A Swiss supporter of Spanish nationalism, Françoys Meylan, has tried to disrupt an event held by the pro-independence Catalan National Assembly (ANC) in Bern. The ANC called a rally to demand that Spain release the Catalan political prisoners and to support the right to self-determination. There was dancing of the Catalan traditional dance, the sardana, and a percussion band also played, before speeches began. Then, in the middle of the event, Swiss police called Meylan to attention, as he had taken out a Spanish flag and, along with another man, was taking photographs of the ANC members without permission.
El provocador espanyolista d'ultradreta F. Meylan i un desconegut amb banderetes espanyoles que prenia fotos de l'acte #ObjectiuIndependència de l'ANC a Berna controlats i identificats per la policia suïssa 😎 pic.twitter.com/YF9m0CDu86
— [ David d'Ent.🎗#JoSócCDR ] (@denterd) August 31, 2019
The ANC Switzerland had called local supporters to meet this Saturday at noon in the country's capital, Bern.
Venez nombreux nous rejoindre #Berne #Waisenhausplatz le Samedi 31 Août prochain pour la Fête Nationale Catalane#MakeAMove #11SCatalonia #FreeCatalonia #CataloniaVoteFreedom pic.twitter.com/mkyEHwPL5l
— ANC Suisse 🎗 ||☆|| (@ancSuisse) August 29, 2019
It isn't the first time that Meylan has tried to provoke independence supporters. On his personal twitter account he labels 1930s Catalan president Lluís Companys as a "murderer". Companys was himself murdered, by a Franco-era firing squad, in 1940.