Press release 2008-09-19

repressions against Pirate Party continues

The case of repression against members of the Pirate Party in Germany continues. After the visit of a raid commando at the spokesperson of the party, Ralph Hunderlach, and the seizure of a server from the former political director, Jan Huwald, the case is drawing wider circles. Preceding the events was the publication of an internal document of the bavarian department of justice by the Pirate Party in January. This document has proven the unlawful use of a trojan horse program which allowed the police to intercept encrypted phone calls via Skype and connections using SSL.

Now then Huwald was denied the access to the electronic services of his university. Because this happened after the seizure of his server as his means of communication, we assume this to be another measure of the authorities. To this day Huwald wasn't informed either about the seizure nor the suspension of his account. Instead he had to start his own investigations. The access to the documents allowing the seizure and therefore the means to defend himself judicially was denied by the provider.

"Till one week bevor this i have only fought against the all-embracing surveillance in an abstract way. Now i have to learn it the hard way myself.", Huwald says. "During my stay abroad i can contact my lawyer only by electronic means. After the suspension of all my mail-accounts i had to switch to a freemailer. The problem is that in germany they have to preserver all mails for the police. This means that a confidential talk with my lawyer is impossible which denies my possibility to defend myself." Huwald and Hunderlach will continue their political work despite the new obstacles and will use judicial means against the continuing repression.

Andreas Popp, Chairman of the Pirate Party Bavaria, adds: "This chicanery brings us about to push even more. The persons involved have the full support of the whole party. It was decided that they will be helped financially with the cost of the procedures. Party members from the whole of Germany announced to contribute their share. The case also caused a stir internationally, all kinds of magazines worldwide report on the events."

Their case show once again that the protection of sources of information in Germany is dependent on the discretion of the authorities. It also shows that in the one-party-state of Bavaria transparency is battled against with all means instead of advocated. The PIRATEN see the necessity of their political work strengthened. "We won't lose our way despite the attempt at intimidation against single members. We will continue to work on preserving the civil rights in the digital age. The incidences clearly show that surveillance is no bagatelle. It can happen to every one of us. The surveillants need more control, otherwise they will form a state in a state", says Jens Seipenbusch, Vice Chairman of the Pirate Party Germany.

press contacts:

Andreas Popp
Chairman of the Bavarian Pirate Party
andreas.popp [at] piratenpartei-bayern (punkt) de

Thorsten Wirth
Chairman of the Hesse Pirate Party
t.wirth [at] piratenpartei-hessen (punkt) de

Jens Seipenbusch
Vice Chairman of the German Pirate Party
js [at] piratenpartei (punkt) de