[imc-presse] [Int-press-g8] More G8 Panic: Police confiscate children’s bicycles

[int-press-g8 at lists.nadir.org]

Media contact:  Jo Smith + 49 015774630348 / Alex Smith +49 016092437902
Media G8way International Press Group / g8-press-int at nadir.org

June 01, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The German police’s security measures are becoming more and more bizarre.

Yesterday, as activists and citizens began to flood the Rostock region 
in Germany to protest the upcoming G8 summit, police repression has 
become humorous, but still more restrictive.

On Wednesday the police prevented the building of a legitimate protest 
camp in Wichmannsdorf because of the “well-founded suspicion that stolen 
bicycles from around the country are being brought to Heiligendamm.”  
Yesterday outside of Rostock police used mobile checkpoints to search 
traffic for stolen bicycles, comparing the bicycle’s license numbers 
with their databases.

Children’s bicycles and older bikes without the now customary ID numbers 
were seized. Meanwhile in Sherwin protests have been restricted by the 
courts because of police claims of a “state of emergency” due to a 
shortage of available police.

In preparation for the G8 summit, the German government has begun their 
largest security operation since World War II, employing over 16,000 
police in the area of Rostock and Heiligendamm.  Repressive measures in 
the last month have brought harsh public criticism on the government.

Last month In Hamburg and Berlin numerous activists’ homes and offices 
were raided for information. I some cases the police have taken “scent 
sample” from activists so that they can be tracked by dogs, presumably 
during the summit.

Now protestors who have brought bicycles to provide ecological 
transportation during the summit have also met difficulty “With our 
request to repair old and unused bicycles we want to help solve the 
transportation problems,” says Petra Fröhlich.

Activists see a deliberate attempt to impede the preparations for the 
protests. “The accusation of stolen goods is absurd,” criticized Petra 
Fröhlich. ”A glance at the shoddy old bikes shows that they have been 
lying around in basements and attics, clearly not worth stealing. Only 
through hours of work were the bikes made useable again.”

Environmental activists were also critical of the security measures.  
“While the German government is trying to cast itself as climate 
defender at the G8 Conference, it is hindering the use of ecological 
transportation,” complained Marcel Grünau, who was setting up a tent 
with other teenage ecological activists. It gives him another reason to 
protest on the streets against G8 – on his bicycle.  He, like many 
others, supports the idea of “action-bikes” and managed to reach the 
Baltic with several bicycles.   Now he hopes to be able to keep a 
wheel’s length ahead of the police and G8.  

-- 
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G8way is an international press service  for individuals, groups, networks and
(dis)organizations 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 at nadir.org
http://dissentnetzwerk.org/node/2669