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DE14923-010607
GERMANY: Total objector Jonas Grote in military arrest
Since 23 May 2007, German total objector Jonas Grote (DE14923) is in
military arrest at the Otto-Lilienthal barracks in Roth. Jonas Grote
had been called up for military service for 1 April 2007, but as a
total objector he refuses both, military and substitute civilian
service. On 15 May - International Conscientious Objectors' Day - Jonas
Grote presented himself during a nonviolent action at military barracks
in Karlsruhe. From there he was taken to Roth, where he refused to
perform military service.
The commander of the barracks then applied for an arrest of 21 days,
which has been granted. Jonas Grote announced a hunger strike in
response to his arrest. The military doctors of the barracks then
threatened him with transfer to a closed psychiatric hospital and
forced feeding.
It is general practice of the German military to keep total
objectors in at least three consecutive arrests of 21 days, before
banning them from service, and handing the case to the civilian
criminal justice system. Total objectors then face charges of
"desertion", which in theory can lead to imprisonment of up to five
years. However, in practice sentences are much lower, and range from
fines to suspended sentences of a few month of imprisonment.
Non-suspended sentences have been rare in recent years.
According to German law, military arrest is only legal when there is
a chance that the person concerned might change his mind. In cases of
total objection, this has never happened.
War Resisters' International calls for letters of support to Jonas
Grote
Jonas Grote, Heeresfliegerstaffel 269, Otto-Lilienthal-Kaserne,
91154 Roth
War Resisters' International calls for letters of protest to the
German Minister of Defense, Franz Josef Jung, or German
embassies abroad. An email letter can be sent at http://wri-irg.org/co/alerts/20070601a.html.
War Resisters' International calls for the immediate release of
Jonas Grote, and all imprisoned conscientious objectors.
Andreas Speck
War Resisters' International
wri-irg.org