Jurassic Question

In Suisse the Jurassic question is related to the conflict between the Jurassic People and the Canton of Bern which appeared by many conflict events so much cultural, religious and social which was held as of the annexation of old the Évêché of Basle by the Congrès of Vienna to the Canton of Bern. These events took an exceptional intensity in Suisse in second half of the 20th century and of which one of the results was creation, at least in its septentrional part, of the Canton of the Jura by the separation of Bern. It is still not solved.

History

Of 999 with 1792

In 999, Rodolphe III of Burgundy offered the Abbaye of Moutier-Grandval and its dependences to the Évêché of Basle ((current districts of Courtelary, Delémont, Frank-Mountains, Laufon, Moutier, Neuveville and Porrentruy).

Until the beginning of the 13th century, the princes-évèques of Basle exerted at the same time a power Temporel and spiritual on these areas, although they could never maintain on the whole of their grounds a strong unit.

Between the 13th century and the 15th century the town of Bern, continuing its expansionist policy, concludes from alliances with the bourgeoisies several cities of the south from évêché, which thereafter were transformed into treaties of combourgeoisy. The latter guaranteed a mutual military engagement between the entities in the event of conflict.

These alliances have weakens the temporal power of the princes-évèques on several cities: Bienne, which exerted thereafter its influence on the Erguël, concludes a treaty from combourgeoisy in 1353, Neuveville in 1388 and Moutier in 1486, following a different monk. For this last, the treaty of combourgeoisy will be renewed 13 times until 1774. Consequently, the reformed areas will profit from a certain freedom that their political affiliation of the Principality but without the constraints denominational related to the bishop which they will cherish and especially will once regret the disappeared Principality.

The Réforme arrives in these areas at the same time as it extends in the remainder from the Suisse. Guillaume Farel goes to Tavannes in 1530 where it begins the establishment of Protestantism. The various parishes adopt the principles of the Reform. In the years 1570, the prince-bishop of Basle Jacques Christophe Blarer de Wartensee lance a Counter-Reformation in order to reunify politically and religieusement its évêché. It had thus tried to exchange the recatholisation of Moutier-Grandval in the exchange as of its rights on Bienne. But Bienne having been informed of this negotiation protested with vehemence and confirmed its allegiance with the Prince! It was especially a question for Bienne of not losing its invaluable autonomy which its membership of the Principality guaranteed to him…

Of 1792 with 1815

In 1792, the France seizes the territories of the Évêché of Basle, Vassal of the Saint Germanic Roman Empire. Is then founded the République rauracian, the first of many the republics sisters, and will gather the current districts of Delémont, Porrentruy, Frank-Mountains, Courtine, Laufon and the Birseck. It was dissolved the March 23rd 1793 and annexed by France to form the Department of the Mount-Terrible .

The Protestant areas of the south are saved because of their alliances with the Swiss Confédération (in particular Bern and Freiburg). This neutrality ends with the invasion of Switzerland by Napoleon in 1798. These areas and the town of Bienne are attached to the department of theTerrible one. In 1800, the Mount-Terrible east dissolves and its territories are attached to the department Haut-Rhin. Fastening perdure until 1814 with the fall of Napoleon and the Congress of Vienna.

1815 to 1947

Bern was resigned to the annexation of major the part of the old Principality on proposal of the great powers, after some reserves. Certain Bernese policies do not transfer an good eye the loss the loss of the Pays of Vaud and a Argovie and to see itself giving in compensation, according to a formula remained famous, “a malicious attic in the place of a cellar and a barn”. In spite of a will several times expressed in favor of the creation of an independent canton, in particular by the town of Bienne, the old grounds of Évêché of Basle were integrated into the canton of Bern.

Integration is not done without evil. Thus, before the advent of the Swiss Civil code in 1917, the canton of Bern imposes, against the agreements of the Congrès of Vienna, its civil code which must replace the Civil code French founded in 1792. This last, more complete and precise, is regretted compared to the Bernese code plus laxist who granted more blur in interpretation.

Since the middle of the 19th century until the medium of 20th, of the tensions appear on several occasions in the Jura. The origin of these dissatisfactions comes partly from religious and cultural dissentions. Xavier Stockmar, of Porrentruy, generates the first movement of separatism and libertarian in 1826, at one time when the Romantisme shines in Europe. He is the author of the anthem of the Canton of the Jura, Rauracienne . The second separatist movement made following the will of Bern and other cantons reformed to subject the Catholic church to the authority of the State, as for the church reformed before.

After the Swiss Kulturkampf in the Years 1870, another movement separatist appears to dispute the nationalization of the preserving Catholic church. These movements were made less violent one in other cantons because of the denominational homogeneity that did not know the canton of Bern, which had from now on part of its territory with catholic majority. Other separatist movements appear between 1917 and 1919.

From 1947 to 1974

The historians generally make reassemble current form of the Jurassic Question with 1947. The September 20th, the Grand the Council Bernese refuses to allot the Département of public works and the railroads to Jurassic the Georges Moeckli, against the opinion of the Executive council, under pretext which he speaks badly the Bernese dialect and which that would generate of the problems of communication. This attitude generated indignation and revolt in the Bernese Jura, in particular with Delémont where demonstrations took place.

Following that, a Comité of action for the defense of the rights of the Jura , which will be named later “Committee of Moutier”, is created in Delémont on October 2nd. This committee was charged to join together the political clouts of the areas Jurassic and to draw up the catalog of claims of it. In same time, the “Jurassic separatist Movement” is founded on November 30th, 1947 by the groups wishing a separation of with the old canton. In 1948, the Committee of Moutier publishes the report of the claims on the title “the Jurassic Question presented to the canton of Bern”, which requires a greater autonomy for the Bernese Jura within the Canton of Bern and the granting of constitutional guarantees of the linguistic minority.

The Jurassic separatist Movement becomes the Jurassic Rassemblement (RJ) and is constituted officially. It wishes to develop the feeling of separation of with the canton of Bern. In 1950, several amendments were presented to the people allowing the reinforcement of the the Bernese Jura , of which a modification of the Bernese Constitution which makes of French the single official language in the French-speaking districts. The Bernese electorate also recognizes the existence of “Jurassic people”. But the reforms appear insufficient with the Jurassic Gathering. This one then asks for the creation of a 23e Swiss canton.

The RJ defends with force its will of separation and autonomy and this resentment, sometimes violent. In answer to the Jurassic Gathering, the antiseparatists mediums found the “Union of the Jurassic patriots” in 1952.

During the winter 1957-1958, RJ lance a cantonal initiative in order to organize in the Jura a popular consultation on the problem of the autonomy, which passes in voting on July 5th, 1959. The RJ essuie of extreme accuracy a failure. He insists on massive immigration the Germanic ones during the 19th century which would have influenced the votes.

In 1963 two separatist movements appear, the “Face of release of the Jura”, which asserts smearings and fires of farms, and the Groupe Ram formed of separatist youth.

August 30th, 1964 in Rangiers, on the commune of Saint-Ursanne, the commemoration of old mobilized wars of 1914-1918 and 1939-1945 is stopped by several thousands of separatist demonstrators. The federal adviser Paul Chaudet and the adviser of State Virgile Moine cannot finish their speech, are insulted.

In 1966, three member of the FLJ, whose Marcel Boillat who is responsible for an attempt at sabotage of the railway line Bienne - Bern, are condemned. July 16th, 1968, the Council-executive Bernese creates the “Commission of the good officess”, made up of max Petitpierre, Friedrich Traugott Wahlen, Pierre Graber and Raymond Broger and is charged to bring the parts to an agreement. It is put at evil by the branches separatist extremists which categorically refuse to come into contact with it. At the same time, the Bernese Government forms a “Commission of Twenty-four”, charged to present a plan of payment of the Jurassic Question . It will present his report/ratio in 1968. On its side, the Commission of the good officess publishes his first report in 1969.

Vis-a-vis eagerness between the separatist mediums and antiseparatists, the “Movement for the unit of the Jura”, neutral part, appears during the summer 1969. This “Third Force” preaches the granting of a broad statute of autonomy of the Jura within the framework of the canton of Bern, a compromise between the two parts. But it had only one weak impact for this period and the majority of its members were disparaged by one or the other part of the conflict like “traitors”.

Following these two reports/ratios, a constitutional additive passes in popular voting and is accepted on March 1st, 1970. It determines the methods of a procedure of self-determination in the Bernese Jura in three stages of voting, or plebiscites.

First plebiscite: Decision of the 7 districts concerned to create a new canton
Second plebiscite:
# In the event of not in the whole of the Jura, the districts having voted yes can revoter to separate from the old canton.
# In the event of yes in the whole of the Jura, the districts having voted not can revoter to choose to remain in the old canton.
Third plebiscite: Following these two votes, the communes bordering with the new border can choose, on referendum, to remain in the Canton of Bern or in the Canton of the Jura

This proposal for “a vote in cascade”, although little disputed at the time its voting, was highly criticized thereafter by the separatist mediums, since it caused the division of the Jurassic people. New blows of glares are made by the Groupe Ram: in particular occupation of embassies or actions of mass.

Always by reaction, the Group Wild boar (young people antiseparatists) is created in 1973 in answer to the Groupe Ram. The same year, during the examination of the statute of autonomy recommended by the Commission of good officess , the Grand the Council Bernese rejects, following in that the separatists, any federalisation of the Canton of Bern. The date of the first plebiscite is fixed at the June 22nd and 23rd 1974.

From 1974 to 1979

The first plebiscite, which proposes the creation of a new canton, is fixed at the 22 and June 23rd 1974. The separatist waves of intimidation and anti-separatists limit themselves with this vote. A new antiseparatist group is born from the UPJ, “Democratic force” (FD), aiming at preserving the bonds with the Canton of Bern. June 22nd in the night, the Jurassic Question makes its first victim, Maurice Wicht, young person a 23 year old is cut down by a anti-separatist to have hoisted the Jurassien flag. At the evening of the 23, a majority emerges in favor of creation of a new canton. The separatists calm the play by hoping that theBernese ones will agree to work with the construction of the new canton.

If, in the 3 districts of north, Delémont, Porrentruy and Frank-Mountains, the yes is largely majority, it is the reverse which occurs in the 3 districts of the south and Laufonnais. The anti-separatists initiate the procedure of the under-plebiscites. The second plebiscite will determine if the four districts remain in the old canton or will follow the 3 districts of north. A new wave of violence settles at the time of the installation of the second votes by plebiscite on March 16th, 1975. These actions are centered on confusions of apartments and attacks to the explosive.

With the plebiscite of March 16th, 1975, the districts of Moutier, Courtelary, Neuveville and Laufon decide to remain in the canton of Bern. The communes being located at the new cantonal border between the future canton of the Jura and that of Bern will be able to choose to remain or not in their district.

Scuffles occur before and during the third plebiscite, in particular with Moutier, (named thereafter “events of Moutier”) between 1st and on September 8th and the Bernese police force (Bernese pomegranates) interveniennent in muscular manner and this even against the opinion of the communal authorities, however largely anti-separatists then.

3rd plebiscite, Rebévelier joined the Bernese district of Moutier, 8 communes leave the District of Moutier (Courrendlin, Châtillon, Corban, Courchapoix, Mervelier and Rossemaison integrates the District of Delémont and Genevez, Lajoux that of the Frank-Mountains), Roggenburg joined that of Laufon.

Between 1975 and 1976, other separatist actions and anti-separatists mark out the calendar, in particular in Tavannes and Moutier. In 1976, the constituent Assembly of the Republic and Canton of the Jura are elected. The electorate of the canton of Bern accepts the basic project constitutional for the canton in its new borders.

June 21st, 1977, the two federal rooms accept the new constitution of the canton of the Jura, except article 138 which benefit not of the federal guarantee, by “incompatibility with the spirit of federal solidarity”. This article guaranteed the acceptance of Toute part of the Jurassic territory directly concerned with the poll of June 23rd, 1974 if this part regularly separated taking into consideration right and federal right of the interested canton.

The Swiss people accept in September 1978 the creation of the new canton by 82,3% of yes.

Since 1979

At January 1st, 1979 the Canton of the Jura enters in sovereignty. March 5th, the first two deputies with the the Council of the States, Roger Schaffter and Pierre Gassmann lend oath.

The fate of the District of Laufon remains open (maintenance in the Canton of Bern or fastening with the cantons of Basle-City, Basle-Countryside or Soleure) until 1989 when he chooses fastening with Basle-Countryside, which is done in 1994. But this fastening Pu to be done only following the revelations related to the scandal of the Bernese black cases. It is not less than 1 million Swiss francs which were illegally distributed to the Bernese loyal supporters for one period going from 1974 to 1982. The legal procedure prevented the Jurassic ones remained Bernese of revoter. The government believed that by presenting the Republic and Canton of the Jura as injured, the weight would be larger. But the Federal court refused to broach subject since the Republic did not exist at the time of the facts. For laufonnais, they were three citizens who stood as plaintiffs and the Court broached subject. This poked the feeling of a discrimination of the Jurassic French-speaking people against the Germanic ones.

In March 1993, following the death of a young Jurassic militant related to the Jurassic Question, the Federal council, the Bernese Government and the Jurassic Government sets up an independent commission called of the name of its president, Mr. Widmer, charged with establishing a way towards the resolution of the Jurassic Question. One year later, the report is clear: the division of the Jurassic People was an error and the commission proposes the reunification from here the year 2000. Dramatic turn of events in March 1994, the “Parliament interjurassienne” east creates with an aim of solving the Jurassic Question. Initially, it is a question of promoting the dialog and collaboration between the Canton of the Jura and the the Bernese Jura. It is a true treason, the commission having been formed by the implied governments (the Jura, Bern and Confédération) but the conclusions were not respected!

In the tread, the agreement of March 25th granting right to the commune of Vellerat, then in the District of Moutier and which had not been able to take part in the 3rd plebiscite not to have had a border with the canton of the Jura at the time, to join this last after more than twenty of fight.

An important hearth of separatism remains, in particular downtown of Moutier, whose majority of the authorities is separatist since 1982. In 1998, at the time of an advisory vote, the citizens of Moutier rejected accuracy the fastening of their commune to the canton of the Jura, But more than 200 blank votes let believe that it is more the solution communalist than fastening in the Jura which was sanctioned. In 1989 is deposited the initiative TO LINK by the movements separatists for a fastening of the current Bernese Jura to the canton of the Jura. It will be disputed by Bern and the Federal court will give him reason. The deactivation of the law while rising will be one of the concessions which the Jura made within the framework of the agreement of March 25th, 1994. Then in 2003 the Jurassic initiative " Only one Jura" , adopted by the Jurassic Parliament against the opinion of its Government in 2004 the study of a new state imposed on six districts by the Interjurassienne Parliament.

The Jurassiens separatists will see themselves progressively rehabilitated elections in the Bernese Jura and in 2006,5 communes have a separatist mayor at their head. At the time of the elections to the government of this year there, the Jurassic Bernese ones voted by plebiscite the separatist mayor of Moutier, Maxime Zuber, but its election was not possible because of the voters of the old canton to the profit of Mr. Perrenoud.

In 2007, the Interjurassienne Parliament begins finally the study for the resolution of the Jurassic Question with three option, the reunification, two demicantons, and the status quo with an increased collaboration.

Chronology

1947 Creation of the Committee of Moutier which draws up the catalog of the Jurassic claims.
1948 Publication of the claims of the Committee of Moutier under the title “the Jurassic Question presented to the canton of Bern”.
1949 the separatist movement becomes the Jurassic Rassemblement and is constituted officially.
1950 Revision of the Bernese Constitution: the existence of “Jurassic people” is recognized by the electorate of the canton of Bern.
1952 Dissolution of the Committee of Moutier.
the 1952 antiseparatists mediums found the Union of the Jurassic patriots (UPJ).
1957 the Jurassic Gathering decides to launch a cantonal initiative in order to organize in the Jura a popular consultation on the problem of autonomy.
1959 the initiative of the Jurassic Gathering is rejected by the electorate.
1963 Appearance of the Face of release of the Jura (FLJ) which asserts smearings and fires of farms.
1963 Foundation of the Group Ram (young separatists).
1964 the federal adviser Paul Chaudet is chahuté in Rangiers by several thousands of separatist demonstrators.
1966 Judgment of the three members of the Face of release of the Jura.
1967 the Bernese Government forms a “Commission of Twenty-four”, charged to present a plan of payment of the Jurassic Question , as well as a “Commission of good officess”, made of former magistrates external with the canton.
1968 the “Commission of the Twenty-four” presents his report/ratio.
1969 the Commission of good officess chaired by max Petitpierre publishes his first report.
1969 Constitution of the Movement for the Unit of the Jura (Third Force), from which the goal is the granting of a broad statute of autonomy of the Jura within the framework of the canton of Bern.
1970 Adoption in popular voting of a constitutional additive determining the methods of a procedure of self-determination in the Jura.
1973 Foundation of the group Wild boar (young people antiseparatists)
1973 During the examination of the statute of autonomy recommended by the Commission of good officess, the Great Bernese Council rejects any federalisation of the Canton of Bern.
1974 Votes by plebiscite of June 23rd: the creation of the canton of the Jura is approved by the electorate.
1974 Mort of Maurice Wicht, killed by a anti-separatist to have hoisted a Jurassic flag
1975 Votes by plebiscite of March 16th: The four districts of the the Bernese Jura (Moutier, Courtelary, Neuveville and Laufon) maintain their membership of the Canton of Bern.
1976 Election of the constituent Assembly of the Republic and canton of the Jura.
1976 the electorate of the Canton of Bern accepts the basic project constitutional for the canton in its new borders.
1977 Events of Moutier, brutal and disproportionate intervention of the Bernese police force against the separatists
1977 the people of the new canton approves the Constitution of the new State.
1978 the Bernese electorate accepts the modifications made to the Constitution of the Canton of Bern following the partition of the Jura.
1978 By 82,3% of the voices, the Swiss citizens approve the accession of the the Jura to the row of 23e canton of the Confederation.
1979 At January 1st, the Canton of the Jura enters in sovereignty. March 5th, the first two deputies with the Conseil of the States lend oath (Roger Schaffter and Pierre Gassmann).
1984 revelation of scandal of the Bernese Black Cases
1989 the district of Laufon decides its fastening with the canton of Basle-Countryside.
1993 Died of Christophe Bader in Bern in the explosion of its handmade bomb
1993 Report/ratio of the Widmer Independent commission, reconstitution of the Jurassic unit for 2000
1994 Creation by the Federal council, the Bernese Government and the Jurassic Government of a Parliament interjurassienne with an aim of settling the Jurassic Question politically.
1996 the " libre" commune; of Vellerat enters the Canton of the Jura after more than twenty years of fight.
1998 At the time of an advisory vote, the town of Moutier decides to remain in the canton of Bern.
2005 Initiative of the Movement Jurassic separatist " only one Jura" adopted by the Jurassic Parliament against the opinion of the Jurassic Government.
2006 Adption of the law " only one Jura" who elects the Parliament interjurassienne for the development of a project of new state to six districts.
2006 At the time of the cantonal elections and regional, the trust of the parties separatists becomes for the first time the first political clout of the Bernese Jura.
2006 Introduction of the the Council of the Bernese Jura, first regional Parliament of Switzerland
2007, the InterJurassienne Parliament (AIJ) will étudira the idea of two demicantons, one composed by the Republic of the Jura and the other composed of the current Bernese Jura while continuing the study of a unification.

Some protagonists

Genevieve Aubry, born in 1928, main housewife and journalist, appointed with the Large Bernese council, national adviser, founder and first president of the female Grouping of Democratic force.
Roland Béguelin (1921-1993), laid off in commercial economic scenes and, general secretary of the Jurassic Gathering, editor association of the “free Jura” (body of the Jurassic Gathering).
Ernst Jaberg (1917-1998), adviser Bernese d´État, in load of the department of communal justice and businesses , president of the commission on the Jurassic question.
François Lachat, born in 1942, laid off in political sciences, deputy with the Great Bernese council, chairs of the constituent Assembly of the Republic and canton of the Jura, member of the Jurassic Government, national adviser.
Andre Ory, born in 1924, laid off in mathematics and physics, vice-chancellor of the Canton of Bern, deputy to the Large Bernese council, ideologist of the antiseparatism. Article in the Dictionary of the Jura
Roger Schaffter (1917-1998), laid off in letters, deputy at the Jurassic Parliament, adviser in the States, the first editor association of the “free Jura”.
Roland Staehli, born in 1917, teacher, deputy with the Great Bernese Council, national adviser, author of Proclamation of the Union of the Jurassic patriots in 1952. Article in the Dictionary of the Jura

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