennifer Grünter said a possible opening of disciplinary proceedings has not yet been decided. The State Secretary of the Municipal Ministry of North Rhine-Westphalia, Daniel Sieveke, had previously stated that there was certainly a legal facet in such cases.
The mayor was commissioned as a state body and not as the head of his community, which has been against open-cast lignite mining for many years, the “Frankfurter Allgemeine” reported. He therefore “has no right to object to the municipality or to seek legal protection”, according to the State Secretary. If a public official deliberately violates his or her duties, it is a crime. However, the specific case is still under review.
Source: Krone
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