Munich march for peace: This moves demonstrators who show the flag against the Siko
Created: 02/20/2022, 19:43
Around 1,600 demonstrators marched from Stachus to Marienplatz on Saturday.
Incidents were inevitable.
At least three police officers were injured.
© Markus Goetzfried
Loud shouts echo through downtown Munich.
It's colourful, numerous signs and banners are held up in the air, some people wear imaginative disguises, pyros are burned off in one corner.
On Saturday the opponents of the Munich* Security Conference* mobilized.
From the Stachus they moved along the Altstadtring to Marienplatz.
The police counted about 1,600 demonstrators at the top.
Significantly less than at the last face-to-face event.
In 2020, around 3,000 people were still at the rallies.
Munich: What demonstrators against Siko want to point out
Around 200 people form a chain between Stachus and Marienplatz.
Their concern is clear: They want to draw attention to the fact that, in their opinion, Siko is not about security, but about militarization, rearmament and the economic interests of industrialized countries.
"Today a perfect show, tomorrow a perfect war," reads one of the many signs.
The demonstrators come from all over Germany.
They demand more humanity and respect for human rights.
"We have been demonstrating against the Security Conference for two decades," says Franz Haslbeck, chairman of the meeting and member of the Munich Association against War and Racism.
Central demand: "NATO and the security conference should be dissolved," demands Haslbeck.
"We need diplomacy and de-escalation - without the military." The demonstration also focused on the current conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
That was also a topic at a demo at Odeonsplatz.
The police *, which was deployed with 3500 forces, draws a positive conclusion.
"The rallies were basically peaceful," says police spokesman Andreas Franken.
Nevertheless, there were a few incidents.
The officers had to use batons and pepper spray several times.
Several demonstrators were arrested over the course of Saturday.
Among other things, because of dangerous bodily harm and insult.
There was also trouble at a Siko-independent commemoration event in Hanau on Marienplatz.
At least three police officers were slightly injured.
mtw, pp
Fetiya Schubart (42), Chairwoman of the Oromo Community, Landshut © Markus Götzfried
That moves demonstrators against Munich Siko: problems in Ethiopia
We would like to draw attention to the Oromo prisoners who are stuck in Saudi Arabia under inhumane conditions.
Problem: The Ethiopian government does not want to take them back without payment.
Fetiya Schubart (42), Chair of the Oromo Community, Landshut
Lisa M. (30), student from Starnberg.
© Markus Goetzfried
Demo against Siko in Munich: I wish for peace
Above all, I am here because of the Ukraine-Russia crisis and, of course, because global conflicts are coming to a head.
I am for disarmament and de-escalation - because I wish that as many people as possible can live peacefully.
Lisa M. (30), student from Starnberg
Daniel R. (22), trainee from Hesse.
© Markus Goetzfried
Munich: demonstrate against war
I came to Munich especially because I want to demonstrate against the looming threat of war.
I think you can clearly see that war is being rushed towards and the situation is being escalated on purpose – especially by NATO.
Daniel R. (22), trainee from Hesse
Gabriele Gabler (67), from Ingolstadt.
© Markus Goetzfried
Demonstrator against Munich Siko: disarmament would be safe and healthy
I believe that the security conference does not contribute anything to our security.
If serious efforts were made to disarmament and diplomatic understanding, the world would be safer and healthier.
Gabriele Gabler (67), pensioner from Ingolstadt
Horst B. (59), industrialist, Schweinfurth.
© Markus Goetzfried
NATO increases the risk of war
The security conference is an expression of imperialist power that prevails internationally.
I'm for the dissolution of NATO because the alliance only ensures that the risk of war increases even more.
Horst B. (59), industrialist, Schweinfurth
Thomas Rödl (66) from Munich.
© Markus Goetzfried
Please change conference
The security conference should be turned into a real peace conference, which is about security for the people and not about the power interests of Germany and the USA.
War must not be a political tool.
Thomas Rödl (66) from Munich
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