Media G8way International Press Group

Press Release

May 25th 2007

Scent profiling measures reminiscent of Stasi methods

Hamburg/Berlin: After the announcement that scent profiling measures reminiscent of Stasi methods are to be used against G8 protesters, the German newspaper, ‘taz’, has reported that the mail of G8 protesters is to be intercepted and opened at postal sorting centres.

The operation is being carried out under the auspices of national and regional Offices for Criminal Investigation. The goal, according to the ‘taz’, is yet unclear. Not only were letters being opened at sorting centres, but letters were being taken out of post boxes. The spokesperson for the Hamburg Police, Ralf Meyer, would not confirm nor deny these allegations.

Hartmut Lubermioski, of the Hamburg Data Protection Office, stated to the ‘taz’ that he is dubious as to whether there were any lawful basis for doing this. Norman Paech, Member of Parliament for the German Left Party, argues that “if these measures have been sanctioned by the Courts, then the judges have lost all respect for basic constitutional rights”.

[Media G8way International Press Group]