EU Gestapo Watch: Germany: Police raid G8 activists

[Mark Gobell]

Germany: Police raid G8 activists


http://www.statewatch.org/news/2007/may/02germany-g8-raids.htm

On 9 May German police raided about 40 private homes of activists and social centres in Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen as well as the alternative web provider so36.net, confiscating a server and private computers, amongst others.

Police are using paragraph 129a of the German Criminal Code (formation of a terrorist organisation) as a legal basis for this large-scale raid, which is traditionally used to criminalise the left-wing movement in Germany. The anti-terrorist legislation allows for far-reaching interception powers, extendable remand imprisonment (in some cases for up to two years) and curtails defence rights.

Paragraph 129a further allows for high sentences without the prosecution having to prove participation in criminal acts - being a "member" of an organisation deemed terrorist is sufficient. In the majority of cases, however, 129a is used to "spy on" the left-wing movement and its organisational structures, as police raid a large number of homes, workplaces and cultural centres during the course of a criminal investigation, confiscating computers and personal belongings, whilst proceedings are thrown out of court several years later for lack of evidence. (see e.g. http://database.statewatch.org/protected/article.asp?aid=25716)

Social centres affected in this recent raid include the "Rote Flora" in Hamburg as well as parts of the "Bethanien" and the "Mehringhof" in Berlin, the former two places are planned to be convergence centres for international and national activists to gather before the G8 protest.

1. More on the G8 protests and the criminalisation of the mobilisation to block the G8 summit: http://dissentnetzwerk.org/node/2315

2. German Indymedia on the recent house searches: http://de.indymedia.org/2007/05/176032.shtml#artikel

3. German Police Conduct Raids on Militant Anti-G8 Protestors


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[Mark Gobell]

Raids in Germany: Press release by the persons concerned G8 2007 - Germany

Press release: "Operation Aimless" by Federal Supreme Court prosecutors

International Press Group Campinski
contact: g8-press-int@nadir.org

To all editorials

Raids against G8 opponents: "Operation Aimless" by Federal Supreme Court prosecutors triggers even more mobilization capacity for G8 protests.

Press release by the persons concerned

Yesterday a nationwide search of left projects and individuals was taking place in Germany. The Federal Supreme Court prosecutor Monika Harms used these searches to criminalize and split the broad resistance against the G8. The raids proved to be a total failure.

The intended intimidation of the left scene and the entire G8 protest movement did not succeed. Yesterday evening, more than 10,000 people in several German and European cities took to the streets to express spontaneously their solidarity. The wave of repression has triggered an even larger mobilization against the G8 summit that will take place from 6-8 of June in Northern Germany. Thanks Miss Harms, you scored a point for us!

Comparison of the different raids in 40 places reveals an uncoordinated and aimless operation on the part of the investigation authorities. Some examples: at least two of the accused persons have not been searched at all. Others have been searched carefully, while some just superficially. Some persons have been subjected to lengthy identification procedures and have been forced to make a DNA test, but not all of them.

Many search orders were justified by claims that the authors of the book „Autonome in Bewegung“ (engl: Autonomous in movement) are members of a terrorist. This book, which is already published in its third edition, was used to justify the searches of bookshops, editorials, archives and other left projects. The book is available in any bookshop for €20,- and has never previously been an object of criminal prosecution.

The alternative Internet platform "so36.net" was searched as well. Thereby, the complete content of the mailbox of a lawyer and a lawyer's office was confiscated.

The search of another person was motivated by alleged participation in an arson attack on the Dussmann Company. The accused person was observed with Internet surveillance. According to the search order he is accused of having done extensive Internet research about the Dussman Company. This is the only evidence that should prove his participation in the attack.

If this is supposed to be the juridicial practice of the future, the doors are opened for arbitrariness: anyone visiting an Internet portal risks being subjected to criminal prosecution.

Yet another accused person is suspected of participation in an arson attack on the base of being present at a public event.

All accused persons are active in the preparations of the protests against the G8 summit: the preparation of the action day about global agriculture, the day of action about migration, the day of action against militarism, and the blockades of the military airport Rostock Laage, as well as many other planned activities. "We will mobilize even more now for the protests and we are glad that the Federal Supreme Court prosecutor’s actions gave us additional momentum", the accused persons explained this morning.

[Ravenmoon]

Sounds like the tom cruise film where they arrest you before a crime is committed

[festival of snickers]

thank god the fatherland doesnt allow people to own guns like the swiss do

[marky 54]