[Pressrelease] G8 - More demonstration bans overruled

[Presswork G8 2007 (english)]

Media contact: Alex Smith +49 16092437902 / Jo Smith + 49 015774630348 /
Media G8way International Press Group / g8-press-int at nadir.org 

May 29, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

G8 - More demonstration bans overruled 

Administrative court ruling allows G8 protests at the Rostock airport on the 
6 June 

The Administrative court in Schwerin today overturned a ban on upcoming 
protests surrounding the military airport in Rostock, where G8 delegates 
will be landing. Other planned protests in Laage-Kronskamp, Weitendorf, 
Strießdorf and Friedrichshof can also now take place. 

The protest organizers had questioned the legality of the ban on the 
protests and the general decision for the ban. The court ruling is a slap in 
the face for police authorities. „Now we can announce to the worlds 8 most 
powerful leaders that they are not welcome here,” explained Rosa 
Wohlgemuth, a member of the Organizing Committee for the action-day against 
War, Torture, and Militarism. 

Tensions are high as the German government has come under harsh criticism by 
citizens over the past month for repressive measures such police raids on 
the offices of non-violent organizations and for taking scent samples from a 
number of activists so they can be tracked by dogs during the G8 summit. 

When the official G8 delegates land at the Rostock airport, anti-war 
activists will attempt to surround the building.  Additional protests on the 
A19 highway in front of the entrance to the Laage-Krons camp and around the 
Airport in Weitendorf, where other G8 conference participants will arrive, 
are also planned. Protests in front of the arrival gate at the Weitendorf 
airport were banned by the Administrative Court, but protestors have 
appealed the ruling. 

The Rostock airport and the fighter jet squadron that is housed there are a 
clear example of the militaristic politics of the G8 conference. Fighter 
pilots from all over Europe are trained at the airport for foreign military 
assignments. „This air force base is an important center for the NATO 
member nations,“ added Rosa Wohlgemuth. „For that reason we are 
protesting next to the building.“ 

Additionally, the High Administrative court will issue a ruling on the ban 
which prohibits protesters from coming within 200 meters of the 12 kilometer 
fence that surrounds the G8 conference area tomorrow. The Interior Ministry 
is also participating in the ruling. The Star March Association had 
submitted an appeal to the court on Friday, and is planning a march from the 
fence to the Kempinski Hotel where delegates will be. 

A city rally against weapons manufacturing and military installations will 
take place in the Rostock S-Bahnstation Warnemünde-Werft at noon on June 
5th. 

More information can be found at „www.g8andwar.de“ 

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Contact:
Alex Smith +49 16092437902
Jo Smith + 49 015774630348
g8-press-int at nadir.org
http://dissentnetzwerk.org/node/2669