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In-from-the-cold Germans Still Find Things Chilly

The first anniversary of the unification of Germany passed without much celebration. The occasion was dampened by the growing realisation among East Germans that the process of joining the two Germanies has led to virtual domination by the capitalist West. Many on the eastern side of the Brandenburg Gate, begin to wonder whether they were better off under the centralised socialist state.

Chadin Tephaval writea from Boon
WHEN the Berlin Wall came down tn Nowm ber 1969 German* on both aide* broke out tn euphoric celebration. Eaat and We*t Berliner* sang and danced toother In the streets after 40 year* of separation. Soon the rest of the country forced the hands of the politicians and with amazing speed, the former German Democratic Republic vanished into history.
A year after the October 3
Is far from festive Euphoria has died a natural death - as always a victim of reality . With the Iron Curtain suddenly lifted, many "Oaal*" and "Wessis." a* Easterner* and Westerner* not always fondly call each/other, found that there may be one Germany but two German people*.
The work of reunification ha* proved much more difficult than expected. And the cost In monetary and human term* la extremely high. Western German* are becoming weary of paying. Thi* year alone they will be pumping DM 138 billion into the former GDR instead of the originally estimated DM 30 billion a year.
As most state-run companies closed, many Eastern Germans found themselves suddenly laid off and on the dole. Though only 842.000 of the nine million aiorkforce are officially classified as Jobless, two million are on "short-time labour" — being paid to do little or nothing.
Ironically the instantaneous withering away of the state" to the major cause of economic and social dislocation in the East. The socialist state had organised and operated every facet of life there from the huge komblnat — centrally-planned multi-industry companies that produced everything needed tn their production cycles — to municipal
administration, nurseries and youth clubs
In ita place Western law and administration has been Imposed wholesales. Each of the 1 I states in the West Is responsible for setting up the administration In one of the five new states of the former GDR. The kombinate and other
state-owned properties were put under Western-run pubhc trust companies called treu-hand*. and are being carved into small pieces for selling off the investors, mostly Western German businessmen
The West reassures the East these are emergency measure* designed to get them quickly
bock on their feet and in con trol of their own affair*. But after electing western political Ctles in a general election year and handing their country to them for unlfica tion. many Eastern Germans are now wondering If they got more then they bargained for.
Certainly they can now en joy all the western consumer floods money can buy Though food was not scarce before, it is now aplenty and rich in variety. They can travel, speak tlicir mind* and criticise political leaders. Hie Stasi (secret police) and tlw party cadre nr gone But along with thu i»w freedom comes a totally new way of life and attitudes dial arc often alien.
The state institution* that had shaped their live* — for most since birth — have disappeared. Some people feel like stranger* in their own homes.
"It (unification) does not work when you do It quickly." said Robert Werner. 28. a state employee in Schwerin, capital of the northernmost East German *tate of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. "If* like getting rid of your own roots. There I* nothing left to hold on to."
Another stale worker, Annette Kopptnger. 34. echoed the sentiment : "I would have wished for a slower process. Not this sudden crash."
Robert and Annette were member* of the News Forum which spearheaded revolt against the Honecker regime. Like most Easterners today, they feel many good social
aspects of the GDR system should have been retained; free kindergarten nursery and childcare had freed 80 per cent of East German women to join the labour force, compared to 50 per cent in the WesL
In the East both parents were also allowed to take a maximum of six weeks off work to care for a sick child. In the West it Is six days. And most important of all. there was a guarantee of a Job for everyone even If this meant menial work and oversluffing
While those that are employed arc earning more dwn they used to under the GDR, Easterners are particularly an gry that Wessis sent to help reorganise and administer the eastern states get a higher pay than local Osato. Because of this measure and the generally depressed economic situation, the average wage In the East to about DM 1.800. In the West It to DM 2.800.
Retirement age waa towered from 60 to 55 and a significant number of people who no longer fit Into the new Germany, such aa the older communist functionaries, were simply paid compensation and relieved of their posts.
Western planners admit they overestimated the productivity of the old GDR economy. Said Claus Hoffmann, head of the national economy and social policy division of the Labour Ministry : "We thought the East's productivity would be at worst 50 per cent that of
the West We found out it was only 25 per cent"
The first priority was to reorganise the socialist production machine Into a capitalist one and Io get state and local administration established and running This could snot be done without massive Injection of funds and manpower Including a DM 800 million budget for environmental clean up
TIk- takeover by Wessis left the Oasts flabbergasted. They do not understand these people they sec as arrogant and bossy who either tell them what to do or speed by in Haling up what remains of their former country.
And to many Wessis the Oasis are ungrateful, uni magi native freeloaders who do nothing but complain. "I would rather have reunited with France." quipped a mate nurse In Bonn when asked about reunification.
The East Germans feel tost and defeated. Many are In a depressed and withdrawn frame of mind. Other* are more desperate a* the emergence of neo-Nazi groups and racial attacks on foreign workers testify
Despite this, most Ossts and Wessis have a sense of distant optimism. They think that gradually the East can catch up and the social integration will be achieved In 10-15 year*.
After all. they do share the same culture and time should heal current difference*. When the European Community finally becomes a single market next year. Germany will be the leading partner
- GEMINI NEWS
CHADIN TEPHAVAL to a That on the staff of the Bangkok Post. He has been tn Germany on the Invitation of the German government.