According to Marina Menzi, media spokeswoman for the St.Gallen cantonal police, the festival was canceled by the organizers: “The organizers have realized that their festival cannot be held.”

Source: Tagblatt

Despite warnings from the authorities, an Eritrea festival to commemorate the beginning of the War of Independence took place in Oberuzwil. Demonstrators came from all over Switzerland. The police were on duty with a large contingent.

By Raphael Rohner September 2nd, 2023, 5:15 p.m

An Eritrea festival was to take place in Oberuzwil on Saturday afternoon. Several dozen people from Eritrea wanted to interrupt and prevent the festival, which brought together supporters of the dictator Afewerkis. They traveled from all over Switzerland to do this.

The festival's landlord tells this newspaper that he was warned by the police in advance, but decided not to do anything about the festival: "These people come every year. Nothing's going to happen." Meanwhile, the man was contacted by several Eritrean experts to urgently cancel the festival. “Now I have a strange feeling and, to be honest, I’m afraid to go and cancel the party.”

According to eyewitnesses, there are several familiar faces on site. Among other things, there are also supporters of a group loyal to the regime that has made the headlines and been the focus of the authorities several times in the past because of violent excesses: “Eri Blood”. Experts consider this group to be very dangerous because it carries out criminal acts on behalf of the government and takes action against opponents of the regime all over Europe. “This group can be compared to Russia’s Wagner troops,” an expert told this newspaper.

The behavior of the police caused great resentment among the people who had traveled: “Why are we being sent away while a genocide is being celebrated?” Many people didn't want to wait at the motorway exit in Uzwil, but wanted to drive to the venue anyway: “We don't believe the police that the festival is canceled! We want to see it for ourselves,” says a young woman.

According to Marina Menzi, media spokeswoman for the St.Gallen cantonal police, the festival was canceled by the organizers: “The organizers have realized that their festival cannot be held.”

It was only on Saturday morning that reports from Israel made headlines: At least four people were injured there during demonstrations against an Eritrean festival.