Belgian environmental associations accuse energy giants of intimidation

Energy giants Engie and TotalEnergies are trying to intimidate activists, according to a joint statement from 15 Belgian civil society organisations.

“These companies are threatening legal action against supporters of the Code Red civil disobedience movement, which names these energy giants as potential targets for their actions planned between 24 and 28 October,” the statement reads.

Code Red is a civil disobedience movement supported by various organisations, and recently announced plans for major actions at the end of October.

In previous years, those actions included occupying important energy sites, which the energy companies claim resulted in damage.

The demonstrations are supported by numerous climate protection associations, including Greenpeace and Extinction Rebellion.

A few weeks ago, members of the boards of several associations supporting Code Red actions received letters from TotalEnergies and Engie warning that "should any damage be found in the future, your personal liability as a director of a member association of the coalition could be called into question".

The letters, which were shared with AFP, call for recipients to “re-evaluate your support or participation in any new action. We would like to inform you that in the event of involvement in Code Red actions, Engie and its subcontractors again reserve the right to take any legal action they deem necessary.”

Recipients say the "unacceptable" intimidation tactics are part of a "worrying" trend towards the criminalisation of social movements and defenders of human rights and the environment, particularly in Belgium.

“Fossil fuel companies are accelerating climate change, putting lives at risk in order to generate colossal profits – after years of advocacy and mobilisation, we feel that it is legitimate for citizens to resort to the non-violent method of civil disobedience,” said Damien Charles, mobilisation officer for campaign group Quinoa.

“These threats bear witness to the effectiveness of Code Red actions, which have already targeted Engie and TotalEnergies in the past, and only serve to strengthen our support for the movement.”

For the 15 associations behind the joint statement condemning the letters, these threats are serious and increasingly frequent.

“It is unprecedented for companies to directly target NGO board members and send them threats,” said Jo Dirix, campaigner for Vredesactie.

“In a democracy, a critical civil society, of which we are a part, represents interests that go beyond corporate profits. We serve the public interest and defend a society in which conflicts are not resolved by violence, threats or intimidation.”

Last February, the UN's international climate rapporteur estimated that violence and threats against associations or citizens who demonstrated civil disobedience were increasing and "undermining human rights and democracy".