When the Berlin wall came down, the former East German Intelligence agency, the Stazi, disbanded and quietly melted away. It was quite a pathetic ending for something that had wielded so much power - in a brutal way on it`s own population. Their presence stifled any talk of rebellion, public or private. It was impossible not to be affected, as someone who you knew personally was likely to be a spy. Those who were felt to be `causing trouble` were taken to a prison, and your children would be put up for adoption. This imprisonment was also opened ended, you had no legal counsel and no right of appeal. That ensured everyone got the message not to make waves.
When it`s reign ended, the torture and the other crimes their members committed, were wiped - in order to smooth the reunification process, it was felt that immunity from prosecution was better for all. This has left thousands of people with no way to get any justice. Furthermore, former Stazi are now police chiefs, politicians and Judges. Those who suffered at the hands of the Stazi, have to contend with seeing the people who mentally tortured them - and I not being metaphorical - in the street, whilst denied the right to get justice.
However they have a right to their Stazi File. The secret records that were kept by the organization on all East Germans have been opened up so that one can look at your file. Some find the truth very heard to bear - It wasn`t what the stazi found out that upset people, it was it was that their spouse, or their best friend or someone else very close you had been spying on you for years - sometimes for money.
This Doc gives you an insight into how some East Germans are still struggling with their country`s communist past, and how they are adamant that this will not be swept under the carpet.
0 comments:
Post a Comment