31st May 2007

Media G8way International Press Group

In the run up to the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm there have been several
‘public-private partnership events’, meetings between police forces from
different European countries to exchange information about the efficiency of
tactics employed against anti-G8 demonstrators at previous international
summits. Existing legislation enables border police to stop, search and
possibly detain demonstrators as they enter Germany. It has already been
announced that the Schengen agreement will be suspended before and during the
Summit and there are concerns on behalf of activists that people suspected
of
attending the protests may be prevented from leaving their country of origin.
Databases of so-called ‘known violent protesters’ have been shared. Maria
Hurney, a UK anti-G8 demonstrator says, “I am extremely worried about these
developments. People’s civil liberties and their right to protest are being
systematically undermined, especially given that it is unclear what information
these shared databases rely on. Overwhelmingly, it seems that it is people
who
were actually victims of major police violence and arbitrary arrest at previous
demonstrations are subject to these measures.” Whilst the German police
publicise statements that they “expect 10% international demonstrators who
are
prepared to be violent”, Maria Hurney argues, “these statements and the
accompanying policing methods are intended to intimidate and scare people who
wish to exercise their right to protest”. Officers of foreign police forces
will also be amongst the forces present in Heiligendamm, so-called ‘spotters’,
familiar with protest events in their own country, will be deployed to weed
out
‘trouble-makers’.