Here we publish a translation of an experience report on the last weekend, which was send to us. The German original can be read here.
The last weekend was characterized by the fight against the repression, especially against Turkish revolutionaries, in the FRG. In addition it began really early, namely on Friday the 17th of June at 9 AM … in Munich. There the trial against ten activists of the Confederation of Workers from Turkey in Europe (ATIK) was started. They were already arrested on 15th of April last year in Greece, France, Switzerland and the FRG. They are charged with the alleged support of a foreign terrorist association, the TKP/ML, which is however not listed on any terror list in Europe, at least not on the official ones.
The beginning of a political trial
They are brought to trial now, so I hit the road to Munich. The way to Munich is always a little arduous. The other day I heard a Bavarian comedian, who was joking about that the highway A9 between Nuremberg and Munich is always chock-full of construction sites and traffic jams. That is funny until you are trapped in between those construction sites and traffic jams. Although I reached my destination on time and the trip was worth it. Despite the early working day there gathered about 500 people in front of the court house in Munich. Besides sympathizers of ATIK and their Austrian branch ATIGF there were sympathizers of ADHK, Genclik Cephesi, AGIF, RHI-SRI, Red Relief, MLPD and even some revolutionary forces from the FRG present to show their solidarity. This had already shown how broad the mobilization was on that day.
To get into the court room you needed to pass various security checks. You were palpated, scanned and searched multiple times. By the way, this trial according to the §129 a and b which is more known for an political motivated law against revolutionaries, is held in the same court room as the NSU trial (German fascist terror organization that killed multiple people). Utter mockery or provocation? In addition was the whole building stuffed with cops and on the outside there were some squads of riot cops positioned too. Supported by many not so well disguised undercover policemen. Slogans were shouted, like: “Freedom for all political prisoners”, “Long live international solidarity” and “Solidarity means resistance – Fight fascism in every country”.
At the beginning of the trial the prisoners did refuse to enter the court room because one of the prisoners was arbitrary forced to take of his clothing. They demanded a statement by the court on this degrading measure. In a report made by Bayrischer Rundfunk (transl.: Bavarian Broadcasting) you can see how the prisoners later entered the court room: raised fist and greeted by cheers and militant greetings from the balconies. So the revolutionary moral of the comrades seems to be excellent. Right at the beginning of the trial the German prosecutor sets the record straight to the German norm: “We are here in Germany and here we talk German!” About 3.30 PM the first day of trial against the comrades ended. The first day was characterized by technicalities, in the best tradition of German officialdom. Reading of the bill of indictment and so on. On the way home there was same “spectacle” of construction sites and traffic jams, but the feeling I took with me was a good one. A distinct mark of standing together with many comrades in the struggle of freedom for the political prisoners and proof of how effective this work is.
Halay in the mud, mood good
On Saturday I was heading for the Group Yorum concert in Gladbeck. This event too was previously hit by a massive repression by the German state. Actually it should have happened on an area owned by an Alevi community but after threats by the police and the German domestic secret service the community canceled its support to the first Grup Yorum open-air in the FRG. The justification of the cops was that the band allegedly supports terrorists in Turkey. So it was unclear until the end under what circumstances the concert would take place. But the comrades kept emphasizing that the concert will take place and they even intensified their mobilization. And so the concert took place.
Sadly the weather didn't play along and even before the beginning there were first rainfalls and light thunderstorms. But the militant spirit of the visitors was not crushed by that and so there was the first Halay of the day even before the concert had begun. The concert took place under the strict surveillance and control of the cops. Riot cops, surveillance bus almost directly besides the stage, undercover cops and small patrolling squads of riot police on the festival area, strict control of the stage volume (even some fascists shall have made an appearance nearby). They had put all kinds of things to work and the provocation looked for by the cops was omnipresent. But on that day nobody fell into their trap.
During the gig of Grup Yorum people danced jolly and the mood was good and comradely, despite that it was raining continuously and all the harassment by the cops. Even though I am not a trained Halay dancer it wasn't a problem for me to participate and quickly there was a new dancing partner to my left hand side who helped me and cheered for me as soon as I got the right timing. The collective trait of the traditional dance was precisely highlighted and it was absolutely clear why it should be part of a revolutionary culture. Immediately I had pictures in my mind of some videos from Turkey in which the comrades are dancing side by side and doing propaganda work in between burning barricades during a short break from street battles with the cops.
While the song Bella Ciao was playing there was a flare lighted what was embraced by most people, it lifted the good mood even further and also brought a short moment of joyless concern for the cops. After the song was finished however a representative of the DKP (transl.: German Communist Party) entered the stage and grabbed the microphone to speak out an explicit ban in a harsh tone.
During breaks in the cultural program there were speeches held by several organizations. At this point a comrade indicated a topic which I could have noticed also the day before in Munich. Various organizations, mainly of German origin, are insisting in their speeches on the standpoint that the repression against Turkish revolutionaries is foremost an interference with the domestic policy of German imperialism made by the Turkish government and especially Erdogan. They show themselves virtually as defenders of the “German sovereignty” towards Turkey. As if the FRG as an imperialist country has no interest in weakening, oppress and to lead astray the revolutionary movement in Turkey. But the imperialists are always trembling with fear before the revolutionary peoples of the world. Aside from that it would be new to me if a semi-colonial country like Turkey which is dependent on imperialist countries had somehow any relevant influence on the domestic policy of an imperialist country.
In my opinion altogether the weekend was very successful. It was demonstrated that the revolutionary movement in this country won't be intimidated by the rulers repression, that we can respond to it collectively and that revolutionary culture can not be banned. When we consider the sharpening of the situation it seems that a closing of the ranks of the revolutionaries against the repression and for the freedom of the political prisoners is indispensable. Not only in declarations but in active solidarity in the streets.
Pictures are taken from following sources:
www.atik-online.net
https://www.facebook.com/Almanya-Grup-Yorum-Sevenler-Forumu-1022122321139120/
