In the following we want to inform you about a procedure according to §129 in Hamburg and Bremen, describe the collective handling of it and give space to individual voices of affected people.
In summer, some people in Hamburg and Bremen opened their mailboxes and there they were again: letters from the Chief Public Prosecutor Schakau of the General Prosecutor’s Office in Hamburg. From 26.05.2020 to 25.07.2022 investigations of different authorities in a §129-procedure against anarchists in Hamburg and Bremen took place. It was about an association construct to which direct actions, mainly in Hamburg, should be assigned over a longer period of time.
Three of the five people against whom the investigations were mainly directed had already been convicted in 2020 in the so-called Parkbank proceedings and were the three official defendants in these proceedings. In the course of the investigation, two other people were selected as potential members of the constructed association, who were similarly investigated.
It all starts (for us) with a report from the BKA to the Attorney General’s Office suggesting proceedings under §129a (formation of a terrorist organization) against the three defendants. However, this is rejected by Attorney General Geilhorn, as are proceedings under §129 (formation of a criminal organization) at the federal level.
One day later, proceedings under §129 begin in Hamburg, led by Chief Public Prosecutor Schakau. In the course of these investigations, measures are initiated against all five suspects of membership; these run from the beginning of May to the beginning of August 2021 and include observations with photo and video recordings, telecommunications surveillance (tapping telephone conversations and reading text messages), the use of IMSI catchers and silent text messages, as well as Internet surveillance (especially the reading of all known and accessible e-mail inboxes).
In the course of this, a large part of the environments of the five defendants were investigated and a large number of people were affected by almost all of the measures. In this context, it should be mentioned that there were at least two people who were not constructed as (potential) members, whose phones were tapped separately with harebrained explanations. It should also be mentioned that the observations and wiretapping measures took place across federal states (Hamburg, Bremen, Berlin, Bavaria and Saxony) and in several cases by administrative assistance also in other European countries (Austria, Belgium and Spain).
Ultimately, the proceedings are discontinued on 25.07.2022, officially for lack of evidence. “Officially”, because of course – as we know – parallel surveillance against some defendants also took place according to other paragraphs, also under the sign of police “danger defense”. A more detailed processing of the investigations in the sense of “files for all” will be given elsewhere and at a later time.
This procedure and the investigations are directed – like those of the last years – against the practice of direct action, against revolutionary ideas and here especially against our solidary and loving relations.
They represent an attack against much more than just those officially accused or suspected.
We have therefore decided to seek a way of dealing with them that is as collective and transparent as possible. Thus, before reading the files ourselves, we had another person, less rooted in our immediate social environment, read them in order to find a sensitive way of dealing with the personal data and intercepted conversations contained therein.
Also, we have organized a collective meeting of many affected in the file of measures to create a collective moment of sharing and strength.
In the following, we want to let some voices have their say, because being affected by such a major attack and intervention in our lives is not homogeneous and affects people at different moments and in different ways:
“It is an enormously empowering experience to consciously and militantly acknowledge our relationships in the face of such a shameless attack and intrusion into all of our intimacy – this creates a space in which our fear and uncertainty can find a place and no one remains alone – but out of which our anger and defiance then also find expression. Defending our relationships means defending our struggles!”
“When repression, paranoia and the cops snooping around are part of everyday life for years, it seems all the more important to me to create common moments and spaces to talk about it and to be outraged. I don’t want to resign myself to it, nor do I want to become numb to the intrusions into my private life and the fears they trigger. To position oneself together and also publicly to it works against the feelings the pigs want to trigger with it!”
“The violation of one’s own sense of security and privacy that comes with the surveillance of us has always found expression in me in very different feelings: in powerlessness, anger, and of course in paranoia or paralysis. Finding an individual and collective way to deal with these different emotional states over and over again is exhausting as shit. However, knowing that what the cops want to achieve – attacking our relationships and struggles, triggering fears that cause a distancing from each other – that they can’t achieve that is a wonderful thing that also allows me to find a completely different expression: in solidarity, friendship and conviction for our ideas!”
“It doesn’t surprise me. It’s disgusting, absurd, laughable; I didn’t expect anything else from them. What text messages did we write to each other, who talked on the phone about you coming to see me. All this to be read by people who have nothing to do with it. And still: What is not written there, what they do not understand and will never understand, because it is so far away from their life realities. We still know best what connects us with whom and how strongly, what we have done where, when and why, what we are burning for – no matter how many surveillance measures they carry out.
Don’t let the insecurity and isolation win. It’s good to see you guys. I wonder if that’s smart.
Acknowledging that in this reality we have to ask ourselves these questions, knowing that there are no clear right or wrong answers in them. Just different choices. This decision feels right.
I look into your faces, exchange glances, a laugh, and I’m sure: “We’re here. Together.”
“The cop in my head rules my thoughts by crossing the line. Being surveilled is a painful experience. Powerlessness, fear, insecurity, doubt … it all does that to me. To be in this maelstrom for the first time and to question everything can throw you off track. My self-image is shaken!
Combative and with anger in my belly towards these circumstances that are supposed to destroy us. No, I feel small and my self-confidence is almost non-existent. To be made glassy leaves a disgusting feeling in the first moment. Private things that are only my business are looked at in a disproportionate way. The self-determination over my life is simply broken.
But, even though it hurts, I am also glad not to be numb. But to become aware of his feelings and to share this. And so, after a while, the anxiety I feel and notice will switch sides, because dealing with it collectively can only give you life energy.”
“I’m (we’re) not amazed at the shamelessness, but still very disgusted by it.”
“And then it does make a difference: to read in black and white what I wrote in sms. To see me in photos. Being categorized and commented on. Those bastards!
There is always anxiety, fear and insecurity inside me. Many of the feelings overwhelm me and it’s hard to get myself back in it sometimes. I wake up at night feeling alone and just scared. And sometimes I don’t want to get myself together or under control! Feeling my anger gives me strength! By caring for all of us, I feel all the more the value of trusting each other.
To become aware of my loving relationships strengthens me. Just not letting myself be isolated or singled out, but coming together more, trusting each other and sharing, gives me confidence.”
“With all the anger at the cops because they think they can spy on us and look into everything – but instead of intimidating us and breaking us, they just strengthen our trust in each other and knowing that there’s so much they’ll never figure out and find out.”
Currently there are again many proceedings according to §129, §129a as well as the actually always ongoing proceedings according to §129b against revolutionary structures and individuals.
At this point also a solidary greeting to all those who are affected by such investigations and who act in solidarity!
Freedom and happiness!
Friends and comrades-in-arms affected by the measures
Source: Kontrapolis