By NOELA EBOB BISONG
Members of the Brigade Anti Sardinard, as well as some Ambazonian and opposition activists and other Cameroonians in the diaspora who began planning on a mass anti-Biya protest once Cameroon’s President, Paul Biya landed in Switzerland, may not have been too satisfied with the turn-out of events on the much awaited ‘big day’. This is because their protest on Saturday, June 29, 2019, staged around the Intercontinental hotel at the United Nations’ European headquarters where the Cameroon Presidential couple is believed to be temporarily residing, was met with a stiff resistance by elements of the Swiss police, wherein tear gaz and water canon were used to disperse the protesting crowd of about 250 people.
The Cameroonian nationals who comprised the group came from various European countries to demonstrate against the presence of Cameroon’s President Paul Biya in Geneva.
According to the Switzerland Police spokesman Silvain Guillaume-Gentil, officers fired tear gas after a group of protesters attempted to break through police lines to reach the hotel. He said several protesters were affected by the chemicals but nobody was injured or arrested.
Reports on Saturday revealed that due to the protest, Geneva was to an extent paralysed, especially around the protest areas. “Several Buses have been parked along the road. Many people are going about their activities on foot”, a source revealed.
The move by the Swiss police it is held was due to the fact that the protesters decided to break the barrier and move on the road which led to the Intercontinental Hotel, which was said to be prohibited, as they were supposed to be around the Broken Chair at the Nations.
The Geneva protest, meant to disrupt and dislodge President Biya from his temporary residence in Switzerland also met a counter demonstration from some Biya/CPDM loyalists, who equally stormed the protest ground to ‘defend’ their champion.
Shortly after the protest, the members of the Brigade Anti Sardinard are said to have made a declaration and forwarded to the Swiss Federation, in which they highlighted certain key issues, including such as; accusing the Swiss Federation of complicity with Cameroon to abuse their rights, gives the Swiss Federation three days to ensure president Biya leaves Switzerland, pledge to continue the protest after the third day should president Biya continue his stay at the hotel which they described as his second home, approves the Swiss government’s intention to mediate peace in Cameroon but on the conditions that all political prisons are released etc.
As the anti-Biya protest was on in Geneva Switzerland, The SUN gathered that some Cameroonians were also demonstrating in front of the Swiss Embassy in Yaoundé with placards, expressing their displeasure with the turn-out of events in Switzerland, notably the disrespect being shown to their President, Paul Biya.
The government of Cameroon in a statement on June 29, 2019, urged Cameroonians to rise and condemn the protest against President Biya in Switzerland. According to the Minister of Communication, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, the BAS group planned “to frustrate the stay of the Presidential couple in Switzerland”, condemning it as unacceptable. The Minister, on behalf of government, described the protesters as “unpatriotic”, while accusing the protesters of tarnishing Cameroon’s image in the diaspora.
Also, Jean Nkwette, Secretary General of the Central Committee of President Biya’s party the CPDM condemned the riot, describing it as barbaric.