295. Telegram From the Embassy in the German Democratic Republic to the Department of State1
2250.
East Berlin, June 17, 1987,
1256Z
SUBJECT
- GDR Dissidents Detained During President’s June 12 Visit.
REF
- EmbBerlin 2179.2
- 1.
- Confidential—Entire text.
- 2.
- Summary: A GDR dissident has told EmbOff that some known dissidents were detained by security forces during President Reagan’s visit to Berlin June 12. He said plans for a “church convention from below” June 24–28 are proceeding despite increased danger of conflicts with police. End summary.
- 3.
- EmbOff contacted human rights activist Ralf Hirsch June 16 for an update on activities of Hirsch and his circle, especially since the Pentecost street clashes in Berlin. Hirsch confirmed that the street incidents had been spontaneous and apolitical at first, although by the third night of the violence (June 8) political dissidents had become aware of what was happening and were on hand to observe.
- 4.
- Hirsch also confirmed that East Berlin police have been quite nervous since the violence occurred, particularly on June 12 when President Reagan visited Berlin. He showed EmbOff a scab on his forehead which he said he had acquired while scuffling with plainclothes security officers (“Stasi”) who tried to detain him when he left his home June 12. Hirsch said he was on his way to an important meeting with some Western journalists at the time and did not want to be detained or followed, so he wrestled free of the Stasi goons and gave them the slip. In the course of the fracas, though, he was thrown against a fence and hurt his head.
- 5.
- Other known dissidents with whom Hirsch had spoken—Wolfgang Templin, Baerbel Bohley and Werner Fischer—were also subjected to heavy surveillance June 12 and were detained by the Stasi as soon as they tried to leave home. The Stasi picked them up about 2:00–3:00 p.m. and held them without explanation at a facility on Alexanderplatz (probably the Berlin police headquarters) until about 9:00 p.m., when they were released without comment, according to Hirsch.
- 6.
- Hirsch admitted in response to EmbOff’s questions that organizers of the “Kirchentag von Unten” (“church convention from below”) June 24–28 are aware of the heightened potential for confrontation with police in the current tense atmosphere in Berlin. However, Hirsch said, “none of the arrangements will be changed.” Hirsch believed that negotiations were still going on to determine whether church authorities will offer “Kirchentag von Unten” organizers a satisfactory meeting place, in order to forestall threatened occupation of one of the churches planned as a center for the regular Kirchentag.
- 7.
- Moscow minimize considered.
Meehan
- Source: Reagan Library, Rudolf Perina Files, Subject File, GDR (German Democratic Republic)—Substance 1987 (1). Confidential; Priority. Sent for information to Belgrade, Bonn, Bucharest, Budapest, Moscow, Prague, Sofia, Warsaw, Vienna, West Berlin, Hamburg, USAFSB Berlin, and USIA.↩
- See Document 294.↩