Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 16:59:51 -0600 (CST) From: crosswix@ix.netcom.com (camille zanni) Subject: Events of June 1996 in Halle, Germany This is multipart MIME message. --uypxankntqincxnuxakqyfvjcpwkxu Content-Type:text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; name="NCZ1107.TMP" Please see the attached ".txt" file, for your information. --uypxankntqincxnuxakqyfvjcpwkxu Content-Type:text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; name="97halle.txt" THE MAGNUS HIRSCHFELD CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CROSSWICKS HOUSE 551 VALLEY ROAD, SUITE #169 UPPER MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY U.S.A. 07043 TELEPHONE: 201-237-3406 FACSIMILE: 201-744-4971 E-MAIL: CROSSWIX@IX.NETCOM.COM WILLIAM A. COURSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR March 18, 1997 Dear Reader(s): In connection with the events of last June (1996) occuring in Halle, Sachsen-Anhalt State, Germany, I am in receipt of the following letter dated January 10, 1997 (following translated from the original German, with thanks to Kagendo Murungi of the Intern ational Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission) from Manfred Puechel, the State's Interior Minister, which I share with you now for your interest. Kind regards, William Courson --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR POSTFACH 3560 D-39010 MAGDEBURG GERMANY INDEX NO. 23.2-02011 RE: Your Letter of August 31, 1996 Ladies and Gentlemen: Now that we have been able to complete our investigation into the police deployment and inform the state parliament, the interior committee and the petition committee appropriately, I would like to respond to your letter of August 31,1996. The large number of letters made clear that deployment of police - as a result of news coverage in the media, which, by nature, portrays the facts of the case in a highly abbreviated manner- has led to a worldwide reaction. Thus the impression is to be taken from a large number of letters that the search in question comprised an action against lesbians and gays. It is regrettable that this impression could have risen, aspecially because all the responsible parties are called upon to guarantee the protection and integration of social minorities. The deployment was not directed against lesbians and gays as a social entity, but rather was exclusively planned and ordered as a measure to combat drug criminality. On that evening it was known neither to police nor to the public prosecutor's office that the restaurant at the time of the search was a gathering place for lesbians and gays. Combatting drug criminality in all its diversity, which in the State of Saxony-Anhalt has a focal point in the area of Halle, requires a diverse array of measures. These measures include the control of illegal drug trade through the creation of a high degree of pressure to hinder the formation or consolidation of so-called "open scenes." Searches are means to this end and take place to the extent that the legally necessary grounds for suspicion are present. As a result of numerous tips to the police and to other agencies and organizations, the prosecutor's office had applied for a search order at the district court. After inspecting the application, the district court in jurisdiction ordered the search. I again underscore that the measure which was carried out directed itself solely and exclusively against drug dealers and users. I have subjected the tactical police measures of that night to a critical inspection. In doing so, I determined that the reason for the search had been communicated via the speaker system to the restaurant's visitors immediately upon infiltration of the restaurant. Futhermore, the visitors were handcuffed to prevent the distruction or disposal of evidence, in this case especially of drugs. A search of these persons for evidence followed. Against assertions claiming otherwise, none of the parties in question were forced, in the process, to disrobe completely. Females were searched by female officers and male by male officers, in separate rooms. Accusations to the effect that individual parties were forced to spend hours in a squatting position or that this deploymenat of police was brutal and overly harsh were not able to be verified through a survey of the objective record. Misgivings against the preparation and evaluation of video-recorded material can be cleared insofar as these recordings, naturally, were handled and erased in accordance with the legal conditions applying to the confidentiality of data. Since criminal charges have been brought against the police officers responsible and the investigating prosecutor, all the facts of the case will be subjected, in the final analysis, to an independent judicial review, which, however, has not been complete d at present. The subsequent treatment of the deployment was carried out with all care by the responsible police agency. It goes without saying that all parties responsible will see to it that the interests of all social groups, worthy of protection, will be accounted for . Cordially, Dr.Manfred Puchel Minister of the Interior --uypxankntqincxnuxakqyfvjcpwkxu--