Black Shamrocks arrive at Leipzig-Halle

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Wednesday April 11, 2007 15:17

by Coilín ÓhAiseadha

aatchoo at gmail dot com

086 060 3818

Easter demo against militarism in the former GDR

In Leipzig over the Easter weekend, Irish activists participated in an international discussion of tactics for the anti-war movement, in the formulation of a declaration demanding an end to the ongoing militarisation of Leipzig-Halle airport, and in a protest march from the nearby town of Schkeuditz to the airport. We also distributed a few hundred black shamrocks, which were very well received.

Markus affixes black shamrock beside German ploughshares badge

Having made contact with some of the anti-war activists from the area of Leipzig, who attended our conference at the University of Limerick last November - http://www.indymedia.ie/article/79640 - Conor Cregan and I were invited to hold workshops under the theme of militarism at the BUKO.

The BUKO is an annual event, originating as a congress of development and solidarity groups and individuals and this year celebrating its 30th anniversary. Read more here: http://wiki.dissentnetwork.org/wiki/BUKO30

The German activists were very keen to hear about the different kinds of actions that had been tried out at Shannon over the last few years, and several saluted the decommissioning actions of Mary Kelly and the Pitstop Ploughshares.

We participated in the formulation and delivery of a "Schkeuditz declaration", in which we jointly deplored the recent and ongoing militarisation of Leipzig-Halle airport. World Airways has been transporting American troops to Iraq and Afghanistan via Leipzig-Halle since the airline withdrew from Shannon on 1 July 2006, and there are plans to extend the airport to facilitate the maintenance of an increasing number of Antonov cargo planes.

Read an English translation of the Schkeuditz declaration here: http://www.blackshamrock.org/article/162#comment116

** Broad-based movement, diverse tactics

I counted more than a hundred demonstrators on the seven-kilometre march from Schkeuditz to the airport, including members of a range of local peace groups, plus members of Attac and participants at the BUKO. Speakers at the airport included socialist MEP Tobias Pfluger and evangelical pastor Christian Fuhrer, who pointed out that business leaders facilitating the transport of troops and military cargo through the airport are complicit in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Tobias Pflüger is an MEP with the Party of Democratic Socialism. The Left Party.PDS (In German: Die Linkspartei.PDS), formerly Party of Democratic Socialism (Partei des Demokratischen Sozialismus, PDS) is the legal successor to the Socialist Unity Party (SED), which ruled the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) until 1990.

Christian Fuhrer played a leading role in the peaceful reform movement that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany:
http://www.allhallowsleeds.org.uk/worship/sermons/Trish...shtml

Fuhrer has been involved in the campaign to prevent the militarisation of Leipzig-Halle airport since July last year, holding prayers for peace and giving local activists permission to hang a big banner on his church of St. Nicholas in the centre of Leipzig. Note that this is the same church that, under Fuhrer’s leadership, became a major centre of protest in the months up to the fall of the Berlin wall.

"Nein zum Kriegsflughafen!" ("No to the warport!") was the slogan on the banner that hung on the church last summer until it was stolen under mysterious circumstances one night: http://www.flughafen-natofrei.de/index.php?What=Aktionen
With Fuhrer's permission, local peace activists have plans for further events at the church in coming months - including banners secured against interference.

Other protests on Sunday included a balloon action. While speeches were in progress at the airport, activists released hundreds of black balloons, prepared overnight at another nearby town, to obstruct flights.

For more photos, reportage in German and links, please see:
http://www.nachtflugverbot-leipzig.de/fotos_ostermarsch...7.htm

See also the Black Shamrock site for another report:
http://www.blackshamrock.org/article/162

More than 100 demonstrators made the 7-km march from Schkeuditz to the airport

Demonstrators enjoyed speeches right outside Leipzig-Halle airport

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Comments (7 of 7)

Why the hell mention that this march took place in the former GDR?

by Neue Bundeslaender

Thu Apr 12, 2007 08:58

May I ask why the title of this report mentions that the demonstration took place in the "former GDR"?

The GDR ceased to exist in 1990 and that was a good thing. Despite the impression it built up of itsself as a peace-loving state, the GDR was by far more militaristic than West Germany. The military was a feature of everyday life, children were given paramilitary training in schools, goosestepping, and uniforms and ranks were omnipresent. Granted, the East German military was not involved in wars of aggression around the world, although East Germany's leaders pleaded with Moscow to allow troops participate in the suppression of the Czech Spring in 1968.

Don't mention the GDR!

by Coilín

Thu Apr 12, 2007 13:49

Thanks for your comments, Neue.

I think the significance of the setting in the former GDR is already evident in my report, but to clarify the point:
Having torn down the Iron Curtain - i.e. having defied and discarded the militarism of the Soviet Union - through a series of peaceful demonstrations, the peace movement in Leipzig is now faced with the challenge of tackling US militarism in the shape of the increasing militarisation of Leipzig-Halle airport.

This raises prospects for another showdown, perhaps even more spectacular than the last.

But what is your own view on the new militarism at Leipzig-Halle? How do you feel about Ms Merkel's attempts to create employment by participating in Mr Bush's ambitious project to exert US military influence right across the Middle East and Central Asia? What prospects do you think this strategy has to provide sustainable employment for the people of Sachsen-Anhalt and the other Neue Bundesländer?

Viele Gruesse
Coilín.

Agin it all

Fri Apr 13, 2007 10:07

A Choilín,

The significance of mentioning the GDR was not all that significant in your report, which is why I raised it.

I'm very supportive of your work and the actvities of the organisations you're associated with in Germany. I oppose the war in Iraq and oppose those states which offer material support for those wars, such as Ireland and Germany. However, I don't think that any favours are done to the anti-war movement by making vague references to the former GDR, especially given the fact that many PDS members still maintain that there was nothing wrong with the extensive militarisation of the GDR or the Eastern Bloc as these forces were "democratic", "anti-fascist", "of the workers' and peasants" etc. I've met plenty of these PDS types over the years, and their selective historical memory is at times revolting.

Nevertheless, it is great to see younger PDS representatives working with church groups - before 1989, the PDS predecessors effectively criminalised the latter.

Besten Gruss!

NBL

pds & churches

by antje

Fri Apr 13, 2007 14:48

well, some of would still be happy to see churches criminalised!!!
both the evangelical and catholic churches in germany are trying to hinder increased kindergarten places at the moment.
and well, if they could get their way on abortion...(the catholic church anyway...)

not all that significant?

Wed Apr 18, 2007 19:05

Thanks for your comments, Neue.

You raise issues that are significant to the peace movement in Germany, and particularly in Leipzig. And it's not my job to gloss over such issues, but rather to be aware of them and to address them as and when necessary. So thanks for raising them.

I think the historical issue of the militaristic tension between the former east block and the US may have a bearing on a problem mentioned by my friends in the movement in Leipzig, namely allegations that they are anti-American.

This is an issue that gives me a feeling of deja vu! I've seen the same allegation crop up in letters to the papers in both Ireland and Denmark, and I find myself wondering where the idea comes from? Of course, it's excellent black PR to call us anti-American, whether we be based in Ireland or Denmark or Germany, but it's a spurious criticism. I have already published my ten reasons to love America.

Mind you, if criticising the abduction and torture of Moazzam Begg makes me anti-American, then so be it. And if criticising a culture of violence that stretches all the way from Virginia Tech to Baghdad makes me anti-American, then so be it.

Best,
Coilín.

Easter march Schkeuditz 2007 - more pictures

Wed Apr 18, 2007 19:14

No more scenic place than Schkeuditz to start a new airport neighbourhood watch scheme!