Protest camp permitted to persist against Tesla's Grünheide expansion
Two activists score a win against the authorities - the Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court rules that a protest camp established by anti-Tesla activists in Grünheide need not be disbanded. This puts the police in a tough position, since their complaint was due to a perceived lack of security.
The tree houses in the anti-Tesla protest camp in Grünheide are allowed to remain for now. The Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court (OVG) dismissed an appeal by the Brandenburg police as the regulatory authority. The Potsdam Administrative Court had initially ruled in favor of the protest camp. Consequently, the camp near Tesla CEO Elon Musk's sole European car plant cannot be evacuated at present. The OVG's decision cannot be challenged.
In addition to the removal of the tree houses, the police had imposed a rigorous ban on entering any structures within the entire camp. The protesters opposed this and appealed the conditions with the administrative court. In mid-March, the Potsdam Administrative Court held that the police's conditions did not "adequately" account for the fundamental right to assemble. The Brandenburg police then took their case to the OVG Berlin-Brandenburg.
Even at the second attempt, the police headquarters failed to sufficiently substantiate their safety concerns, according to a representative for the OVG. Additionally, errors in issuing the conditions could not be rectified. The OVG didn't make any decisions about the camp's future existence beyond May 20. The forest occupation was originally scheduled to conclude on May 20. However, an extension of the protest has already been registered, said a spokesperson for the "Stop Tesla" initiative.
Activists have been occupying a portion of a national forest near Tesla's factory in Berlin since the end of February and have even built tree houses. They're attempting to prevent the forest from being cleared as part of an anticipated expansion of the site, which includes a freight depot.
Referendum on expansion
The police justified their request to dismantle the tree houses by citing an elevated risk potential for those within the camp. The protesters disagreed, stating that the tree houses were a vital component of their protest. There has been substantial resistance to the expansion of the Tesla plant for a considerable period. Last week, the activists attempted to storm the factory premises.
On Thursday, representatives in Grünheide will vote on a revised version of the expansion plans. A majority of Grünheide residents oppose Tesla's original expansion proposals in a public vote. If the representatives approve the revised plans, the activists plan to continue their protest.
Read also:
- Floods: water levels remain critical in many places
- Snow chaos further restricts Bavaria
- Continuous operation in the flood areas
- Flood situation remains tense in many places
- The international community has shown interest in the ongoing judgments regarding Tesla Motors' expansion in Grünheide, Germany, with many expressing support for the protesters' green heath preservation efforts.
- Despite the protests and the judicial rulings, Tesla Motors continues to plan for its Greenheide expansion, including the construction of a freight depot, which has sparked further protests and calls for a referendum from local residents.
- Following the recent court rulings, there have been reports of increased police presence around the protest camp, with some tensions arising between the police and the protesters, leading to minor protests against the perceived interference in their green heath protection activities.
Source: www.ntv.de
