As racism spreads, Germany looks to re-educate youth

As racism spreads, Germany looks to re-educate youth
ANJALI MODY

BERLIN, AUG 29: Every day, somewhere in Germany, there is an attack on non-White ``foreigners''. From fire-bombs thrown into the homes of so-called guest workers to cold blooded murder, there has been an unrelenting rise in the number of attacks.

In many areas, including parts of Berlin, groups of young neo-Nazis declare a ``national liberated zone''; it could be a street or a train line.

They then set about ``liberating'' the area occupied by foreigners, Jews, the homeless, homosexuals and others who they believe do not satisfy their definition of German. This summer they stepped up the attacks, finally forcing the government to respond. The next week in which three neo-Nazi men were charged with kicking to death 39 year-old German national Alberto Adriano in Dessau, the Chancellor announced a package of 25 million dollars to be spent on re-educating young Germans about their not so ancient history and the contemporary reality of racially mixed societies. There is a talk of banning neo-Nazi groups, such as the German National Party (NPD), doing the rounds, but few believe that this will solve the problem.

Racially motivated attacks occur all over Europe. But the frequency of such attacks in eastern Germany is probably the highest. The majority of attacks that occur in the eastern provinces that account for 20 per cent of the total population only 2 per cent are foreigners as against the 10 per cent in western Germany. Interestingly, violent crime in general is lower in east Germany than in the west, but racially-motivated violence is significantly higher.

Much of the racist violence, it has been explained, stems from inequality between the east and west, and as an expression of the frustration of young men in the east. The average unemployment rate in the east is 17 per cent, more than double that in the west. Annette Kahane at a minority rights centre in Berlin, says that prejudices that existed under Communism have been exacerbated by this. She says, the growing indifference of the west towards the east is pushing young people towards extremes.

However, Britta Kollberg who works for the Berlin regional centre for inter-cultural projects, youth and schools, says that economic circumstances have little to do with right-wing extremism. She says that 90 per cent of those involved in racist violence are employed. They have a very clear view.

They believe in the superiority of the white race.