At least 85 injured in Gorleben protests
Indiscriminate police brutality, such as kicks with booted feet into faces and genitals, caused a long list of injuries including bone fractures,torn ligaments, kidney contusions, dog bites, lacerations, sprains and bruises. 85 protesters were treated but first aid carers suspect a much larger number of injured. The police leader needs to take disciplinary action against offending officers if he doesn't want the reputation that he encourages or at least condones such actions.
Media release by first aid team 12.11.2003
By Kerstin Rudek - 12.11.2003 17:08 (translated by Diet Simon)
Today’s delivery of 12 Castor containers to the interim storage depot again resulted in injuries to many demonstrators as a result of violence perpetrated by police and border guards.
The use of state power started more quietly this year. But even a day or two before the transport reached the county, massive excesses happened. For example on Tuesday morning many people were injured in an encirclement formed after removing a blockade at Rohstorf. Several paramedics and doctors who witnessed the happenings say the action of the police was disproportionate. There was indiscriminate maltreatment such as kicks into faces with booted feet, resulting in various injuries.
Police also perpetrated violence in Gross Gusborn when they broke up a tractor blockade on Monday evening. People were dragged off tractor trailers, bashed and kicked.
When the Castor train arrived at the Dannenberg reloading station, police weighed into peaceful demonstrators, injuring one person in the head and maltreating a group of youths with kicks and bashings. An emergency doctor hurrying to help the injured had his spectacles beaten off his face and was forbidden to help, being prevented from reaching the injured. There were many witnesses to this.
When the convoy had passed Quickborn police surrounded the grounds round the community hall and arrested all c. 60 people present in the building, roughing them up. At the same time socalled snatch groups hunted individual demonstrators, again perpetrating many excesses and causing injuries.
The first aid team treated 85 injured people and the number is likely to rise with further, more precise researches; there’s a considerable unknown number at this point.
We coordinated 10 first aid teams with 25 paramedics and doctors this year. Special mention must be made of some teams who, at danger to themselves, rescued injured people from the hands of the police or from encirclement situations.
Injuries caused by police maltreatment include bruises, sprains, bone fractures, dog bites, kidney contusions, lacerations, torn ligaments and a long list of others. For example, at the dispersal of the tractor blockade in Gross Gussborn on Monday evening a man was first kicked in the genitals, then, as he stood on one leg, he was kicked sideways to the knee so that the ligaments tore. A criminal complaint has been filed against the officer.
Another gross case of deliberately causing bodily harm is the maltreatment of an entire family at the tractor blockade in Gross Gussborn on Monday evening, where first the father, then the mother and then the 14-year-old son were bashed on the chest, after which the son needed treatment for shock, shortness of breath and bruises.
The first aid team sharply condemns the brutal behaviour of the police and border guards. Given 13,000 officers on assignment, it should be possible to guarantee a minimum of consideration, but at least the physical safety of demonstration participants. We urgently advise the assignment chief Niehörster to start disciplinary proceedings over these many maltreatments if he does not want to acquire the reputation that he favours or condones this kind of action by the forces he commands.
For questions: Kerstin Rudek 05882 987436
By Kerstin Rudek - 12.11.2003 17:08 (translated by Diet Simon)
Today’s delivery of 12 Castor containers to the interim storage depot again resulted in injuries to many demonstrators as a result of violence perpetrated by police and border guards.
The use of state power started more quietly this year. But even a day or two before the transport reached the county, massive excesses happened. For example on Tuesday morning many people were injured in an encirclement formed after removing a blockade at Rohstorf. Several paramedics and doctors who witnessed the happenings say the action of the police was disproportionate. There was indiscriminate maltreatment such as kicks into faces with booted feet, resulting in various injuries.
Police also perpetrated violence in Gross Gusborn when they broke up a tractor blockade on Monday evening. People were dragged off tractor trailers, bashed and kicked.
When the Castor train arrived at the Dannenberg reloading station, police weighed into peaceful demonstrators, injuring one person in the head and maltreating a group of youths with kicks and bashings. An emergency doctor hurrying to help the injured had his spectacles beaten off his face and was forbidden to help, being prevented from reaching the injured. There were many witnesses to this.
When the convoy had passed Quickborn police surrounded the grounds round the community hall and arrested all c. 60 people present in the building, roughing them up. At the same time socalled snatch groups hunted individual demonstrators, again perpetrating many excesses and causing injuries.
The first aid team treated 85 injured people and the number is likely to rise with further, more precise researches; there’s a considerable unknown number at this point.
We coordinated 10 first aid teams with 25 paramedics and doctors this year. Special mention must be made of some teams who, at danger to themselves, rescued injured people from the hands of the police or from encirclement situations.
Injuries caused by police maltreatment include bruises, sprains, bone fractures, dog bites, kidney contusions, lacerations, torn ligaments and a long list of others. For example, at the dispersal of the tractor blockade in Gross Gussborn on Monday evening a man was first kicked in the genitals, then, as he stood on one leg, he was kicked sideways to the knee so that the ligaments tore. A criminal complaint has been filed against the officer.
Another gross case of deliberately causing bodily harm is the maltreatment of an entire family at the tractor blockade in Gross Gussborn on Monday evening, where first the father, then the mother and then the 14-year-old son were bashed on the chest, after which the son needed treatment for shock, shortness of breath and bruises.
The first aid team sharply condemns the brutal behaviour of the police and border guards. Given 13,000 officers on assignment, it should be possible to guarantee a minimum of consideration, but at least the physical safety of demonstration participants. We urgently advise the assignment chief Niehörster to start disciplinary proceedings over these many maltreatments if he does not want to acquire the reputation that he favours or condones this kind of action by the forces he commands.
For questions: Kerstin Rudek 05882 987436
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