Demonstration Eritreans demonstrate for their rights in Bern
Around 800 Eritreans demonstrated on the Bundesplatz and in Bern's city center on Saturday.
Image: Keystone
Eritrea rally in the pouring rain.
Image: Keystone
Around 800 Eritreans demonstrated on the Bundesplatz and in Bern's city center on Saturday.
Image: Keystone
Eritrea rally in the pouring rain.
Image: Keystone
Around 800 Eritreans critical of the regime demonstrated for their rights in Bern on Saturday. They called on Switzerland to grant them protection instead of discriminating against them.
22.06.2024, 15:53
SDA
Several Eritrean organizations in Switzerland and the Migrant Solidarity Network had called for the demonstration. The organizers estimated the number of participants at over 2000.
After gathering on the Bundesplatz, the demonstrators marched through the old town in pouring rain. The police maintained a presence in the background, as reported by a Keystone-SDA correspondent. In recent months, Eritreans loyal to the government and those in opposition have come to blows several times in Switzerland.
One of the main demands at the demonstration in Bern was the abolition of the passport requirement. Eritreans with F status who want to apply for a B residence permit in Switzerland, get married or reunite with their family must present a valid Eritrean passport. However, the Eritrean embassy in Geneva imposes unreasonable and unacceptable conditions, according to the rally.
For example, anyone applying for a passport would have to sign a declaration of repentance. In it, people would have to accuse themselves of having been disloyal to the regime and accept possible punishments in the event of their return. This violates the Federal Constitution.
Against deportations and hate speech
The demonstrators also demanded that Switzerland should not allow any deportations - not even to Rwanda or other countries. The Federal Assembly recently demanded that rejected asylum seekers from Eritrea be returned to their home country via a third country.
The rally was also directed "against racism and hate speech in Swiss politics". Right-wing agitation was directed against Italians 50 years ago, it said. Later, it targeted Tamils, Kurds and Kosovars. Currently, it is directed against people from Eritrea.
