Violence update 8. Nov. 1993
Debora Weber-Wulff
which was disturbed by left-wing youth. A riot broke out, 10 persons
were arrested by the police.
Waldshut: An asylum shelter here ("Wohncontainer", little metal huts)
that had been attacked about 6 months ago was again the target of
violence. This time, a fire-bomb was thrown into a living area, a
large fire erupted. About 200.000 DM of damage was done, one fire
fighter suffered smoke inhalation. The container was home for 17
Kurds who are seeking asylum. A 14-person investigation committee
has been formed, and a reward for apprehending the arsonists has been
promised.
Erfurt: A group of skinheads kicked down the door of a homeless
shelter here, tore up the place and injured a 45 year old man by
kicking him badly. No clues yet as to who did it. [A friend of mine
made the mistake of looking like a homeless person in Erfurt 3
years ago. He too was beaten up, they kicked an eye into his head.
He managed to get away and began ringing doorbells, people were afraid
to open their doors. He finally found someone who helped him to the
hospital. He still can't see properly. There was a trial, the youth
got off with suspended sentences. Nice town, Erfurt. -dww]
Storkow: A Russiian cemetary was vandalized, swastikas and SS symbols
were painted on the graves. The article noted that there has been a
rash of such vandalizations in the area lately.
[Note to the poster who thinks we live in paradise in Germany and
was bothered that sentences do not seem to deterr crimes: there was
a recent study that discovered that the chance of serving time for
a crime committed in the States is minimal. There are threats of
sentences, but none follow through. Perhaps there's a lesson here?]
--
Debora Weber-Wulff, Professorin fuer Softwaretechnik und
snail: Technische Fachhochschule Berlin, FB Informatik,
Luxemburgerstr. 10, 13353 Berlin, Germany
email: web...@tfh-berlin.de
Ulf Tangermann
Dear Debora,
first of all, thank You for spending so much time in documenting
violent incidences. Yesterday, however, You wrote:
>Erfurt: A group of skinheads kicked down the door of a homeless
>shelter here, tore up the place and injured a 45 year old man by
>kicking him badly. No clues yet as to who did it. [A friend of mine
>made the mistake of looking like a homeless person in Erfurt 3
>years ago. He too was beaten up, they kicked an eye into his head.
>He managed to get away and began ringing doorbells, people were afraid
>to open their doors. He finally found someone who helped him to the
>hospital. He still can't see properly. There was a trial, the youth
>got off with suspended sentences. Nice town, Erfurt. -dww]
I do understand Your rage. But please, do not condemn the whole city
of Erfurt or the people who live there. All over Germany people are
scared of opening the door to strangers, especially after sunset. All
over Germany people are beaten up if they are or look homeless/jewish/
foreign/gipsy/... ; needless to tell You about that. And all over
Germany the sentences for right-winged offenders are ridiculous. That
awful experience your friend made in Erfurt might as well have happended
in Hangover or in Berlin.
On the other hand, Erfurt indeed is a nice town; no polemics. I could
give you about a dozen addresses there where your friend would have
found good care and help. Nowhere else did I find a better hospitality.
People who didn't knew me personally up to then offered me a room for
the weekend, meals included, and didn't expect any other payment for it
but a thankful handshake. Some even invited me for a second time :-).
I also made a few bad experiences with some stupid and ignorant people
there, but I wouldn't consider them specific for that very city.
Best regards
Ulf