Today in Hamburg and other federal states within Germany, the police conducted searches in more than 60 political projects, private flats and work places by order of the Federal Supreme Court.

This action was founded on the §129a StGB, the "creation of a terrorist group" in connection with the protests against the G8 in Heiligendamm at the beginning of June this year.

We analyse it as an attempt by the governing power to criminalise and defame the broadly organised campaign against the inhuman policies of the G8.

The "Convergence Centre Hamburg", which will take place in the Flora between the end of May and the beginning of June, is planned as a meeting point and platform for activists from all over the world. It will serve as a space for network meetings and information workshops concerning the backgrounds of the protests and campaigns in Hamburg and Heiligendamm.

The Flora has been a place for political and cultural projects for over 15 years with a self-understanding as a non-commercial, independent and autonomous community centre.

We view the massive police activities in our rooms as an attack against the entire protest movement and as an attempt to intimidate all the activists opposing the G8, and especially that ones who articulate this opposition.

The public debate in Germany about the amnesty of Christian Klar reflects again the fact that critical voices towards the current system are increasingly being displayed as criminal offences. The predictable forms of repression on behalf of the police were yet again demonstrated this morning and during the forced break up of the spontaneous demonstration "Für mehr Freiräume" ( For more free spaces) in Hamburg, which led to several injuries and temporary arrests.

These brazen assaults can not stop further mobilisations. We call for everybody to participate in the coming protests and to reclaim the streets.

Rote Flora, 09.05.2007