Lufthansa's scandalous behaviour

[Feel free to let this message circulate. According to the original sender and organizer of that individual campaign, several academic institutions worldwide already protested against the deportation business of the german airline company lufthansa and announced to boycot Lufthansa until they stop the embarassing practice of violent deportations]

Original message posted from: Prof. Dr. Klaus-Gerd Giesen

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

On March 13i [2000], I was witness to an attempted police expulsion of a non-consenting African passenger on Lufthansa flight LH4115 between Paris and Berlin. The passenger was likely a seeker of political asylum having to pass through Berlin. The two French plain-clothes police officers accompanying him inflicted a truly inhumane treatment upon the passenger and gravely threatened his health, notably through their continual recourse to exceptional violence. In addition, since it came inevitably to blows, on-board security was no longer guaranteed. Despite the victim's cries and the protests of some of the other passengers, the flight crew did not react until I threatened the captain with judicial proceedings. The departure of the flight was then canceled and all the passengers were evacuated from the plane.

It is scandalous that Lufthansa persists in allowing police expulsions of non-consenting persons on its flights, whereas other airlines abandoned this practice some time ago already. As private firms are hardly susceptible to arguments of a moral nature, only the perspective of losing customers can change their behavior.

It is for this reason that I would like to suggest to you to address a mail message or fax to Lufthansa: in which you state, making reference to flight LH4115 of March 13, that you may in the future be led to chose for your business and personal travel solely airlines which do not allow police expulsions on their flights and that you will encourage your colleagues and friends to do the same (eg. in organizing academic congresses, professional meetings, etc.). Don't forget to indicate your academic or professional title.

Here is the e-mail address of Lufthansa:

infoflyway@lufthansa.com

The fax number of Lufthansa management:

+49-221-826.3110

Thanks and see you soon,
Klaus-Gerd Giesen

P.S. Feel free, of course, to circulate the present message among all your acquaintances....

° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °
Prof. Dr. Klaus-Gerd Giesen
Universitaet Leipzig
Institut fuer Politikwissenschaft
Burgstr.21
D-04109 Leipzig
Germany - Allemagne
Tel.: +49-341-9735612
Fax: +49-341-9735619
Email: giesen@rz.uni-leipzig.de