GER12347-230802
23 August 2002


GERMANY: 4th military arrest for total objector Thomas Kroll


War Resisters' International learned today that German total objector Thomas R. Kroll was again sentenced to 21 days of military arrest, after already having spent 42 days in arrest.
Thomas Kroll reported to the military barracks in Bad Reichenhall on 1 July 2002. After some days during which the military authorities didn't really know how to deal with a total objector, and tried to threaten him, he was first arrested on 4 July 2002, for 7 days. A second arrest - of 14 days - followed on 11 July, and ended on 24 July. He then was allowed to leave the barracks for one day, but was sentenced to 21 days on the next day.
On 14/15 August, the Disciplinary Court again agreed to a sentence of 21 days. Thomas R. Kroll is now due to be released on 6/7 September 2002.


It is normal practice in Germany that total objectors are sentenced again and again by Disciplinary Courts, until they spent 63 days in military arrest - sometimes even up to 84 days. Only then they will be released from the army - prohibited to serve - and the matter will be passed on to criminal courts, where they will again be sentenced for "desertion" or "disobeying orders". The military arrest is regarded as a purely disciplinary measure, which - in theory - is meant to "educate" the offender and to change his behaviour. It is not allowed to be used as a form of punishment, when a change of behaviour cannot be achieved - this would be a matter of criminal courts. On this base it can be argued that any military arrest for total objectors is illegal, as a change of behaviour cannot be accepted!


War Resisters' International calls for letters of support to Thomas R. Kroll.
Thomas R. Kroll
z.Zt. 5./GebJgBat 231
- Arrestzelle -
Nonner Strasse 23
83435 Bad Reichenhall


War Resisters' International calls for protest letters to the German Ministry of Defence, and German embassies abroad.
Peter Struck
Bundesminister der Verteidigung
Stauffenbergstrasse 18
10784 Berlin
GERMANY
Fax: +49-30-20048553


War Resisters' International calls for the release of all imprisoned conscientious objectors.


Andreas Speck
War Resisters' International


War Resisters' International
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