EAST GERMAN MOVE Amnesty in force; 50 released

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33064, 3 November 1972, Page 9

EAST GERMAN MOVE Amnesty in force; 50 released

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) WEST BERLIN, November 2. A first group of about 50 prisoners released under an East German amnesty crossed into West Berlin yesterday morning.

Only a few hours after the amnesty came into force, East German buses drove up to two border crossing points on the Berlin wall and unloaded groups of thinly-clad penniless prisoners who dribbled through to a police reception on the other side. Although the officials assumed the prisoners would be East Germans, police said later that they all turned out to be Westerners. West Berlin police were surprised by the sudden influx of prisoners who were released under the wideranging amnesty announced on October 6, the eve of East Germany’s twenty-third anniversary. East and West Germany are believed to be on the verge of completing a basic treaty normalising their relations.

The amnesty seems to go some way towards fulfilling Bonn’s demands for “human improvements” they would like to see contained in an inter-Germantreaty.

Police said that about 50 mostly middle-aged men, who were the first to cross the border, had about a third of their sentences remitted.

Many had been gaoled for helping people escape to the west and one or two for serious traffic offences, they added. A bus load of women prisoners, released under the amnesty, was expected later.