July 18, 2001 - As the Italian government heightens security in Genoa for the upcoming
G-8 summit, other nations, including Germany and the Czech Republic, are
instituting draconian reforms to halt the burgeoning anti-corporate
globalization movement.

Over the past month the German government has established a database to
track over 2,000 activists involved in the anti-globalization movement,
according to a report in today's Muenchner Merkur, a German newspaper.
The database was built to "make it difficult for politically motivated
activists to leave the country shortly before high-ranking conferences
such as the upcoming G-8 summit in Genoa."

Two weeks ago Czech officials also released a report urging increased
surveillance and intelligence on international protesters.

"Extremism is a transnational phenomenon at present and there are intensive
contacts between domestic and foreign extremists," the report read as
translated by the BBC. "The Czech police should react to this trend and should use as much as possible international cooperation in this area.They
should start discussing regular contacts and exchanges of lists of
extremists."
Such lists would help bar more foreign protests from entering the nation,
according to the BBC. Under Czech law, police may prohibit entry to any
individual believed to threaten state security, public order or the rights
and freedom of others.
Clampdowns at borders in Europe and other temporary security measures have
become far more common due to the recent string of anti-corporate globalization protests.
With an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 protesters expected to attend, this
weekend's protest in Genoa may be the largest since the 1999 demonstration
in Seattle against the World Trade Organization
In preparation,, Italy has suspended the 11-nation Schengen treaty, meaning
passports will be checked for all foreigners, including Europeans. Already
protesters, including a group yesterday from Switzerland, have been barred
entry to Italy.
In protest, a group of 100 Swiss activists attempted to block a train heading from the Swiss border into Italy last night. After the train was delayed one hour, Swiss police attacked the protesters firing tear gas and rubber bullets into the crowd.
Protesters planning to travel by train also face major obstacles as the
Italian government plans to close Genoa's two main train stations.
Other security measures include a ground-to-air anti-missile battery set up
at the Christopher Columbus airport; 12 helicopters and four reconnaissance
aircraft in the skies; the U.S. warship Enterprise and submarines in Genoa
bay; and 18,000 police and soldiers in the streets.
Also, the Irish Times reported that all cellphone transmissions will be
blocked near summit headquarters at Palazzo Ducale due to fears that a phone
could be used to detonate a bomb.
Local residents, such as Don Andrea Gallo, a priest who sympathizes with the
protesters, says it is like nothing they have ever seen.
"They have turned the city into a war zone," Gallo told the UK Independent.
"I lived here under the Nazis as a young resistance fighter. Then there was
a curfew, but there was never this oppressive militarized situation."