Anti-war activists demonstrated exterior a navy profession centre of Germany’s Bundeswehr in Cologne on Wednesday, to protest authorities plans to reintroduce a type of navy service.
The sit-in blockade by the alliance “Rheinmetall entwaffnen” (‘Disarm Rheinmetall’) proceeded peacefully, in response to the police.
A police spokesman mentioned that round 70 individuals had been concerned within the protest, including: “The safety forces have encircled these people.”
The protest kicks off a number of “days of motion” in opposition to conscription, the activist group mentioned.
In a while Wednesday, the German authorities is ready to put the groundwork for the introduction of a brand new model of navy service.
The proposal would first depend on voluntary recruitment, however use conscription as a backup possibility. The measure is one in every of a number of aimed toward boosting the Bundeswehr which are being mentioned at a Cupboard assembly on the Ministry of Defence in Berlin.
The group, in a press release, pointed to the Cologne navy profession centre and mentioned “This constructing is the place the central coordination of Bundeswehr workers planning takes place.
“As quickly as conscription is reintroduced, recruitment can even be organized right here. That is why we’re right here in the present day to make it clear: We’re not prepared for battle!” it added.
Operations on the profession centre had been persevering with as regular, in response to a spokeswoman for the Bundeswehr in Cologne. She mentioned freedom of opinion and meeting had been basic rights and among the many highest values of democracy.
The Bundeswehr was dedicated to defending democracy, she mentioned. “We additionally battle for individuals to have the ability to be in opposition to us.”
Activists from the anti-war alliance “Rheinmetall Disarm” block entry to a Bundeswehr profession heart in Cologne. The German Cupboard in Berlin needs to set the course for a brand new navy service in the present day. Sascha Thelen/dpa
