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Paul Biya
Violent scenes outside Geneva hotel of Cameroon president
This content was published on June 29, 2019 3:32 PM Jun 29, 2019 - 15:32
Police repel Cameroonian protesters with tear gas and water cannon
Police repel protesters on the Place des Nations
(Keystone)
Swiss police have used force to disperse around 250 people who were demonstrating against the presence of Cameroonian President Paul Biya at the InterContinental Geneva hotel.
The protesters gathered early on Saturday afternoon in a square near the European headquarters of the United Nations and near the hotel, waving Cameroonian flags and anti-Biya placards and posters.
Cameroonian protesters
(Keystone)
When the crowd headed for the hotel, the considerable police presence around the hotel pushed them back with tear gas and a water cannon.
Cameroonian protesters getting tear gassed
(Keystone)
“We Cameroonians demand that Cameroon enters the modern era of democracy, having lived for 37 years under the senile dictatorship of Paul Biya,” said Robert Wanto, head of the council for the Cameroonian diaspora, who has been living in exile in France for almost 30 years.
“This dictator has taken his habits to the InterContinental hotel where he’s squandering billions of our francs while the country is economically sick. We cannot accept it.”
Police spokesman Silvain Guillaume-Gentil said 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.
Police and Cameroonian protesters
(Keystone)
Earlier in the week the Cameroonian embassy in Bern had warned that Cameroonians living in Europe were preparing for a “violent” demonstration in Switzerland on Saturday.
Geneva police had told AFP it expected a “significant” mobilisation which would not be allowed to get within 500 metres of the hotel. The building was also protected on Saturday by members of the Biya’s own security service.
Reporter assault
Minor clashes with small groups of protesters occurred in the hotel lobby this week.
On Thursday the Swiss government summoned the Cameroonian ambassador to protest against a reported assault on a Swiss public television journalist by presumed members of Biya’s security service.
Several men, thought to have been Biya’s bodyguards, had run out of the hotel to chase demonstrators away. The RTS journalist who remained in front of the hotel filming was manhandled by the men, who took his bag with his mobile phone, wallet and equipment, RTS said. This was later returned to him after three hours of negotiations involving the Swiss police. The journalist has filed a complaint against the men involved.
Cameroon, led by 86-year-old Biya since 1982, is plagued by multiple tensions. On Wednesday Switzerland said it was acting as a facilitator in the crisis in north-western and south-western parts of the country.
Cameroon president and wife
Who foots the bill?
Cameroon’s Biya: Why the Swiss won’t stop his Geneva stays
AFP/ts
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There are 12 comments on this article.
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"Swiss boy commented on the content at 29 June 2019 20:48".
Swiss boy 29-Jun-2019 20:48
This Cameroonians in the diaspora are not well informed. The level of ignorance is sadly too high and helps to instigate violence amongst Cameroonians and making an already bad situation worst. Kanto should be hold responsible for all the damages caused in and outside of Cameroon.
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"BiyaMustGo replied to the comment of Swiss boy at 01 July 2019 02:09."
BiyaMustGo 01-Jul-2019 02:09
@Swiss boy - you are foolish to your bones. How can you stand in support of a dictator who has illegally ruled a country for 37 years and counting, poverty and misery skyrocketing, imprisoning or summarily killing any opposing voice. You call peaceful protesters ignorant. Without a doubts I know you are one of those thieves who benefit from the corrupt system of the Cameroon.
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"Dassi Merengue replied to the comment of Swiss boy at 01 July 2019 04:23."
Dassi Merengue 01-Jul-2019 04:23
Why should Kamto be held responsible for acts committed adults? Did you ever hear Kamto endorse them?
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"Ngwaso Richard commented on the content at 29 June 2019 20:53".
Ngwaso Richard 29-Jun-2019 20:53
I have been victim of violence from the Cameroon authorities in 2005, 2006 but one thing is clear. I disagree and condemn any form of violence in the name of hate politics. The so called ambazinians and pro kanto militants are making life more difficult for already poor Cameroonians. Fortunately the international community is watching.
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"Ernest replied to the comment of Ngwaso Richard at 30 June 2019 13:40."
Ernest 30-Jun-2019 13:40
These people are pushing for change to salvage a terrible situation. Biya has been president for 37 years. Poverty increased, police brutality and corruption are rife, summary executions, incarceration of political rivals. He squanders state funds, which is not a right of a president of a country. Power is hypercentralised, there are weak institutions in place, democracy is fake. If he was doing right, no one will stand up against him
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"fanso verjika replied to the comment of Ngwaso Richard at 01 July 2019 14:32."
fanso verjika 01-Jul-2019 14:32
Who is this Ngwaso Richard guy ?Who are you terming "the so called Ambazonian" ? Why can't he stay in his own country for whatever he is doing in Switzerland. His country is in crisis and he is in Switzerland doing what? Yes the international community is watching his failures and the millions of people suffering under his leadership.
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"Harry K commented on the content at 30 June 2019 04:01".
Harry K 30-Jun-2019 04:01
It would be appreciate if the powers that be in Switzerland could manifest their respect for human rights by distancing themselves from this dictator who kills and tortures his people.
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"A true dreamer commented on the content at 30 June 2019 11:17".
A true dreamer 30-Jun-2019 11:17
That is what you deserve when the only thing you serve your people when they complaint is violence. The Biya régime had only trained people to be violent and I am not surprise we are coming this way. Watch out cause things will get worse if we persist to support that dictatorship. Nobody is responsible for this if not the old man BIYA.
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"John mcgough commented on the content at 30 June 2019 14:04".
John mcgough 30-Jun-2019 14:04
All the non swiss rioters must be arrested put in frint of a court expelled and bannrd from re entering Switzerland. We do not need these troubke majers here they can riot in their own country not ours.Ans swiss citzens must be charged abd punished by a court.
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"YTON commented on the content at 30 June 2019 17:34".
YTON 30-Jun-2019 17:34
I condem with the last energy this demonstrating hate from diaspora community against the image and the dignity of Cameroon. We, here in Cameroon, we know that the life is not easy, but it is not the only case of Cameroon. So we have to love each others, because this country is for us and by dialogue, comprehension and solidarity, we can make our country more better. Please sister and brother, protect our country and his dignity outside.
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"Max replied to the comment of YTON at 01 July 2019 12:32."
Max 01-Jul-2019 12:32
When you don't have something important to say please do not speak
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"Malko replied to the comment of Max at 02 July 2019 02:11."
Malko 02-Jul-2019 02:11
To move things forward in a kind of superfast way, Cameroonians from France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Leinsteinstein, and all countries around Switzerland must reunited in the same direction... to make sure Swiss government take you seriously, numbers must talk... numbers don't lie... Maybe we all have different views on who-how should run the country, but at least we can all agree that Paul Biya Bi Mvondo should stop of spending the country's money on ridiculous hotel bills and stupid expenses... I mean let's be honest... how can you properly run your country when you spend most of your time abroad??? Is not even a neighbouring country... Switzerland will gel all his bloody assets as they did for many times for others... Let's come all together to make sure the voice gets heard... You guys running massive social media accounts, go and launch a reunited cameroonian-swiss day...
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