17th April 2008
Protests call for Swiss to free the Vatican
Elite Swiss troops beat a monk |
Protestors are demanding that Switzerland relinquish control and let the Vatican once more become an independent nation five centuries after its 'invasion'.
'Free the Vatican'
"Troops out, free the Vatican!" read many banners erected around New York and other cities on Pope Benedict XVI's tour, while Swiss embassies around the world have been attacked.
Jim Spallen, of the London-based Free the Vatican campaign, said that now more than ever the international community had to put pressure on Switzerland to remove its troops.
To the barricades
"The Vatican is a very religious state and lived in peace and prosperity for many centuries, give or take a few revolutions, poisonings and riots, until the Swiss arrived," he declared. "Now the citizens have to live daily in the shadow of fear Amnesty International reports that security forces insist that citizens 'confess' to all manner of crimes, no matter how petty, regularly, and are dragged from their beds before dawn to recite official doctrine on a daily basis. Any dissenters are simply excommunicated."
Even the Dalai Lama of Tibet has added his voice, saying: "The world needs to stand up and tell Switzerland 'no more'. I urge every person to boycott Swiss products, such as Toberlones, Nestle Milky Bars, cuckoo clocks, Nazi gold bullion and looted Jewish treasures, until the Vatican is free of Swiss troops."
Won the battle
The Vatican, which houses the head of the Catholic church, has been under the continual control of Swiss mercenaries since 1506.
Numerous reports suggest that locals live in fear of the 'technicolored jackboot' and that members of the Swiss Guard openly carry intimidating weapons, including pikes and swords, in front of cowed citizens.
Null sum game
The ruling group of Switzerland, a secretive organisation known only as the Federal Council of Seven, insists that the troops are in the Vatican by invitation and that there would be no question of them leaving.
Swiss residents and tax exiles James Blunt, Phil Collins and Michael Schumacher have all been spat on and attacked, although it is unclear whether this was related to the protests against Switzerland.
'Free the Vatican'
"Troops out, free the Vatican!" read many banners erected around New York and other cities on Pope Benedict XVI's tour, while Swiss embassies around the world have been attacked.
Jim Spallen, of the London-based Free the Vatican campaign, said that now more than ever the international community had to put pressure on Switzerland to remove its troops.
To the barricades
"The Vatican is a very religious state and lived in peace and prosperity for many centuries, give or take a few revolutions, poisonings and riots, until the Swiss arrived," he declared. "Now the citizens have to live daily in the shadow of fear Amnesty International reports that security forces insist that citizens 'confess' to all manner of crimes, no matter how petty, regularly, and are dragged from their beds before dawn to recite official doctrine on a daily basis. Any dissenters are simply excommunicated."
Even the Dalai Lama of Tibet has added his voice, saying: "The world needs to stand up and tell Switzerland 'no more'. I urge every person to boycott Swiss products, such as Toberlones, Nestle Milky Bars, cuckoo clocks, Nazi gold bullion and looted Jewish treasures, until the Vatican is free of Swiss troops."
Won the battle
The Vatican, which houses the head of the Catholic church, has been under the continual control of Swiss mercenaries since 1506.
Numerous reports suggest that locals live in fear of the 'technicolored jackboot' and that members of the Swiss Guard openly carry intimidating weapons, including pikes and swords, in front of cowed citizens.
Null sum game
The ruling group of Switzerland, a secretive organisation known only as the Federal Council of Seven, insists that the troops are in the Vatican by invitation and that there would be no question of them leaving.
Swiss residents and tax exiles James Blunt, Phil Collins and Michael Schumacher have all been spat on and attacked, although it is unclear whether this was related to the protests against Switzerland.
