A British demonstrator at the G8 summit was badly injured by German police water cannon on Thursday 7th June.
Matt from Liverpool said he joined the mass protests against the G8 meeting in North Germany last week 'to show my abhorrence to the G8 meetings which perpetuate exploitation, trade injustice and wars. I was one of over a thousand people at a blockade of the West gate of the police imposed exclusion zone surrounding the summit venue. The blockade was a peaceful attempt to hinder access by support staff and delegates to the meetings, using strictly non-violent means.'
However the festival atmosphere in the sun-drenched fields was shattered by unprovoked violent assaults by the police against the protesters. Police used pepper spray, baton charges and water cannons against peaceful demonstrators; eighteen water cannons were used to fire high pressure concentrated blasts of water from close range at targeted individuals' faces.
'I was taken by surprise by a sudden massive blow to my left eye' said Matt, 'it felt like my eye had been knocked out of the socket, the pain was intense. I was blinded for the rest of the day and my vision will probably be permanently impaired.'
Volunteer medical staff spotted internal bleeding in the eyeball so Matt was rushed to the specialist eye unit at Rostock's University hospital. Their clinical examination revealed a tear and other damage to the iris, suspected detached retina, early signs of cataract and probable glaucoma. The full extent of the damage cannot yet be determined due to the internal bleeding.
This was no accident, six others suffered similar eye injuries from the water cannon blasts, including a German journalist covering the events.
Another protester sustained a perforated ear drum. Matt and other protesters are challenging the legality of the police's actions.
However the festival atmosphere in the sun-drenched fields was shattered by unprovoked violent assaults by the police against the protesters. Police used pepper spray, baton charges and water cannons against peaceful demonstrators; eighteen water cannons were used to fire high pressure concentrated blasts of water from close range at targeted individuals' faces.
'I was taken by surprise by a sudden massive blow to my left eye' said Matt, 'it felt like my eye had been knocked out of the socket, the pain was intense. I was blinded for the rest of the day and my vision will probably be permanently impaired.'
Volunteer medical staff spotted internal bleeding in the eyeball so Matt was rushed to the specialist eye unit at Rostock's University hospital. Their clinical examination revealed a tear and other damage to the iris, suspected detached retina, early signs of cataract and probable glaucoma. The full extent of the damage cannot yet be determined due to the internal bleeding.
This was no accident, six others suffered similar eye injuries from the water cannon blasts, including a German journalist covering the events.
Another protester sustained a perforated ear drum. Matt and other protesters are challenging the legality of the police's actions.
Comments
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German Police
11.06.2007 21:03
Their police are far too well trained in riot and protest situations, and were obviously given Carte Blanche over the methods used to contain and disperse protesters. As Bushwas there, it is no surprise.
I would have hoped that the german police would have controaled them selves better, but this is the exact reason I would never go to an international protest in germany (even though I love the place).
badspyro
e-mail:
badspyro@gmail.com
We shouldn't let them scare us away
15.06.2007 23:13
Tangle
e-mail:
tangle@riseup.net
rage
19.06.2007 09:25
I was at the east blockade, but truly regret that not enough of us came to the west blockade to support you, as this is where the police with no reason became violent.
I hope you recover soon and that the police brutality will not stop demonstrations happening that have ethical good grounds.
The police cannot criminalise the symptoms when they are the ones spreading the disease.
RoR