Germany: stop the Nato conference in Munich!
Workers Power Global, Berlin

In two weeks time, one of the most important international meetings of leading imperialist militarists - Nato representatives and imperialist politicians will take place in Munich, the so-called "Nato-Sicherheitskonferenz".

More than 200 top ranking military strategists and representatives of political think tanks of imperialist's armies will meet in hotel Bayrischer Hof. Behind the curtains and several thousands of police they will discuss current war strategies of the imperialist countries. It will be a meeting of "the men in the back", rather than a photo call of the political executive.

By coincidence, it is being held in the Bavarian capital, the heartland Edmund Stoiber (CSU), the newly nominated candidate of the conservative CDU/CSU who will challenge the SPD-leader Schršder in the German federal elections in September.

Bavaria is also the heartland of major German multi-nationals like Siemens, BMW, Allianz or Hypo-Vereinsbank, to whom the political elite in the CSU is closely linked a party which governs the country since the second world war with almost absolute power.

The Nato meeting in Munich is officially sponsored and organised by the Quandt foundation. The Quandt family is one of the richest within the German capitalist class and well known as the owners of BMW. The current chair of the foundation is Horst Teltschik, former chief advisor to Helmut Kohl.

The main items for discussion will be how to secure the current world order, free access to raw materials and markets in the so-called "Third World", particularly in countries whose governments are too unstable or whose loyalty to imperialism is politically doubtful. They will discuss how Nato and all other imperialist alliances or institutions can best intervene globally.

For the past few years most imperialist countries have started to restructure their armed forces to be able to intervene in "crisis" spots with well-equipped professional soldiers. The US and, to a smaller extent, Britain have set the "benchmark" for other imperialist countries in that respect.

Therefore the Sicherheitstagung is also used by the German high command and imperialist politicians to call for a "reform" of the Bundeswehr. The red-green coalition government has deployed German troops to Kosova, Macedonia and now Afghanistan and the Gulf.

The Defence minister Scharping has already introduced a number of reforms to train several thousands soldiers for foreign intervention. The generals' demand long-range transport aircraft, a programme to build a modern fleet and the transform the conscript army into a professional one.

Stoiber has used the imminence of the Nato meeting to make clear that in his opinion, the SPD/Green has done to little to build a strong imperialist army. According to him Germany needs 150.000 troops to be deployed internationally and a rapid increase in military spending, plus another 150,000 "home troops".

Whether or not Stoiber will win the next election: his demands clearly signal that the German ruling class wants to overcome its military weakness be it under a conservative government or an SPD-led one. At the very least Stoiber serves as whip for the bourgeoisie to get out of the social democrats what it wants.

A counter-demonstration has been called for 1 and 2 February by an alliance of left wing organisations (socialists, Stalinist groups), the PDS, left trade unionists, anarchists, student organisations, anti-fascist and anti-racist initiatives.

The Gruppe Arbeitermacht and REVOLUTION support this mobilisation and will jointly organise a contingent on the demos. Central demands against the Nato and German imperialists will be: NO TO Nato, WEU, Bundeswehr! Not a Euro to the German army! Imperialist troops out of the "Third World", no to the intervention of German troops anywhere!

A comrade of the Argentinean PTS will speak from the platform on 1 February to make the link between the political and military aspects of imperialist policy. On the 1 February. a rally is planned and the next day a mass demonstration will march towards hotel Bayrischer Hof.

The aim is to assemble as many forces as possible against the Nato-meeting in the centre of Munich. Whilst a number of workers' organisations, including shop stewards, BetriebsrŠte and rank and file trade unionists could be won to backing and organising the demo, the social democratic leaders of the unions have refused to join for two reasons: firstly, they don't want to attack "their" government or be seen as supporting "violent anti-globalisiers". Secondly, some trade union bureaucrats hope that an increase in military spending will also lead to jobs for "their "company.

The Bavarian state government is well known for its repressive take on law and order and the Bavarian police and Bundesgrenzschutz (special border police, also used against demonstrations etc. in the interior) are well known for their brutality and "effectiveness". Beckstein, the Bavarian minister of interior, has already started a vicious campaign against the demonstrations which may still be banned.

For weeks he has tried to stir up the hatred of the petit-bourgeois and middle classes against the demonstrators, claiming that "violent protestors" would come to Munich to vandalise the city, to destroy and burn shops, houses and communal facilities. Beckstein wants to prove that the Bavarian state is the most "competent" to secure inner security.

It is clear that there will be massive police provocations in Munich. Therefore it is a top priority to organise and co-ordinate the defence the demonstration in advance through the organising committee and the groups, parties and unions involved in it. 

All participants need to be aware that there will be several police provocations on the demonstration, that they need to be prepared to defend it, that they have to go on the demonstration in well organised contingents. With such measures it will be possible to repel the police attacks, it will be possible to show that mass self-defence works, and by that means increase confidence of all involved.

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