Fun in Geneva (Demo report 5/30
[originally appeared in german on the Swiss Indymedia Centre's G8 coverage, Friday, May 30.]
[url:  http://www.indymedia.ch/de/2003/05/9804.shtml]

by the three at the gas station 5/30/2003 6:39pm

+++ with an occupied train from Annemasse to Geneva +++
+++ illegal border crossing +++
+++ Demonstration with: Samba, cracks in the iron gate [ed: ?], broken glass, thrown stones, graffiti art contest, and sun-burned activists +++

This morning, activists from the villages in Annemasee captured and occupied a train. After a brief negotiation with representatives of the railroad, the train left (with passengers travelling free and without passport or other border controls) for Geneva. Due to the rumour of a police presence at the Geneva train station, the train's emergency brake was pulled before it reached the station and approximately 200 people began to make their way to the demo against the I.O.M. (International Organization of Migration Management), WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) and WTO (World Trade Organization).

The demo started with about 3,500 people. It wound through Geneva's "Institution-quarter", stopping at several different locations to hold speeches in several different languages amplified by a loudspeaker hung on a tractor. From the start of the demo, hooded protesters sprayed political slogans like "No Borders, no nations" and "G8-Illegal" on buildings, especially focusing on shops and hotels barricaded behind wooden boards. The police were few and far between, the Pink and Silver Samba Band played hot rhythms and the sun shone, providing excellent demo-weather.

Some activists who arrived at the well-fenced WTO compound succeeded in pusingh open a crack in the giant iron gate. Hurray--what happiness! Some "pyros" [burning material] and stones were thrown while about 50 cops stood right in front of the building, protecting it but restraining themselves. Slogans like "smash capitalism" were sprayed on the compound. During the brief disorder, a Canadian trade unionist was able to remove the WTO sign; 25 minutes later, the demo moved on.

The UN building was decorated with the slogan "The dreams of the UN are our nightmares." A newspaper box with UN informational material was set on fire, only to be put out by a Geneva resident, cursing in French. Later, the Russian embassy rang to shouts of "Putin - assassin," but its heavy glass plates withstood the crowd.

In front of the IOM building, where activists spray painted right under the noses of the police, the cops first made use of tear gas (two or three canisters) to disperse the crowd--many present had prepared themselves, having brought bandanas and gas masks.

On the way back to the train station, a Shell gas station and an Audi car dealership were attacked--shattered windows, a ruined gas pump [ed: ?]...shoppers were still browsing in the dealership showroom, who quickly vacated the premises when the property destruction started. Heavy metal trash cans were used as barriers in the streets--the weight and strength of the metal making them more effective than the damn plastic bins used in the German recycling system.

200 meters farther up the road, the International Trade Center became the demonstrations next victim--the first floor lost almost all its glass. A woman standing on her balcony in building next door laughingly reported the events as they happened over her telephone--probably to a friend.

The crowd's mood was great, the samba band drummed without pause; still no police to be seen. They held back, perhaps due to rumoured negotiations with demo organisers. Either way, swiss activists mentioned that the cops usually stay away from protests, sometimes lobbing tear gas or making random arrests after an action.

The demo ended at the train station, and we're pleased with today's action and look forward to the coming days.