Breaking news: Protests against Nato meeting, Munich
imc uk | 31.01.2002 16:18
Protests against the "Conference on Security Policy" in Munich, Germany, February 1st - 3rd. latest update: Sunday February, 2.03am gmt
Sunday 3 February:
Out of the 894 arrests, 21 are still in custody.
Pictures of Saturday's demonstration and police repression are here and here. Also find pictures of solidarity demos in Kiel and Berlin. Spontaneous demonstrations took place in at least half a dozen other German cities.
Saturday 2 February:
Despite the banning of all today's events about 7000 people demonstrated against NATO, militarism and war.
In total there have been at least 700 arrests.
The repeated attempts by the police to stop meetings and spontaneous demonstrations in the city centre - and thereby silence any dissent - have continuously failed. While some groups of demonstrators were surrounded and detained for several hours, others were successfully demonstrating all over the city.
Many people arrested are still being kept outside awaiting space incrowded cells. The Trade Union House, where the press conference and an international discussion meeting with hundreds of participants took place, was cut off for 2 hours by police.
8.57pm: Several hundred arrests at the encircled demonstrators at Schillerstrasse, including a Green local parlamentarian. Police blocks at Schillerstrasse and Schwanthalerstrasse and in front of the Union House.
8.39pm: Bielefeld: More than 10,000 protest against a march of 1800 nazis.
8:35pm: The situation around the encircled demonstrators at Schillerstrasse is escalating. Police mass their presence around the Union House and in all streets nearby.
7.04pm: 300 people were encircled in the Schillerstrasse. Also another group of approx. 300 people are moving from the press conference in the direction of the encirclement.
6.21pm: Several hundred people are still demonstrating in Munich's inner city. Another press conference is starting with 700 people attending so far.
5.22pm: Several groups surrounded by police in the area Frauenstr./Isaartor/Talstr.; police first tried to arrest everyone, then retreated on one side to let people out.
4.18pm: Confrontations between demonstrators and police - police using pepper spray and batons, some protesters responding by throwing bottles.
4.11pm: The demonstration is stopped at Talstrasse. Several groups are surrounded and blocked in by police. There are many arrests. However, groups of protesters are moving all over the city.
3.30pm: 4000-5000 people have broken through police lines and are now moving fast towards Marien square. Water cannons are approaching, good mood in the demo.
2.40pm: Solidarity demonstrations in Kiel, Berlin, and other cities. Thousands protest against a Nazi march in Bielefeld.
2.37pm: The demonstration (3-4000 people now) has stopped at the corner Frauenstr. and Zwingerstr. When demo attempted to move police baton charged - many injured protesters.
1.42pm: People gathering at Marienplatz, despite the ban. When attempting to start the demo as planned, most of the crowd got surrounded and blocked in by police. Police is now retreating slightly, the demo is moving off towards Isar Gate (as planned).
1.30pm: Buses from Berlin, Freiburg and Köln, which have been stopped by police on their way to Munich are now on their way to Nürnberg to meet for spontaneous demonstration at the main station.
11.50am: Reports are coming in that whole buses travelling to Munich are prevented from reaching their destination; several hundred people were arrested last night, including people who were arrested while they were shopping; many of those arrested were prevented from calling legal aid (which is your legal right); several arrested are reportedly held in cages.
Friday 1 February:
9.50pm: 2000 people demonstrate in Zuerich in solidarity with the Munich and New York protests; police attack the protesters with water cannons and tear gas
9.50pm: Several spontaneous demonstrations happening in the evening; arrests and minor confrontations between protesters and police; overall an estimated 250 arrests so far.
6.50pm: Police disperse people very aggressively, several injured, many arrests for no apparent reason. Short report
6pm: 2000 people in "Marienplatz", riot police try to disperse the crowd, surround parts of them.
5.30pm: People are gathering in the main square (Marienplatz) for a "press conference". After day-long police-harassment, police are keeping a low profile at the moment.
1.30pm: small demonstration against the ban on freedom of speech: People are walking through the city with blank, white banners.
A "red zone" has been established around the conference venue - no protesters allowed in. Controls all over the city, people are prevented to get to Munich by car or by train. Several people involved in the network which called for the protests have been arrested.
A major rally in Munich's main square had been planned for today but was declared illegal yesterday, as was the big demonstration planned for Saturday. Instead, pleople are now planning to distribute flyers all over the city: "Resistance can not be prevented". For Saturday the idea is to take part in large numbers in the winter sale in Munich's city-center.
Thursday 31 january:
All planned demonstrations and rallies against the Nato meeting were declared illegal by the city council today. Activist groups and NGOs challenged the ban in court, but the complaint was rejected.
Nevertheless, the actions are going ahead. A first demonstration took place in the early evening. 2000 people demonstrated peacefully in Munich's central square against the Nato meeting and against the ban on demonstrations. See pictures of before the demo started here.
In the morning, an established, legal infoshop - which was going to serve as infopoint during the days of action - had been raided by police.
Generally, the run-up to the events has included wide-spread attempts of intimidation and repression by the Munich city council and the police. All infrastructure, such as sleeping places for the expected thousands of protesters, infopoints etc. was blocked or cancelled due to government pressure. The venue for a benefit gig was told it may face closure if the gig went ahead, each and every attempt to mobilise for the protests has been facing the risk of legal consequences. Known activists were "warned" in letters or by telephone calls not to take part in demonstrations. Freedom of speech, movement and assembly are heavily restricted.
The local media have played the well-known role of stirring up fear of "violence" by "leftwing extremists", who allegedly want to make Munich a "second Genoa". Thereby they have tried their best to justify heavy-handed police actions, a ban on protests and a criminalisation of protesters. They have effectively turned reality upside down by accusing anti-war protesters - and not the generals and army officials meeting in Munich - of "violence".
=================================
Timeline for the weekends demonstrations:
Demonstrations that are banned:
Press conference / Demonstration
Friday, February 1st, 5 p.m., Marienplatz
Carnival against NATO
Saturday, February 2nd , 10 a.m., Jakobsplatz
International Demonstration
Saturday, February 2nd , 12 a.m, Marienplatz
Anti-Nato-Congress
Saturday, February 2nd , 6 p.m., Gewerkschafthaus
The demonstartors have stated that if the demonstrations continue to be illegal, they will instead participate in the "Winter sale" in the centre of Munich.
Demonstrations that are still legal:
Friday:
20.00 h school strike party at the 'feierwerk' (hansastr. 39)
21.00 h concert in the 'backstage' (helmholtzstr.18)
Saturday:
17.00 h discussion/round table on "aspects of the civil peace policy" in the Kreuzkirche (protestant church) (u2-hohenzollernplatz, hiltenspergerstr. 55, opens at 15.00 h)
18.00 h international meeting against NATO in the dgb-haus (union house) (schwanthaler 64)
22.00 h school strike party at the 'feierwerk' (hansastr. 39)
Useful addresses and phone numbers Infophone
Mobile: +49-(0)162/5920489
Tel.: +49-(0)89-4477200 (start: 31.1.02)
E-Mail: nato@buko24.de
Legal Advice (EA)
Phone: +49-(0)89-448 96 38, 24 hrs/ until sunday
You can reach them by e-mail also at this address:
muenchen@ermittlungsausschuss.de
Out of the 894 arrests, 21 are still in custody.
Pictures of Saturday's demonstration and police repression are here and here. Also find pictures of solidarity demos in Kiel and Berlin. Spontaneous demonstrations took place in at least half a dozen other German cities.
Saturday 2 February:
Despite the banning of all today's events about 7000 people demonstrated against NATO, militarism and war.
In total there have been at least 700 arrests.
The repeated attempts by the police to stop meetings and spontaneous demonstrations in the city centre - and thereby silence any dissent - have continuously failed. While some groups of demonstrators were surrounded and detained for several hours, others were successfully demonstrating all over the city.
Many people arrested are still being kept outside awaiting space incrowded cells. The Trade Union House, where the press conference and an international discussion meeting with hundreds of participants took place, was cut off for 2 hours by police.
8.57pm: Several hundred arrests at the encircled demonstrators at Schillerstrasse, including a Green local parlamentarian. Police blocks at Schillerstrasse and Schwanthalerstrasse and in front of the Union House.
8.39pm: Bielefeld: More than 10,000 protest against a march of 1800 nazis.
8:35pm: The situation around the encircled demonstrators at Schillerstrasse is escalating. Police mass their presence around the Union House and in all streets nearby.
7.04pm: 300 people were encircled in the Schillerstrasse. Also another group of approx. 300 people are moving from the press conference in the direction of the encirclement.
6.21pm: Several hundred people are still demonstrating in Munich's inner city. Another press conference is starting with 700 people attending so far.
5.22pm: Several groups surrounded by police in the area Frauenstr./Isaartor/Talstr.; police first tried to arrest everyone, then retreated on one side to let people out.
4.18pm: Confrontations between demonstrators and police - police using pepper spray and batons, some protesters responding by throwing bottles.
4.11pm: The demonstration is stopped at Talstrasse. Several groups are surrounded and blocked in by police. There are many arrests. However, groups of protesters are moving all over the city.
3.30pm: 4000-5000 people have broken through police lines and are now moving fast towards Marien square. Water cannons are approaching, good mood in the demo.
2.40pm: Solidarity demonstrations in Kiel, Berlin, and other cities. Thousands protest against a Nazi march in Bielefeld.
2.37pm: The demonstration (3-4000 people now) has stopped at the corner Frauenstr. and Zwingerstr. When demo attempted to move police baton charged - many injured protesters.
1.42pm: People gathering at Marienplatz, despite the ban. When attempting to start the demo as planned, most of the crowd got surrounded and blocked in by police. Police is now retreating slightly, the demo is moving off towards Isar Gate (as planned).
1.30pm: Buses from Berlin, Freiburg and Köln, which have been stopped by police on their way to Munich are now on their way to Nürnberg to meet for spontaneous demonstration at the main station.
11.50am: Reports are coming in that whole buses travelling to Munich are prevented from reaching their destination; several hundred people were arrested last night, including people who were arrested while they were shopping; many of those arrested were prevented from calling legal aid (which is your legal right); several arrested are reportedly held in cages.
Friday 1 February:
9.50pm: 2000 people demonstrate in Zuerich in solidarity with the Munich and New York protests; police attack the protesters with water cannons and tear gas
9.50pm: Several spontaneous demonstrations happening in the evening; arrests and minor confrontations between protesters and police; overall an estimated 250 arrests so far.
6.50pm: Police disperse people very aggressively, several injured, many arrests for no apparent reason. Short report
6pm: 2000 people in "Marienplatz", riot police try to disperse the crowd, surround parts of them.
5.30pm: People are gathering in the main square (Marienplatz) for a "press conference". After day-long police-harassment, police are keeping a low profile at the moment.
1.30pm: small demonstration against the ban on freedom of speech: People are walking through the city with blank, white banners.
A "red zone" has been established around the conference venue - no protesters allowed in. Controls all over the city, people are prevented to get to Munich by car or by train. Several people involved in the network which called for the protests have been arrested.
A major rally in Munich's main square had been planned for today but was declared illegal yesterday, as was the big demonstration planned for Saturday. Instead, pleople are now planning to distribute flyers all over the city: "Resistance can not be prevented". For Saturday the idea is to take part in large numbers in the winter sale in Munich's city-center.
Thursday 31 january:
All planned demonstrations and rallies against the Nato meeting were declared illegal by the city council today. Activist groups and NGOs challenged the ban in court, but the complaint was rejected.
Nevertheless, the actions are going ahead. A first demonstration took place in the early evening. 2000 people demonstrated peacefully in Munich's central square against the Nato meeting and against the ban on demonstrations. See pictures of before the demo started here.
In the morning, an established, legal infoshop - which was going to serve as infopoint during the days of action - had been raided by police.
Generally, the run-up to the events has included wide-spread attempts of intimidation and repression by the Munich city council and the police. All infrastructure, such as sleeping places for the expected thousands of protesters, infopoints etc. was blocked or cancelled due to government pressure. The venue for a benefit gig was told it may face closure if the gig went ahead, each and every attempt to mobilise for the protests has been facing the risk of legal consequences. Known activists were "warned" in letters or by telephone calls not to take part in demonstrations. Freedom of speech, movement and assembly are heavily restricted.
The local media have played the well-known role of stirring up fear of "violence" by "leftwing extremists", who allegedly want to make Munich a "second Genoa". Thereby they have tried their best to justify heavy-handed police actions, a ban on protests and a criminalisation of protesters. They have effectively turned reality upside down by accusing anti-war protesters - and not the generals and army officials meeting in Munich - of "violence".
=================================
Timeline for the weekends demonstrations:
Demonstrations that are banned:
Press conference / Demonstration
Friday, February 1st, 5 p.m., Marienplatz
Carnival against NATO
Saturday, February 2nd , 10 a.m., Jakobsplatz
International Demonstration
Saturday, February 2nd , 12 a.m, Marienplatz
Anti-Nato-Congress
Saturday, February 2nd , 6 p.m., Gewerkschafthaus
The demonstartors have stated that if the demonstrations continue to be illegal, they will instead participate in the "Winter sale" in the centre of Munich.
Demonstrations that are still legal:
Friday:
20.00 h school strike party at the 'feierwerk' (hansastr. 39)
21.00 h concert in the 'backstage' (helmholtzstr.18)
Saturday:
17.00 h discussion/round table on "aspects of the civil peace policy" in the Kreuzkirche (protestant church) (u2-hohenzollernplatz, hiltenspergerstr. 55, opens at 15.00 h)
18.00 h international meeting against NATO in the dgb-haus (union house) (schwanthaler 64)
22.00 h school strike party at the 'feierwerk' (hansastr. 39)
Useful addresses and phone numbers Infophone
Mobile: +49-(0)162/5920489
Tel.: +49-(0)89-4477200 (start: 31.1.02)
E-Mail: nato@buko24.de
Legal Advice (EA)
Phone: +49-(0)89-448 96 38, 24 hrs/ until sunday
You can reach them by e-mail also at this address:
muenchen@ermittlungsausschuss.de
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