World G8 Germany 2007 Feature Archive

Four German activists have been arrested on suspicion of being members or supporters of an alleged 'terrorist organisation' (the so-called Section 129a) [lawyers' press release]. The German federal police suspect that Militante Gruppe (MG or Militant Group) was behind several arson attacks against police and army vehicles since the group surfaced in 2001 [Federal Prosecution's press release]. The direct actions are said to have included an attack on German federal police vehicles to protest against their involvement in immigration deportations and another in response to the G8 raids earlier this year. If found guilty, the four could face up to 10 years in prison. Another three men have been accused but not arrested.

A number of solidarity actions have already taken place, including a demo in Berlin last Wednesday (August 1st) and another at the prison where the four are held on Sunday (August 5th). A Germany-wide protest against police repression is planned for September 15th [call], while many solidarity protests and actions are expected throughout the world.

For more information: website of the solidarity group [en] | solidarity blog [en] | Indymedia Germany.

Police raided about 40 buildings in Germany on Wednesday morning, 9th May, including social centres and several private homes in Berlin and Hamburg, as well as the alternative web provider so36.net. Police forces searched the Rote Flora in Hamburg as well as parts of the Bethanien in Berlin. Both social centres are planning to be convergence spaces for the G8 protests in early June. See de.indymedia.org for up-to-the-minute info.

Reports so far on IMC-UK: 1 | 2 | 3 | press groups press release (en) | SO36.net statement
On IMC-Germany: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
On IMC Scotland: feature | call for soli-protest | paint attack statement | 4 | 5 | 6

Solidarity demonstrations and actions have taken place in several cities around the world, including Amsterdam, Berlin [more], Hamburg [more], Cologne, Goettingen, Managua, Vienna. Internet activists hacked "german-police.org" , a police bulletin board. The German consulates in Edinburgh and Amsterdam were attacked with paint. This last wave of state repression in Germany just followed a weekend of over 100 arrests in the Netherlands , where the G8 bicycle caravan was disrupted in Utrecht.

Many more demonstrations were planned and have taken place in the following days. These included one in London [Pics 1 and 2 | Video] and another one in Edinburgh [Pics], both on Friday 11th. Next G8 UK mobilisation meeting in London May 17th.

“Camp Inski”, the preparation and information camp for the forthcoming G8 summit in Germany, took place from August 4th-14th in North East Germany. Somewhat less than one year before the G8-summit, autonomously organized resistance meets and plots for several days(en) in close proximity to the future summit location in the nearby town of Heiligendamm. Numbers are difficult to guess – several reports speak of more than 500 while others say many more came during the week. The workshops ranged from meetings about mobilisation, blockades and bike caravans to general questions of resistance and social movements.

While discussing and organizing next year's protest, various actions took place showing the wide range of activities started by the camp, including going from door to door in nearby villages and towns to inform residents of the future protests. A villa was occupied in opposition to the commercialisation of the increasingly posh seaside resort. An anti-racist demonstration (Video: 1 | 2 ) was held in the nearby city of Rostock. On friday hundreds of activists gathered at the beach outside summit venue(en), on saturday protest closed down an exhibition of the nazi artist Arno Breker while activists protested at a GMO field nearby the camp.

Video (de): 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
Pictures and Reports (de): 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 (en) | 6 (en) | 7 | 8 (en)
Camp Website: http://camp06.org

Websites about G8 2007: dissentnetwork.org (de) | g8-2007.de | gipfelsoli.org