Swiss backtrack on G-8 policing

Switzerland is to draft in 750 German police
reinforcements to keep order during planned
anti-globalisation protests in Geneva during the
upcoming G-8 summit.

Thursday's announcement marks a U-turn by the Swiss
government, which had previously insisted it would not be
seeking German assistance.

The G-8 meeting is taking place from June 1-3 in the
French town of Evian, just across the border with
Switzerland.

Massive protests are planned during the summit, with up
to 100,000 demonstrators expected to take part in a
march in Geneva on June 1.

Last week Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey ruled out
asking the Germans for help, saying it would signal that
Switzerland could not guarantee security at major events.

Ruth Metzler, the justice minister, added that she would
seek a "Swiss" solution to the G-8 policing shortfall. She
promised to try to recruit extra officers from local forces
across the country.

Before last week's announcement, the cantons had
already agreed to supply 720 officers during the summit.
However, this number fell short of the extra 1,500
policemen demanded by the Geneva authorities.

Policing system

The Swiss authorities are expected to make a formal
request to Germany next week. Germany can send
members of its police force to Switzerland under an
agreement signed between the two countries last year.

The extra police would be used to reinforce security at
Geneva's international airport, where most of the leaders
attending the G-8 summit are expected to land.

Security surrounding the meeting has been the subject of
fierce debate in Switzerland, and many specialists say the
difficulty in mobilising forces on a nationwide scale has
highlighted weaknesses in the country's policing system.

Security is a cantonal rather than a national affair, making
it difficult to coordinate efforts. Preparations for the
summit have also been hampered by the lack of a federal
police force.

Roundup from Swiss News

Please note that this is a very rough translation from several sources on  http://www.nzz.ch/. Some information may be incorrect - you have been warned!

***Swiss Preparation***

Approximately 20 heads of state of government and 'threshold countries' will be arriving for the G8 summit. These will be accompanied by official delegations numbering an estimated 10,000 persons. Switzerland will harbour between 2000-3000 G8 staff, dignitaries, staff, etc. Bush is apparently planning to spend the night at the American 'mission' (embassy?) in Geneva, but resident in Switzerland will be delegations invited by Chirac from 'threshold' nations including Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa, Senegal, Morocco, saudi Arabia, Mexico, Brazil, India, Malaysia and China.

The preparation between the different authorities in Swiss cantons, and with the French government has been characteristically hampered by inability to work with alliance, the difficulties of Swiss federalism, and the estimation of numbers turning up. There was a special session during the weekend of the 10/05/03 that showed the insecurity felt by many politicians in Switzerland. The Liberal political Michel Halperin demanded a ban on all demonstrations on the 1st of June but this was thrown out by the courts.

Already, many 'dishes have been smashed'(!) because of the planning of the police. The Bundesrat demanded an additional 1500 policemen, but only 720 were provided for by the cantons. The head of police has stated that it is not the quantity of police that matters but the quality of policing. Bush's requests for additional security arrangements have apparently not been met. 750 German police are now being drafted in to help with the arrangements! The disputes throw a doubtful light on the preparations in the cantons of Geneva, Waadt and Wallis. A request of 1500 additional police powers on the 3 May - less than a month before the G-8-Gipfel - came amply late.

***Security Details***

The airspace over the 'Genevan heel' between the 31 May, until the 5th June is blocked. The airport at Geneva and the regional airports remain fundamentally openly, but will be subject to extensive restrictions. Inspection at all boundary transitions will be reinforced while some boundary transitions will be closed.

Up to a hundred thousand G8 demonstrators are expected at the large split cross-border demonstration of the 1 June. This will begin in the City Center in Geneva, and in French Annemasse, and later unite as one. Authorities are unsure how militant the demonstration will be, and as a consequence the Bundesrat has ensured that 'decisive barrier zones' are expanded on the 1 June and police presence in the city centre reinforced; politican/police boss (?) Metzler sees at the present moment no signs that larger demonstrations are planned in Switzerland.

The French side had already been informed that anti-globalisation demonstrators will not be hindered in their demonstration rights, but that the French would have to find a place for demonstrations to take place too. France has apparently encouraged massive security measures to restrict the movement freedom of militant globalisation critics, but simultaneously made available a large-area for demonstrations.

During the summit, the freeway between Geneva & Lausanne should remain open and trips on the lake 'extensively possible'; because the Swiss army does not control sufficient water vehicles, French boats will operate also on Swiss lake zone. The N1 freeway between Geneva & Lausanne should remain during the entire summit. Also the upper and the lower part of the 'Geneva heel' in the principle remains free. The means 'party' on the other hand is blocked on the Swiss side from the 31 May to 5 May. The section between Lausanne and lain Ouchy will be reserved and rerouted for the carrying of delegations.

On the 29 May, the borders between Geneva and France are opened in order to enable the demonstrator, to go to Annemasse. To be sure the West Swiss authorities are themselves aware that demonstrations could take place on the Swiss side. These will be permitted under certain conditions, so that risk or riot is minimalised. No demonstrations are allowed in the security sector; how large this will be, depends on the situation: in Lausanne for example, the hotels in which the delegated reside become, or if the lake harbor Ouchy is blocked, etc.

Approximately 5600 members of the Swiss army received a public notice to assist in connection with the G8 summit, but these will be ordered away from areas where demonstrators are active. All security measures will be under the control of the civil administration. For the Swiss, this will be the largest and most complex military task since the Second World War, and there was even some talk of cancelling the preparations due to the cost; the Swiss premier (?) has stated that Switzerland has given its word, and will not back out now. France, for its part, will have at least 7000 army members on standby/in some form of action.