Mayor of Munich to receive a parade
Mayor Ude is rallying for a march for the "German Way of Peace" and against "naive anti-war fundamentalism"
Last year, the lords of the city hall defined the demonstration against the Nato Security Conference as a disturbance of public order, and banned it. Accordingly, the activists were rounded up in the already traditional "Munich kettle", arrested, and criminalised. Today in 2003, all of this does not seem to be valid anymore. High Mayor Ude considers a ban not only unnecessary, but even thinks there are good reasons to allow the demonstrations.
Last year, the lords of the city hall defined the demonstration against the Nato Security Conference as a disturbance of public order, and banned it. Accordingly, the activists were rounded up in the already traditional "Munich kettle", arrested, and criminalised. Today in 2003, all of this does not seem to be valid anymore. High Mayor Ude considers a ban not only unnecessary, but even thinks there are good reasons to allow the demonstrations.
Mayor Ude is rallying for a march for the "German Way of Peace" and against "naive anti-war fundamentalism"
Last year, the lords of the city hall defined the demonstration against the Nato Security Conference as a disturbance of public order, and banned it. Accordingly, the activists were rounded up in the already traditional "Munich kettle", arrested, and criminalised. Today in 2003, all of this does not seem to be valid anymore. High Mayor Ude considers a ban not only unnecessary, but even thinks there are good reasons to allow the demonstrations.
"Even and especially when war broke out, the right to demonstrate would be all the more important." (Ude in the Sueddeutsche Zeitung of 9th Dec. 2002)
So what's the matter, why is Munich's first citizen giving the permit to protest? Is he offering himself as a reformed partner to the demo alliance? Has he discovered his own anti-war sentiment? By no means! Since chancellor Schroeder has excluded an active participation in the war, because the military strike intended by the USA will affect German-European interests, criticism of the American government is acceptable again to this nation -- but only such criticism as the ruling class in Berlin dictates. In this sense, the mayor of Munich reinforces the message as to which criteria the demonstrators have to conform to, and clarifies when, how and why one is allowed to be against a war:
"Here a war is prepared for, consciously forgoing the full use of all possibilities of control, diplomacy and politics..." (Ude in the SZ 19th Jan. 2003)
Simply to be against every war and to criticise the UN inspections as a pre-war measure? Out of the question!
"The only government in Europe that has already said No to a war in Iraq, should be strengthened in this view and not attacked to the benefit of the war mongers from the other side." (ibid.)
And then to go on and criticise the federal government! How nasty! The "No" to the war of the USA has - if you please! - to go along with an unconditional "Yes" to the policy of the federal government. Which is why the "Demonstration Alliance Against the NATO Security Conference" is told that "fundamentalist criticism of any military action is naive..." (ibid.). Apparently a High Mayor knows some pretty good reasons for conducting a war, those that assist instead of hindering Germany in the competition of nations. Whosoever does not share this point of view, and does not stand on the official government's line, disturbs the peace in the city, because (s)he wants to "diffamate the security conference and the red-green federal government" with their protests (Maget in SZ 26th Jan 03). This is why the municipal leaders of the social-democratic SPD and the Greens (the coalition parties), the DGB trade union federation, and the churches have decided to organise their own demonstration celebrating Schroeder (chancellor, SPD), Fischer (foreign min., Greens) and their friends, and guarding their backs so they can successfully show the ruthless Americans, that unilateral action by Washington is not appreciated and "the European way of conflict management is the only chance to secure peace, anyway." It is for this end, that people are asked to volunteer as good Germans and stand as statists on the Odeonsplatz, to close ranks with their national rulers. If that is not a generous offer for critical minds, a chance really to identify with your fatherland!
PS.: For the unruly demonstrators, the bad Germans, same procedure as every time: The right to freedom from demonstrations will be enforced, that is thousands of police plus the Grenzschutz (border guard) and the Verfassungsschutz (interior secret service) are going to provide for security and order in the city, in order for the politicians and military experts to be able to converse in peace at the security conference about the drawbacks and advantages of a military strike. Whoever does not like that, will be shown in all clarity that those who permit us to demonstrate do not only dictate the How and What, but in case of non-respect of the given rules will procede to criminalise the only just tolerated protest
Last year, the lords of the city hall defined the demonstration against the Nato Security Conference as a disturbance of public order, and banned it. Accordingly, the activists were rounded up in the already traditional "Munich kettle", arrested, and criminalised. Today in 2003, all of this does not seem to be valid anymore. High Mayor Ude considers a ban not only unnecessary, but even thinks there are good reasons to allow the demonstrations.
"Even and especially when war broke out, the right to demonstrate would be all the more important." (Ude in the Sueddeutsche Zeitung of 9th Dec. 2002)
So what's the matter, why is Munich's first citizen giving the permit to protest? Is he offering himself as a reformed partner to the demo alliance? Has he discovered his own anti-war sentiment? By no means! Since chancellor Schroeder has excluded an active participation in the war, because the military strike intended by the USA will affect German-European interests, criticism of the American government is acceptable again to this nation -- but only such criticism as the ruling class in Berlin dictates. In this sense, the mayor of Munich reinforces the message as to which criteria the demonstrators have to conform to, and clarifies when, how and why one is allowed to be against a war:
"Here a war is prepared for, consciously forgoing the full use of all possibilities of control, diplomacy and politics..." (Ude in the SZ 19th Jan. 2003)
Simply to be against every war and to criticise the UN inspections as a pre-war measure? Out of the question!
"The only government in Europe that has already said No to a war in Iraq, should be strengthened in this view and not attacked to the benefit of the war mongers from the other side." (ibid.)
And then to go on and criticise the federal government! How nasty! The "No" to the war of the USA has - if you please! - to go along with an unconditional "Yes" to the policy of the federal government. Which is why the "Demonstration Alliance Against the NATO Security Conference" is told that "fundamentalist criticism of any military action is naive..." (ibid.). Apparently a High Mayor knows some pretty good reasons for conducting a war, those that assist instead of hindering Germany in the competition of nations. Whosoever does not share this point of view, and does not stand on the official government's line, disturbs the peace in the city, because (s)he wants to "diffamate the security conference and the red-green federal government" with their protests (Maget in SZ 26th Jan 03). This is why the municipal leaders of the social-democratic SPD and the Greens (the coalition parties), the DGB trade union federation, and the churches have decided to organise their own demonstration celebrating Schroeder (chancellor, SPD), Fischer (foreign min., Greens) and their friends, and guarding their backs so they can successfully show the ruthless Americans, that unilateral action by Washington is not appreciated and "the European way of conflict management is the only chance to secure peace, anyway." It is for this end, that people are asked to volunteer as good Germans and stand as statists on the Odeonsplatz, to close ranks with their national rulers. If that is not a generous offer for critical minds, a chance really to identify with your fatherland!
PS.: For the unruly demonstrators, the bad Germans, same procedure as every time: The right to freedom from demonstrations will be enforced, that is thousands of police plus the Grenzschutz (border guard) and the Verfassungsschutz (interior secret service) are going to provide for security and order in the city, in order for the politicians and military experts to be able to converse in peace at the security conference about the drawbacks and advantages of a military strike. Whoever does not like that, will be shown in all clarity that those who permit us to demonstrate do not only dictate the How and What, but in case of non-respect of the given rules will procede to criminalise the only just tolerated protest
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