Germany still in transition

Germany still in transition

Being a German citizen currently living in Indonesia, I would
like to comment on the German ambassador's greeting to the
Republic of Indonesia on the occasion of the German National Day
(Oct. 3, 2000).

Dr. Gerhard Fulda stresses the point of the united Germany
still being a country in transition, of still facing a "mental
divide" between East and West.

I fully agree with this, and would like to add some more
practical information: Supposedly as a counter reaction to the
communist dictatorship of former East Germany, extreme
nationalism and neofascism are on the rise in many areas of
eastern Germany today. Foreigners are attacked and sometimes even
killed by gangs of hoodlums on the streets of eastern German
towns on an almost weekly basis. These hoodlums are a minority,
but does this matter to their victims?

By no means do I want to damage the reputation of my country,
nor do I want to support those hoodlums' concept of a "foreigner
free" Germany. But I do want to call on Indonesian students
planning to study in Germany to make sure of where you are going
to. Get information about the area where you want to go. Be
especially careful if you are offered a chance to study in
eastern Germany.

I feel ashamed having to say this about my own country, but
still I do value human life more than the reputation of my home
country.

JAN BUDWEG

Yogyakarta