The conflict gets harder

On the 17.11.96 about 200 people gathered near Arnstadt for a god-service in open air [right after a rally] to protest quietly and with prayers against the beginning of construction work for the ICE [very fast train] and motorway. Pastor Gindler led the people into the "Bettelmannsholz" which was surrounded by police - where young people already occupied trees several times to protect them from clearance. As three of them tried to climb up a tree, police went in very violently. Officers pushed the visitors of the service around, who stood in a circle, arrested two tree-climbers and hit and kicked at them.

One of them got his arm broken seriously (!) [spiralfracture at upper arm] and got transported to the hospital. That smells like arbitrariness and intention (meant for deterrence). It´s planned to sue the officers involved for an assault. That so-called "christian" politicians and parts of the inhabitants use these actions, to call us all chaots from far away, is only one side. On the other side I have a lot of respect for these people, risking their health and future and breaking laws on purpose, because other ways have proved to be ineffective. Should we not all sit up in the trees ?!

The lawful possibilities to fight against the road and the ICE in the area Arnstadt have ended now. The BUND (FoE) Thüringen has lost it´s case at the courts against the dispossession of his land on route. "The wasting of money" and "environmental destruction" are not negotiable in a court, we can only use politics, that means our politics from the basis. And so the judges will quite often get to hear from us...

Thomas Wey, Wasungen                                                       All translating mistakes by me... (not him)

Taken from : Infodienst der Bürgeraktion B17/A81