G7 Summit in France Approaches, Geneva on High Alert Amid Fears of Repeat of Riot Nightmare

(Central News Agency reporter Kuo Fang-chun, Geneva, June 13) France is set to host the Group of Seven (G7) summit, with world leaders arriving and departing through Geneva International Airport. Fearing a repeat of the 2003 G7 summit riots, Swiss authorities in Geneva have heightened security ahead of the Evian summit, closing most border crossings between Switzerland and France and deploying police and military forces.

With the G7 summit scheduled for June 15 in Évian, France, the Swiss government has shut down approximately 80% of Swiss-French border checkpoints and intensified border patrols and traffic controls. Given that Évian is only about 40 kilometers from Geneva, the local community remains on high alert, concerned about a recurrence of the large-scale riots and violent clashes between police and protesters seen in 2003.

In 2003, the G7 summit (then G8) was also held in Évian. At that time, large numbers of demonstrators flooded into Geneva, sparking severe street conflicts, arson, and looting. Stores were vandalized, resulting in millions of Swiss francs in damages. For many residents and business owners, it remains a traumatic memory.

A Central News Agency reporter visiting central Geneva observed that, as early as Friday, most shops around the train station, lakeside luxury hotels, and boutiques had boarded up their windows and storefronts. The city government has also erected protective barriers around key historical monuments and statues.

Swiss Radio and Television (SRF) reported in its evening news under the headline 'Geneva Arms Itself Against G7 Summit Nightmare,' noting that around 40,000 cross-border commuters travel daily from France to work in Switzerland. Since June 11, many companies have shifted to remote work to reduce commuting and urban activity.

The Geneva cantonal government has approved a demonstration for Sunday, but the protest route is restricted to the area between the train station and the United Nations district, excluding the old town. Around 50 groups are expected to participate. Authorities have deployed thousands of police officers, with military units also on standby.

Arnaud Bürgin, representative of the Geneva Business Association, told reporters that the G7 summit has turned local economic activity into a 'hostage,' particularly due to the high security risks posed by protests.

Chuang Wan-ju, a Taiwanese expatriate living in central Geneva, told the Central News Agency that the destruction from the 2003 clashes remains vivid in people's memories. Since Friday, many businesses have closed early, public bus services have been reduced, and many residents are choosing to stay home and work remotely. In recent days, the sounds of power drills and hammering boards have been constant in the old town, along with the loud noise of helicopters patrolling overhead.

An unnamed business owner told the Central News Agency that insurance companies have sent notices stating that damages will not be compensated unless businesses take their own protective measures. Although the protest is scheduled for Sunday, shop owners fear that some may initiate unrest earlier. No one wants to relive the nightmare of 2003. (Editor: Tien Jui-hua) 1150613

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