German anarchist nicked

Hans-Georg Eberl, militant of the I-AFD (Initiative for a German Anarchist Federation) faces a prison sentence because of his antifascist activity. On 2 November 1997 in the Bavarian town of Koeschning, 500 extreme right activists met to create an international of the European Right. They included leaders of Front National France, Vlaams Block from Belgium, as well as German fascists. Before the meeting 140 antifascists demonstrated outside. they were attacked by neo-nazi skinheads, and one had his nose broken. The police protected the retreat of his attacker, after which fighting broke out between the opposing forces. The police chose to steam in against the antifascists, arresting 3. One of them, Hans-Georg, was accused of throwing a stone at a cop. His injuries were such that he needed no medical treatment whatsoever.

Hans-Georg was imprisoned from 2-14 November in preventive detention. He was obliged to work for a mark an hour, his glasses were taken away after a week, only his parents were allowed to visit, his mail was heavily censored. He was freed on bail, charged with "grave wounding" and "serious threat to public order".

Repression against antifascists and anarchists has always been an instrument used by the State. But for several months, the German state has considerably toughened its stance, banning antifascist demos and persecuting militants. In response the I-AFD has demanded that all charges be dropped against Hans-Georg.

Send letters of protest to Herr Beckstein,

Bavarian Minister of the Interior at Staatsminister des Innern, Odeonsplatz 3, 80539 Munich, Germany.

Contact I-AFD, Gruppe Verden, Grosse Str. 62, 27283 Verden, Germany. e-mail: i-afd_@anarch.free.de