2007-05-31
31st May 2007
Media G8way International Press Group
In the run up to the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm there have been several
‘public-private partnership events’, meetings between police forces from
different European countries to exchange information about the efficiency of
tactics employed against anti-G8 demonstrators at previous international
summits. Existing legislation enables border police to stop, search and
possibly detain demonstrators as they enter Germany. It has already been
announced that the Schengen agreement will be suspended before and during the
Summit and there are concerns on behalf of activists that people suspected
of
attending the protests may be prevented from leaving their country of origin.
Databases of so-called ‘known violent protesters’ have been shared. Maria
Hurney, a UK anti-G8 demonstrator says, “I am extremely worried about these
developments. People’s civil liberties and their right to protest are being
systematically undermined, especially given that it is unclear what information
these shared databases rely on. Overwhelmingly, it seems that it is people
who
were actually victims of major police violence and arbitrary arrest at previous
demonstrations are subject to these measures.” Whilst the German police
publicise statements that they “expect 10% international demonstrators who
are
prepared to be violent”, Maria Hurney argues, “these statements and the
accompanying policing methods are intended to intimidate and scare people who
wish to exercise their right to protest”. Officers of foreign police forces
will also be amongst the forces present in Heiligendamm, so-called ‘spotters’,
familiar with protest events in their own country, will be deployed to weed
out
‘trouble-makers’.
Transnational Cooperation in Combat
Even when physically confronting protesters, there will be transnational
cooperation. During a joint training maneuvre betwen the German Army and German
police on May 10th in Sanitz, Mecklenburg Pommerania, Dutch and Belgian water
canon vehicles were spotted by journalists of the local ‘Ostseezeitung’.
According to Sophie Webber, an Australian anti-G8 demonstrator, these are
frightening developments: “The police intend to use all measures against us
and
do not stop at calling in foreign help to do so.”
Yet, activists are resolute that resistance to the G8 is as transnational as any
police collaboration. Thousands of demonstrators from countries across the
globe
plan to be in Heiligendamm to take action against the warmongering, exploitation
and environmental destruction that the G8 countries continue to reinforce.
And
there are support structures in place. At many border crossings there will
be
help for people who experience this heavy-handed policing. There are telephone
numbers to call if one experiences problems and during and after the protests,
there will be a team of over 100 lawyers who will be providing legal support to
demonstrators.