2007-05-25
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]
Notes to the editors:
1. Contact for international press enquiries:
Media G8way International Press Group
Alex Smith +49 16092437902
Jo Smith + 49 015774630348
g8-press-int@nadir.org
http://dissentnetzwerk.org/node/2669
2. Background information, also in English: http://www.gipfelsoli.org
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Media G8way does not claim responsibility for the content of the statements it distributes on behalf of the groups or individuals who use its service. Media G8way is an international press service for individuals, groups, networks and (dis)organisations who understand themselves to be part of an independent radical left movement against the G8.
Contact:
Alex Smith +49 16092437902
Jo Smith + 49 015774630348
g8-press-int@nadir.org
http://dissentnetzwerk.org/node/2669