The authorities in Switzerland mounted their biggest security operation in decades. They were aiming to prevent anti-globalisation protests from disrupting the World Economic Forum, which began today. Thirty political leaders, dozens of ministers and over 1,000 business chiefs and non-governmental organisations are attending the conference at the Swiss ski resort of Davos between today and 30 January. The aim of the forum is to discuss issues from focusing the leaders’ minds on the international economy to bridging the gap between the haves and the have-nots.
Security was tight at the Swiss ski resort in an effort to avoid a repeat of the scenes that marked the visit of then US President Bill Clinton this time last year. Over 1,000 people turned out to protest, defying a court ban on demonstrations. The Swiss army was called in to back up police, and had set up roadblocks on routes leading to the town. Police in riot gear only managed to block the demonstrators after they had advanced to within half a kilometre of the summit's venue. Demonstrators threw objects, including wood and bottles, as well as snowballs, over the barricade erected by police to prevent them advancing further. Windows were smashed and at least one policeman was injured.
This year, over 300 professional soldiers have been deployed at the resort to back up police, four times the number present last year. A further 600 militia soldiers are on hand to provide further support should the protests turn violent. In addition, Switzerland has also issued over 300 travel bans to people known to have been involved in violent protests in the past. The Anti-WTO Co-ordination are angry at the criminalisation of the demonstrations. They claim that they are being denied their right to freedom of expression, freedom of movement and their right to demonstrate. "They seem to be provoking something, provoking any escalation with what they are doing, they can't deny people their rights, people will get angry," a spokesperson said.
Protests during the WEF summit in Melbourne managed to disrupt the meetings. Up to 200 delegates were barred from entering the first day as thousands of protestors trapped the delegates in a convoy of buses for over six hours. Special events planned for the summit, such as an address by Microsoft chairman, Bill Gates, to 4,000 Australian schoolchildren, were cancelled because of fears that they would be disrupted.
The Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, and the Yugoslav President, Vojislav Kostunica, are to attend the current meeting. It has been reported that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak will attend, but a spokesperson for the Forum would not confirm or deny the reports.
