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Further Police Escalations near Rostock
After Saturday’s anti G8 demonstration in Rostock, police are continuing
with a strategy of provocation and obstruction. In the day after the
mass demonstration, the police continued to escalate the situation in
the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
- After demonstration police deploy water canons at protest camp.
- Police refuse treatment to activists in car accident.
- Bicycle convoy attacked.
In contrast to their assertions that they are practicing a de-escalation
strategy, the actions of the Police over the past several weeks have
been highlighted by intimidation and an atmosphere of escalation.
“Legitimate protests have been made impossible by the federal
government, wanting to portray itself as a reliable partner of the G8
nations. This attitude is reflected in the context of repression and
encroachment that will be demonstrated in the following incidents,”
explains Lotta Kemper from the Campinski press group, based at the
Rostock Convergence Center.
On the evening after the Demonstration, Police deployed water cannons
and on the camps’ entrance streets. A peaceful “reclaim the streets”
party with 250 participants in Rostock’s Doberaner Platz was stopped by
the police, with 75 people being held for an extended period.
Police and Hospital neglect injured G8 protestors after car crash:
At around 1 a.m. on June 3rd, a car hit a van carrying French activists
near the Rostock west highway. The van flipped over, but the passengers
were able to free themselves and tried to treat their injuries while in
shock. The first car that arrived at the accident was a Police wagon
that was returning from Rostock.
Instead of helping, the officers adapted an aggressive tone and didn’t
provide first aid or attempt to secure the accident scene. Statements
such as “venemous G8 protestors, you caused an accident with a nun!”
(The car was driven by a nun that had fallen asleep at the wheel). The
protestors were then forced towards the driving lane and threatened with
riot sticks.
The situation finally relaxed as the fire brigades and highway police
arrived. The driver, who was still in shock, was asked to pay 500 Euro
in rescue costs. When he couldn’t pay it immediately, he was forced
to
sign an unintelligible paper and was forced to remove his luggage from
the highway by himself.
Ambulances arrived and took the injured to a clinic in south Rostock.
When they couldn’t be treated there, the injured were then transported
to the Rostock University Clinic. After giving their personal data, the
clinic demanded to see their insurance cards. The injured activists
didn’t have cards with them, so they were informed a half hour later
that they couldn’t be treated at the clinic. Their requests for
anti-pain medicine were turned down.
The doctor on duty then told them that he didn’t believe that they
were
in a car crash and said they were actually from the demonstration in
Rostock. At 4:30, the activists left the clinic and came to the anti-G8
convergence center to receive treatment at a first aid station.
- Bicycle convoy attacked
On Saturday, June 2nd, at 7:30 p.m., a group of bicyclists on the way to
the legitimate protest camp in Reddilich were attacked by police.
The bicyclists had been accompanied by 6 police wagons since their
departure. As they were leaving Rostock on the B105, the police turned
on their sirens. The group moved to the side of the road to let the
police move by. As the police drove by, they attempted to grab
bicyclists and throw them on the ground. Bicyclists were hit with riot
sticks, while another was sprayed with pepper spray from a distance of
less than a meter.
These events led to panic. In order to deescalate the situation and
protect themselves, the bicyclists decided to ride to the nearest gas
station. Supporters from Camp Reddelich came to accompany them back.
The cudgeling police disappeared, and 10 other police wagons from
another unit followed the bicycle convoy and videotaped until it arrived
at Camp Reddelich.
“There was no warning from the police for this baseless attack. It
appears to have been an act of revenge for the failed police operation
at the Saturday demonstration,” said one of the bicyclists.
- Activists taken back into custody
Emergency legal services have reported on strange police actions in the
holding prison after the mass demonstration. A group of protestors was
released, but then immediately taken back into custody and led to the
police records department.