Repression

08.06.2007

• 21:45:
  Berlin: A rally of some 500 people has occupied Hackeschen Markt. There has been some police repression, but it seems the demonstration will able to move.
  
  
• 19:20:
  The demonstration at the detention centre has effectively come to an end. Between 100 and 150 people are still around, but it looks as if they, too, will leave soon.
  
  
• 18:00:
  Berlin police have arrived at the detention centre in the Ulmen Strasse. There are still around 200 people protesting. They want to stay despite the organisers' announcement that the demo has officially ended. There are police de-escalation teams around and so far the demonstration has been peaceful.
  
  
• 17:50:
  People returning to Berlin report occasional police control at Spandau train station. Police seem to be Particularly looking for people returning from the protests around Heiligendamm.
  
  
• 16:30:
  The solidarity demonstration from the Frieda media centre has been legalised and will take a different route to the detention centre in Ulmenstrasse. Around 500 people are present.
  
  
• 15:20:
  Around 300 people are standing in front of the police lines in Friedrichstrasse. Another hundred are in Warnowufer, where police have blocked the street and are ordering people to leave the cross roads.
  
  
• 15:00:
  Two water cannons have been positioned before the demonstration at Friedrichsstrasses.
  
  
• 14:55:
  Around 1,000 people are on Friedrichsstrasse. Police have put on their helmets and want to speak to one of the 'leaders of the gathering'.
  
  
• 13:40:
  At least four cases of people being taken into custody have been observed. One has been let go again, the other three are being taken to the detention centre. The demonstrators from the train station have arrived; police are holding them back. People are allowed to go through individually but the demonstrators want to go further together.
  
  
• 13:20:
  Berlin police units are aggressively trying to single people out. The legal teams are there, too, trying to defuse the situation. Many incidents of people being taken into custody have been observed.
  
  
• 13:15:
  Neue Markt is filled with people. Police are gathering forces and practically surrounding the square. People can leave but not enter without being controlled.
  
  
• 11:45:
  Hundreds of people coming on the train from Bad Doberan have arrived at Rostock train station. Some cops try to push them out, others want to stop-and-search everybody at the entrance. The situation is peaceful but not under police control. Eventually, police seem to give up searching everybody but people have to give bottles away.
  
  

07.06.2007

• 23:00:
  The use of water cannons at the western gate blockade has injured five people so badly that they had to be taken into hospital. Among them was a DPA photographer, who was treated on the spot for an eye injury. It is likely that two of the injured will have to stay in hospital. One person sustained a severe eye injury and the other a ripped ear drum. Both injuries were caused by a direct hit from the water cannons.
  
  
• 19:45:
  The Dutch Media Bus and all 'passengers' and equipment have been freed. The bus is now available for use at Camp Reddelich.
  
  
• 19:30:
  Evershagen CC: Police have announced that they will remain around the convergence centre in order to "separate left- and right-wing people". They also said they won't enter the convergence centre compound. People are allowed to go in and out but have to be police-checked and searched for 'weapons'. The popular kitchen will be allowed to bring in food.
  
  
• 17:25:

  The Street Medics have asked police medics for help to treat a severely injured person on the demo.

• 16:50:
  Western gate: Police start to disperse people from area. There is massive use of water cannons and police units are violently attacking the protesters. Several people have been injured.
  
  
• 14:00:
  According to the German News Agency (DPA), special police department Kavala have denied that an undercover policeman was uncovered at one of the blockades yesterday. The lawyers group RAV, on the other hand, says that at least 5 undercover cops were involved in that same situation. RAV will sue the German tabloid Bild because of its coverage of the incident. Bild had suggested that violent protesters had protected the undercover cop.
  
  
• 12:00:
  Legal update: Eight fast-track trials took place yesterday. Six people were convicted to 6-10 months without probation, while two have been released on probation. Since Sunday, there have been at least 700 arrests.
  
  
• 09:00:
  The overnight vigil in Ulmenstrasse in solidarity with detainees is still there. The 7 participants said they would be happy with some support.
  
  
• 07:00:
  Between 70 and 80 people have been arrested at the 105 road barricade and have been taken to the detention centre in Industriestr.
  
  
• 05:40:
  Two barricades were built on the 105 road at the crossroads leading to Bartenshagen. Some 40 people are penned by police, while two smaller groups are also penned in the wood nearby. One police car was allegedly attacked by a colour bomb. Police have now started to clear the barricade but the road is still blocked. Two journalists were arrested, their press passes taken and stamped "invalid".
  
  
• 05:30:
  Over 20 police police cars were making some noise outside Camp Reddelich very early in the morning again. The Camp's security turned the alarm on and people were awaken. Police 'assured' them that they did not want to storm the camp but was only because a large group of people had left the camp and formed barricades nearby. All police cars have left now but there is still a helicopter hovering overheard.
  
  

06.06.2007

• 23:30:
  Rostock: 8 people are doing a vigil at the detention centre in Ulmenstr., Rostock and intend to stay there overnight.
  
  
• 21:15:
  Legal update: So far 200 arrests have been made today, of which 60-70 were in a parking lot near the Rostock Laage airport. Two lawyers were not allowed through but, instead, warned that if they came back they would be arrested. At both detention centres in Ulmen and Industriestr., all lawyers were kicked out of the the lawyers room. An alternative media bus from Amsterdam was seized by police and the driver was physically forced to drive the bus. A Stern photographer was arrested for "inciting violence".
  
  
• 20:00:
  The situation in Camp Rostock seems to relax now as police cars drive away. Meanwhile, the situation at the Boergerende blockade seems to have calmed down too. Police are hold back and there are no signs of an eviction. Approx 1,500 people are still holding up in Boergerende, 1,000 at the 'gallop course' at Gate 2 of the fence.
  
  
• 19:30:
  Camp Rostock: Police are still stationed with substantial forces round the camp. Legal teams are present and negotiations are going on. Police want to search the Camp but have not shown, however, a search warrant - only a request. So, for now, there is no legal basis for a search of the Camp. At the moment there about 3,000 people in the Camp.
  
  
• 19:00:
  An NDR reporter was overheard reporting that there are Molotovs on the big blocade at the eastern gate of the fence. When he was confronted by protesters as to where he got that from, he said he was depending on information from the German News Agency (DPA). However, when their correspondent there was asked about it, he said he hadn't seen nothing and "they" probably got that from DPA. Meanwhile, cops are now walking among protesters, a provocative action in itself, according to the organisers. They, too, were overheard that they were searching for 'evidence' to prove the story.
  
  
• 19:00:
  The Amsterdam Media Bus has been seized by police, the pretext being that they had suspicions that there may have been a priate radio station run from the bus.
  
  
• 18:55:
  About 100 police cars and two water cannons are standing outside Camp Rostock. Allegedly 100 policemen are standing next to the International Hedonistist barrio and another 400 surrounding the Camp. The situation has not escalated, however.
  
  
• 18:35:
  The Dutch Media Bus is stopped and surrounded by police in Bad Doberan.
  
  
• 18:25:
  Situation at the Boergerende blockade becomes more tense. Police are trying to surround the protest, using batons. 1,500-2,000 people, however, continue the blockade. So far there has been at least one arrest.
  
  
• 18:15:
  The sit-down blockade in Hinter Bollhagen near Gate 1 has been forecfully dissolved by police. Protesters are withdrawing, some having been hurt by pepper spray and batons.
  
  
• 17:35:
  Hinter Bollhagen: A peaceful sit-down blockade near Gate I of the fence, with approximately 100 participants, is being brutally dispersed by police. A water cannon is being used and cops are reportedly beating people up.
  
  
• 17:20:
  Police start to flog into the front rows of the blockade in Boergerende. At the same time, heavy equipment is being moved towards Rethwisch.
  
  
• 15:50:
  The clowns at the Western Gate in Hinter Bollhagen were penned in by a Snatch Squad in black uniform for a while. They were then ordered to leave the place or get arrested and were escorted to Kühlungsborn. The Western Gate is now deserted.
  
  
• 12:40:
  The 200 or so people blocking Doberanstr. near Rethwisch are being forcefully removed to the side of the road. There is a large police presence, accompanied by water cannons. No arrests have been reported.
  
  
• 02:00:
  A big numbers of police cars were making some noise outside Camp Reddelich very early in the morning. The Camp's security turned the alarm on and people were awaken. The cops left shortly afterwards. Many campers believe this was just to intimidate them and prevent them from sleeping so that they don't have enough energy for the blockades today.
  
  

05.06.2007

• 20:50:
  Kühlungsborn: The anti-repression demo has ended at the Baltic Sea, after calling at the international press centre (where mainstream journalists will be based during G8 coverage). Police did not succeed in preventing participants from continuing their demo up to the beach as the clowns 'clowned' through their chain. The protest concluded with the clowns bathing in the the Baltic Sea.
  
  
• 19:55:
  Kühlungsborn: The anti-repression demonstration is has now 1,000 participants. They have arrived at Kühlungsborn and now want to 'welcome' Bush symbolically.
  
  
• 19:45:
  The anti-repression demonstration in Kühlungsborn may continue now.
  
  
• 19:40:
  Weitendorf: One of buses stopped by police on the motorway has been let free and is heading back now.
  
  
• 19:00:
  Schwaan: It has been confirmed that eight arrests were made today at Schwaan station not six, all under the Crime Prevention Law.
  
  
• 18:45:
  Weitendorf: On the B103 road near the village of Weitendorf, between the airport and the highway, several road blockades took place. Some brutal arrests were made, especially by Berlin police units. Earlier, the sound system had announced that police were walking around to single out people and snatch them. A car, probably belonging to the French delegation, was briefly stopped.
  
  
• 18:10:
  Camp Wichmannsdorf: An anti-repression demonstration started a while ago from Camp Wichmannsdorf and is heading towards the main press centre of ARD in Kühlungsborn. The 150 or so protesters were stopped by police at the outskirts of Kühlungsborn and may not go any further. A press conference is supposed to be taking place at the moment and is not to be disturbed by the protest.
  
  
• 17:50:
  At least 6 people have been arrested so far at Schwaan station, one of them is know to be Polish.
  
  
• 17:00:
  Weitendorf: About 1,000 demonstrators have already arrived at the designated area for the demonstration. A bus from Camp Rostock is currently stopping at a parking lot on the motorway and is being police-checked. Another bus was stopped and, after being checked and filmed, people were walked by police to the demo. About half of the 250 or so people who were stuck in Schwaan waiting for the shuttle service, have since arrived. Police seems to hold back so far and members of Berlin police 'deescalation teams' are present. The demonstration is taking place in accordance with the conditions set by the Higher Administrative Court.
  
  
• 16:00:
  'Suspicious' cars driving from Rostock to the Rostock-Laage airport are being diverted by the police to a parking lot off the motorway to be searched and passengers' details taken. The 'Amsterdam Media Bus' was stopped a while ago and people are being checked and filmed one by one. At train stations, police checks are also intensifying. A group of 100 or so protesters are stuck at the Schwaan bus station, where buses to the airport usually pass, but the buses are not stopping at that stop now. Some of them already had their personal details taken by some 50 cops.
  
  
• 13:30:
  Rostock: Towards the end of yesterday's migration demo, some Clowns were making fun of cops using, among other things, water pistols. At one point, a cop 'confiscated' a water pistol, and his carrying it was a nice pose for mainstream photographers. Later on, Spiegel published a story that 8 cops were affected by chemicals used by the clowns. They later edited the story on their website to say police are accusing the clowns of that.
  
  
• 13:00:
  Camp Rostock: Around 2am this morning, several people from the Camp Security group were stop-and-searched by police for about two hours. Their walkie-talkies were seized for suspicions of planning criminal offences. The people concerned were forced to mask up to be photographed.
  
  
• 12:00:
  Rostock: The anti-militarism demonstration in Warnemünde has started with some 500 participants, but people are not moving yet. Police have restricted the demo to one lane of the road. At the train station, police are stop-and-searching people arriving and taking their personal details.
  
  
• 11:50:
  Rostock: A German national was sentenced to 10 months in prison this morning in a fast-track trial. The charges were attempted severe bodily hard and breach of the peace. He was released on bail and is on the way home.
  
  
• 10:40:
  An action at the Security Fence in Vorder Bollhagen, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 1967 war and the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands and protest against the apartheid wall, has been called off because organisers refused to be escorted by police and because police pre-conditions restricted the number of participants to 15 people. [call]
  
  
• 10:30:
  Rostock-Evershagen, 11:30: Like a lot of other places, both entrances into the Evershagen Convergence are 'blocked' by two police vans each. People coming in and out are being checked and their names/photos compared to police profiles from previous days.
  
  
• 05:30:
  The Kavala (G8 special police department) have banned all the events on Thursday, including those outside the banned zones I and II, that the Star March coalition had registered as 'substitute events' should a complete ban be confirmed by the Federal Constitutional Court later today. [press release]
  
  

04.06.2007

• 21:30:
  The Legal Team's interim report: So far approximately 322 detained +++ At least 10, mostly youngsters, awaiting trial +++ Unlawful prolonged detention +++ Grave violations by the police, including against lawyers +++ Authority wrangling between Kavala and operational commanders: the operational commander criticises police tactics during the demonstration.
  
  
• 21:30:
  German-Polish border: The occupation of the train by Polish activists, who were refused entry into Germany, has ended now. After anti-terrorist squads were brought in, police gave the activists half an hour to leave, and so they did.
  
  
• 19:45:
  A police check point has been set up by the detention centre on Industrie Str and people's ID's are being checked when passing through there.
  
  
• 19:15:
  According to the Legal Teams, 53 people were arrested today, 17 of whom have been released already. Since Saturday, there have been at least 315 arrests, the greater part of which were for "violation of the laws of demonstration"/the "ban on disguises". There have been also 10 arrest warrants. Nine cases are supposed to be brought in front of a court this week in a fast-track trials. Most of these will take place on Wednesday.
  
  
• 19:00:
  German borders: Border controls into Germany are reportedly being tightened against anti-G8 activists. Cia.bzzz.net, a Polish activist website, reported earlier that a train carrying Polish anarchists was stopped by German border police at Gumience-Szczecin. They were told that they would be arrested immediately if they continued their journey. In response, the anarchists occupied the train and hung banners out of the windows. A while ago, 5 German activists joined the occupation and it sounds like a party atmosphere. More police are also arriving. The train has been totally removed from the timetable and, since the activists have tickets valid for one day, it is expected that the occupation will go on till 3:30am. Earlier today, 18 activists on a bus from Poland were stopped and sent back home. Later on, another 3 people were stopped at a petrol station just after passing the border from the Netherlands. Two of the three have been declared 'safe' but have not got their passports back yet. The third is still being investigated and might be sent back to the Netherlands.
  
  
• 17:10:
  The organisers have called the demonstration off because it was simply not possible to go on. They found the change of route proposed by police unacceptable. Cops is standing very close all around the demo; at front and back there are water cannons. The organisers have also announced that they want to try and continue the closing rally at the city harbour as planned, but police have announced that it won't tolerate any spontaneous protests.
  
  
• 12:50:
  The Grey Bus from Theaterstraat (a bus carrying protesters from Amsterdam) was stopped-and-searched by cops for about 3 hours at Hamburgerstrasse earlier this morning. Eight people from several countries were arrested and taken to the detention centre in Industrie Str. Charges are probably related to carrying things like caps, gloves and lemons. A 15-minute solidarity protest was held outside of the detention centre. The bus is now on its way to the Migration rally.
  
  
• 12:30:
  A train from Reddelich only goes as far as Bad Doberan. Replacement buses are being used. In Sievershagen, buses are being stopped by police and people's bags are being searched. Buses then continue their way.
  
  
• 11:30:
  On their way back from the Sonnenblumen House demo, protesters were attacked by cops again. Police pushed people onto the train and then hit some of them while they were all inside.
  
  
• 11:00:
  Rostock: A bus carrying protesters was stop-and-searched at Holbeinplatz. Police said they are looking for "weapons". The Legal Team was hindered in its work and told to leave the square. So far three arrests have been been made.
  
  
• 10:35:
  Sonnenblumenhaus: A protester from Cameron has been seriously injured by cops (probably broken nose). He apparently happened to be standing in the middle of the Black Bloc, so cops charged in and snatched him violently. An ambulance has just arrived and he's been taken to hospital.
  
  
• 10:30:
  Rostock: Violence seems to have died down a bit now. Three or four arrests were made, allegedly because people were covering their faces. A journalist was injured when his camera was pushed violently into his face. Medics and legal observers are on the site. Police CCTV vans have arrived. Police have blocked the road and are standing in groups some a few meters away from protesters. People are not penned in or kettled yet.
  
  
• 10:00:
  Rostock: Riot police started to charge into the protest at the Sonnenblumen House and snatch certain people after filming and observing them for a while. 3 Arrests have been reported so far but the legal observers were pushed away and not allowed to get their details. Police are reportedly being very aggressive for no apparent reason.
  
  
• 08:10:
  Rostock: A fleet of 20 or so police cars, with their sirens and flash lights on, was seen passing by the Rostock Convergence Centre, probably heading towards the Sonnenblumen House, where a rally is supposed to take place from 10am.
  
  
• 08:00:
  Rostock: A group of 200-300 people coming from Camp Reddelich found over 100 cops in riot gear awaiting them at Rostcok's central station. They are now being searched one by one, some having their personal details taken. The hallway, where the process is going on, had been cleared from people so that there's no eye witnesses.
  
  

03.06.2007

• 22:15:
  A group of concert goers were suddenly and, seemingly, groundlessly attacked by a police unit on their way back to Camp Rostock. One person received a hard blow to the head and remained laying on the ground for around 10 minutes without moving, but still conscious until an ambulance came. Meanwhile another person was taken into custody. A journalist was only let through after putting on a lot of pressure.