Berlin: Raw news following crackdown on refugees in Friedrichshain

previous updates here

August 27th, after 16:00 (local time):

– refugees are still occupying the roof of the former hostel Georgenhof in Gürtelstraße (the hotel Georgenhof, where anti-riots cops were stationed yesterday, is another building right next to the hostel)

– the cops deny them food, water and any contact with their lawyers; they also deny them medication (there is one refugee who is in urgent need of medication)

– the refugees also point out that there are no negotiations; this misinformation has been spread by the police; they insist on speaking with the senator for integration Kolat from the SPD (Social Democratic Party of Germany), who was responsible for the agreements; they state they will not leave without negotiations

– they demand the right to stay for all refugees including themselves, and don’t want to be criminalized anymore

– at the junction of Scharnweberstraße and Gürtelstraße, in Friedrichshain, there are an estimated 15 to 20 people, among them refugees and solidarians; they still have a PA there, informing people through speeches and also offering them to give own statements; the cops opened this junction for the traffic, which makes it difficult to follow the speeches

– there is a call for physical support at the junction; apart from this, food, drinks, chalks, music and blankets are also needed

– there are now less police vans inside the barriers, and the cops who check people at the barriers are fewer compared to yesterday (26/8)

– at least 4 refugees were reportedly detained at Oranienplatz today between 14 and 14:30 for no apparent reason

sources: linksunten.indymedia.org and the street