German Film Helps Rekindle Debate over Stasi
Since the communist rule fell in Germany in 1989, not many people have been made aware of Germany's Secret Service; the Statsi. At least not until the release of "Life of the Others", a film depicting the disturbing life in the Statsi prison. It has been a popular movie among the critics, but others think the movie (that took a year to interview former Statsi soldiers) demonizes the prison.It's been said the Statsi created fear and paranoia on both sides of the Berlin Wall and that people deny the Statsi like they denied the concentration camps. Over 200,000 people served time in the Statsi prison from 1951-1989 where they were humiliated, intimidated, confused, and isolated. Prisoners would have to sleep face up, with hands on their sides if they didn't want to be abruptly shook awake. Also, they could have twenty minutes in the "Tiger Cage" a week, where they could exercise under supervised conditions. Finally a six meter wall surrounded the prison so many people didn't know it even existed. 100,000 court cases have gone up against the Statsi, although many didn't go through the court system. Their are many authors and former guards and soldiers that say all claims against the prison are false. However, the release of this movie will hopefully initiate the search for the truth.
Statsi
posted by Anonymous @ 4/23/2006 02:18:00 PM
1 Comments:
Sounds a lot like punishment that is cruel and unusual. These practices are things that the United States does not believe in doing; we like to treat prisoners well and not abuse them. Look how well Saddam was treated when he was found in his manhole. I didn't know a secret service such as this one existed and was out there at a time. I think this film will open up many people's eyes to these cruel and unusual acts and may perhaps help those understand the workings of our military better and that we are not the bad guys in Operation Iraqi Freedom like some people have said.
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