mr42O
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How brown is Germany?
Revelations of the neo-Nazis systematically executed ten people, shocked Germany this autumn. In the wake of the horrific case comes more unpleasant realizations.
The Germans were shocked and upset that three of the so-called Zwickau group could go underground, and then killed ten people and robbed banks in just over a decade before they were discovered. Uwe Mundlos and Uwe Böhnhardt killed themselves when they realized that the game was over, while Beate Zschäpe on remand. The political extremist activists kill, should unfortunately not very surprising: Since 1990, approximately 160 people killed by skinheads, neo-Nazis and similar utgrupper in Germany. It was shocking systematics. It seems to have been methodical, planned executions. And police and intelligence clearly had no idea what was going on - despite the fact that several aides were also involved.
Overview
Early this fall I asked a researcher at the European far right on precisely the situation in Germany, and he believed that the communities are so thoroughly infiltrated that barely a whisper would go undetected. He was not alone in believing. During the investigation revealed more new specific errors committed by police and intelligence, in addition to more fundamental problems with the way government has worked with extreme right. Too many bodies in both the states and at national level have been involved. But they have barely communicated. Instead, they partially tripped over each other. Now, the monitoring of right-wing reorganized, partly modeled on what has been done in the area of ​​Islamic terrorism after 11 September attacks.
Prohibition Party?
Meanwhile, the old debate about banning the nationalist party NPD flared up. One of the helpers who now sits in prison, seems to be a demonstrable link between the party and the terrorist cell. Legal parties receive public funding in Germany, and indignation is of course much of that tax money will finance the extreme right and extreme instance of violence. Previous attempts to ban the party stopped at Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe because the authorities had infiltrated and paid so many agents in the party that they almost sat on both sides of the table. The large majority of such prohibition among elected officials and the people, but among others, Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger warns that a ban will not now be feasible, for the same reason. At least 130 public paid NDP-informants are still active, ten of them in the top of the party, writes Der Spiegel. But a party ban would neither stop the right-wing violence, or change people's hateful attitudes, and the debate can also be regarded as a diversion.
Reflectors
Right Extremism in Germany has been regarded as a marginal problem, and as a percentage of the population is obviously there. The country's elite is still keen to work with the war, and it is impressive to see how very serious it is done. The reflections are in place at the hint of revisionism or anti-Semitism, and a ban on Nazi symbols are enforced strictly. Reflection is unfortunately not as good when it comes to recent times immigrants: Africans, Turks, Arabs. One of the most outrageous and heartbreaking at the Zwickau-group killing, are the stories from the families of the nine immigrant victims from Turkey and Greece. Instead of investigating a not unlikely theory of racial motives, concluded the police again and again that some mafia-like may be used, the victim himself had dubious connections. Not only do you lose a father or a friend - but police soiled the memory of the dead with unfounded allegations. These allegations were sitting at the next of kin.
Explosive
The idea that there is something suspect of having an immigrant background, is limited not to the police. With a recent poll that every fifth German is "explicitly negative attitude to foreigners and immigrants." A study at the University of Bielefeld over ten years measured hostile attitudes of the Germans. The conclusion of this year was that attitudes have been hardening. The community is more divided, weakened confidence in democracy and economic inequality has increased. It is about an explosive situation that permanent state, beating the responsible sociologist fixed. Unfortunately, the description fits in all too many countries in Europe. With further economic slowdown in sight, it is to expect the right wing get wind come. The answer to the question in the title is therefore twofold: Germany is hardly browner than others, but the warning signs of development flashes across the continent.
Hvor brunt er Tyskland? - Aftenposten
