Swiss clashes – “It is clearly a strategy of the Eritrean regime”

After the riots in Gerlafingen SO, experts and politicians agree: pro-regime events in Eritrea must be banned.

Source: 20 Minuten by Simon Ulrich

That’s what it’s about

• On the occasion of a festival on Easter Sunday in Gerlafingen SO, two groups of Eritreans clashed.
• In recent months there have been several riots at pro-regime events in Eritrea.
• An expert and two politicians are therefore calling for a ban on such events.

There were tumults in Gerlafingen on Easter Sunday . Around 350 supporters of the Eritrean ruler Isayas Afewerki celebrated a party in the Gerlafingerhof. At the same time, around 180 opponents of the regime, some of whom were armed with stones, iron bars and sticks, tried to disrupt the event. Using water cannons and tear gas, the police were able to prevent the two groups from clashing.

It wasn’t the first time that Eritreans clashed in Switzerland: last September, for example, there were riots in Opfikon ZH after friends of the Eritrean regime had gathered. In December, an Eritrean festival in the canton of Baselland also triggered a major police operation.

“Clear strategy of the regime”

According to Annelies Müller from the Giveahand.ch association, the accumulation is no coincidence: “It is clearly a strategy of the Eritrean regime, which wants to bring the Eritrean diaspora back under its control and discredit the opposition in order to maintain power.” The propaganda events disguised as private events are intended to deliberately provoke critics of the regime, says Müller. What apparently catches: “Such events, which are streamed on social media, increase the resentment among young refugees who suffered under the dictatorship and whose family members are still suffering.” Apparently a level has now been reached that is no longer acceptable for opponents of the regime.

According to Müller, the pro-regime events should have been banned long ago. But although there have been repeated clashes between the rival groups since the summer of 2022, the authorities have remained inactive, criticizes the Giveahand managing director: “They obviously don’t notice that a dictatorial regime is fueling the mood in the diaspora and thus public safety at risk.” Instead, they claim that these are private events that nothing can be done about. Müller is already warning about May 24th, Eritrea’s national holiday; Then things will probably be “really chlepfe” in this country.

Ban on pro-regime events called for

Solothurn SVP National Councilor Rémy Wyssmann is also in favor of an immediate ban on pro-regime Eritrea events . Their potential for escalation is obvious; two people, including a policewoman, were injured in Gerlafingen. “After the precedents of the last few months, I don’t understand why people don’t wise up and simply ban these events.” In the medium and long term, the residence status of Eritreans who take part in these festivals should also be checked. Because celebrating a dictator and at the same time claiming that their country is not safe – that doesn’t go together, says Wyssmann: “People with this attitude must be sent back to Eritrea.” The Neo-National Council also demands that transfer payments including development aid for Eritrea be stopped immediately: “The Federal Council must put pressure on the regime so that the rejected asylum seekers are finally taken back.”

Solothurn Central Canton Councilor Patrick Friker also considers it “unacceptable that conflicts that affect other countries are taking place in Switzerland”. Regime-friendly events in Eritrea should therefore at least be declared as requiring approval or even temporarily banned. “It cannot be the case that the cantonal police have to deploy a large force on a public holiday to prevent a collision. If you know in advance how tense the situation is, you have to intervene beforehand.” However, Wyssmann’s demand to expel regime supporters goes too far for Friker: “Anyone who comes to Switzerland should be allowed to have their political opinion.”