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Germany: Police raid Antirassismus Buro

01 January 1996

The offices, and homes, of volunteers working at the Antirassismus Buro in Bremen, Germany, were raided by police on January 17. The raid, in which computers, files and documents were confiscated, followed the publication of a leaflet mobilising for a protest march at the decision of German Interior Minister Kanther, to visit the city. Kanther has been responsible for the deportation of an estimated 89,000 people, according to figures gathered by the Buro. The peaceful protest march, which took place a week before the raid, was attended by 600 people, many of them refugees. It was heavily policed by about 600 officers in riot gear, some wearing bulletproof vests, and supported by 200 paramilitary police from the Bundesgrenschutz (Federal Border police) who were on standby in a nearby park. The entire march was videoed and two water cannons were dispersed. The raids that followed were carried out because of a leaflet, which highlighted the announcement of the planned mass deportation of 400,000 Bosnians and 40,000 Vietnamese during 1996, and which described the responsible politicians as "masterminds" (schreibtischtater). The accurate use of the term "deportation" - a word with strong resonances of nazi Germany - in the leaflet also upset the authorities. Several Bremen anti-racists have been charged with offences similar to those relating to inciting racial hatred, previously only used against neo-nazis and racists. The Buro, which was founded in 1991 and has campaigned against refugee detention camps and police harassment, is calling for protest faxes to be sent to Herr Frischmuthat at the Public Record Office, Bremen on 0049-421-361 96608 and to Herr Bortscheller, Home Minister on 0049-421-361 9006. The Antirassismus Buro can be faxed with messages of support on 0049-421-706445. Antirassismus Buro press release 20.1.96, 26.1.96.