Illegal tent camp riot: authorities practice self-criticism and rooms
Illegal tent camp riot: authorities practice self-criticism and rooms
In the Harz, this year's “Rainbow Gathering 2024” triggered massive tensions between the authorities and a group of hippies and free spirits. The camp has been moving with it since August 21. About 1,500 participants had gathered in the landscape protection area between Bad Grund and Buntenbock to live out their community vision for three weeks. But this peaceful intention led to legal problems and environmental damage that forced the authorities to act.
The region was a refuge for many to celebrate their freedom and way of life, but the camp seemed illegal to the authorities. Tents and fireplaces not only violate the provisions of landscape protection, but the participants of the Rainbow Family have also blocked escape routes. Such violations meant that the districts of Göttingen and Goslar pronounced a ban on entering and staying for the approximately 200 hectare site. The authorities' answer was a massive effort that mobilized hundreds of police officers and firefighters to get the situation under control.
sources of the anger and self -criticism of the authorities
The inspectors spoke of the confiscation of 70 tents and around 97 vehicles. Several fire also had to be deleted, which indicates the dangerous conditions in the camp. The order of the events and the relentless attitude of the "Rainbow Family" have caused those responsible in the counties to become aware of their own mistakes. Alexander Saipa, senior district director in Goslar, expressed his resentment about the behavior of the campers and described it as "fleece and negligent". Despite the verbal expression of the anger, there were no options for evacuation of the site, since this would have been a disproportionate measure.
The environmental aspect is no less worrying, since the authorities reported “solid garbage” and the legacy of emergency in nature. This led to considering security in the forest. Saipa even expressed doubts that the announced clean -up campaigns would actually be successful. The authorities have now launched 110 fine proceedings against the camper present.
Reporting on the event was significantly hindered by the strict measures of the authorities. The district of Göttingen issued a ban on journalists to enter the camp. This led to a massive criticism by the German Journalist Association (DJV) in Lower Saxony, which denounced the weaknesses in protecting the press freedom.
insight into the reporting and their restrictions
A reporter reported on his experience that he was denied access to the camp while he was referred to secondary police forces who were taking his personal details. The impending penalties for images from the restricted zone scanted. They were threatened with a fine of up to 5,000 euros if they made their recordings public. Instead, the media received photos created by a photographer on behalf of the authorities, which raises the question of independent reporting.
Since the authorities emphasize the simulation of transparency, the self -criticism of Saipa and Marlies Dornieden, the Göttingen district councilor, indicates that they have not properly assessed the information situation. Your responsibility towards the public suggests that more open communication would be desirable. The problems related to the “Rainbow Gathering” not only caused negative perspectives on the event, but also throw a shadow on the municipal approaches in dealing with such meetings in the future.