The Titlis cable cars have not implemented an earlier retrofitting recommendation from the gondola manufacturer Garaventa and Switzerland is the world’s most frequently confronted with torture complaints to the UN – the Sunday news.
Mar 22, 2026, 7:43 a.mMar 22, 2026, 7:43 a.m
Switzerland is the most frequently pilloried by the UN for torture
According to an analysis by the “SonntagsZeitung”, Switzerland has been confronted with torture complaints to the UN most frequently in the world. In recent years she has had to appear before the UN Committee against Torture 133 times. Most of the complaints came from rejected asylum seekers who wanted to prevent their deportation and claimed the risk of torture. According to constitutional law professor Markus Schefer from the University of Basel, this does not mean that there are particularly many human rights violations in Switzerland. Rather, the high number shows that the legal system in this country works. “It is worth filing a complaint here because the UN’s decisions are taken seriously here,” said Schefer to the “SonntagsZeitung”. Another reason for the many complaints is the high density of NGOs and specialized lawyers in Switzerland and the fact that UN human rights proceedings are relatively well known here.
Titlis railways have not implemented the recommended retrofitting
According to the “SonntagsZeitung”, the Titlis railways have not implemented a non-mandatory retrofitting recommendation from the manufacturer Garaventa. This was sent to operators after a similar accident on the Rotenfluebahn in 2019. At that time, as in the current accident in Engelberg, a gondola presumably collided with a mast after strong winds and was torn off the rope. Both systems used the same type of clamp, where a strong swing could lever the gondola out of the rope. According to the report, the retrofitting would have been done with an attachment on the clamp. Titlis CEO Norbert Patt told the newspaper: “However, it was not a compelling safety-related request to retrofit.” Therefore, no conversion was carried out, and the manufacturer did not refer to the 2019 accident in its recommendation. It is currently unclear whether there is a connection between the two events.
Titlis CEO rejects allegations of pressure in the industry
According to statements by CEO Norbert Patt in “SonntagsBlick”, the technical manager of the Titlis Railways and other employees are being looked after by a care team after the gondola accident on Wednesday. “The technical manager is responsible and makes the final decision as to whether the system will be discontinued or not,” said Patt in an interview with the newspaper. This professional independence is clearly regulated and consistently respected. He has never intervened in such decisions; security always comes before economic considerations. Regarding possible errors by the technical director, he urged caution and said that this is currently being checked. The mood in the company is subdued. A communication platform has been set up on the intranet through which the team can exchange ideas.
Universities warn against SVP template
According to “SonntagsBlick”, the Swissuniversities university association warns of a weakening of Switzerland as an educational location in view of the SVP’s “10 million initiative”. The initiative creates chaos in legislation, unsettles partners and weakens the economy and universities, said Swissuniversities President Luciana Vaccaro in an interview with the newspaper. “In the end there are only losers.” The SVP initiative, which will be voted on on June 14th, threatens to trigger the so-called guillotine clause. If the population is 9.5 million or more, the Federal Council would have to massively restrict immigration and even terminate international contracts with 10 million or more. “If we reach the 10 million mark and have to terminate contracts relating to people, we risk being excluded again from Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Digital Europe or Euratom. That would be devastating,” warned Vaccaro.
More about this:
Accusations of sexism among the GC women
According to “SonntagsBlick”, the GC women’s football department has ordered an external investigation following allegations against several officials. According to this, the former sports director Erich Vogel is said to have invited female players to his home, among other things for contract discussions and training as trainers; The allegations are not criminally relevant, but have been criticized as inappropriate by several circles close to the club. Further allegations concern President Heinz Spross, who is said to have made an inappropriate comment about a player in front of the team. In addition, today’s junior head of the GC Women was banned from the stadium by the FCZ, as the club confirmed to the newspaper. He is not allowed to attend FCZ women’s home games in the Letzigrund and Heerenschürli stadiums. In a statement on behalf of the management and board, managing director Lauryn Reuber said: “We do not tolerate any violations of the ethical guidelines of Swiss sport.”
Ex-CS President Rohner no longer works for Jewish organizations
According to “NZZ am Sonntag”, former CS President Urs Rohner is no longer working as an advisor to the World Jewish Congress. His name can no longer be found on the WJC website. According to his spokesman, the committee was never activated and a meeting never took place. The fact that the former CS president was praised by the WJC in June 2023 for having persuaded the CS to reappraise its past caused irritation. The background is threats from Jewish organizations against UBS with lawsuits over allegedly newly discovered Nazi accounts at Credit Suisse’s predecessor banks. UBS has therefore applied to New York District Judge Edward Korman for confirmation that the 1999 global settlement also covers any such new revelations. A corresponding ruling would protect UBS from further lawsuits. Thomas Borer, who was involved in the settlement at the time, believes the legal situation is clear and says that possible perpetrator accounts are also covered by the settlement.
Disasters and smartphones: Researchers warn against encapsulation
According to the “NZZ am Sonntag”, the accumulation of accidents – the fire catastrophe in Crans-Montana, the post bus attack in Kerzers and now the gondola accident in Engelberg – has made the population increasingly tired. Together with the constant distraction of smartphones, there is a sense of isolation, as Dirk Helbing, professor of computer-aided social sciences at ETH Zurich, explained to the newspaper. “People have become less attentive in everyday life,” Helbing was quoted as saying. This increases the likelihood that they will cause accidents or not act correctly at the crucial moment. He said that the international crises played an important role in the perception of the accidents: the wars in Iran, Gaza, Sudan, the violations of established rules, the rise of authoritarian powers. Switzerland used to be able to say that it could keep the big problems away. Now the world seems to be falling apart at the front door.
Further allegations against Basel solar bankrupt
According to “Le Matin Dimanche”, Laurin Fäh has been confronted with additional allegations of forgery of documents. The Geneva public prosecutor’s office has expanded the previous allegations of unfaithful business management and abuse of trust accordingly. Fäh is president of PrimeEnergy Cleantech, a Basel-based company for photovoltaic systems, whose bankruptcy affected over 120 million francs from around 2,000 small investors from French-speaking Switzerland. According to the public prosecutor’s office, a personal holding company is said to have siphoned off tens of millions of francs at the expense of investors. Fäh “strongly denies these new allegations,” the newspaper quoted his lawyer Fanny Margairaz as saying. The businessman has been in custody since September. In addition, he had already been convicted of forging documents in Basel-Landschaft in the past, the newspaper wrote. (sda/con)