*** A resurgence of racist attacks against immigrants has left foreigners in Germany terror-stricken, reports Roberto Ampuero Espinoza of IPS writes from Bonn. ***

violent wave of racist attacks against foreigners and asylum-see

kers is making the foreign population tn Germany Insecure and fearful.

They say the police seems to be impotent against this type of aggression, and unable to give them the protection they need.

Most foreigners interviewed by the media and social psychologists admit that they no longer go out at night, avoid strolling along the boulevards, fear for the safety of their children and perceive a growing animosity towards them.

This fear has been reinforced by a series of brutal attacks by gangs of ultra-rightist neo-fascists against foreigners tn the states of Bayern. Saxony and Brandenburg in which many were*hurt

These assaults have increased as concern rises over the large number of eastern European and Third World nationals seeking asylum in Germany — a figure which could reach 200,000 by the end of this year — mainly for economic reasons.

The German constitution grants asylum to all people who allege persecution on political, religious or racial grounds back in their native land, but German law distinguishes between these kinds of refugees and so-called "economic refugees."

But the present system of processing applications to distinguish between political asylum-seekers and economic migrants is slow and much criticised.

Alarmed by the extremist violence, government officials and politicians have condemned the attacks and urged Germans to help by intervening to stop attacks on the foreigners.

Chancellor Helmut Kohl warned that the actions of the extremists 'constitute a shameful blot on the country" and seriously compromise the country's image abroad.

There are an estimated five million foreigners living in Germany, a country of 78 million. Most were encouraged to come by the government which needed labour for the country's booming factories during the ''economic miracle" of the 1950 s and 1960's.

Erwin Kuckel. a sociologist from the University of Erlangen. said the racist attackers "are mostly young men with low wages, social failures in contemporary German society who are disillusioned and frustrated, and who intend to take their frustrations out on foreigners".

He added that these constant attacks and threats are generating insecurity among foreigners. Inducing them to also organise into groups to protect themselves.

So far. racist aggression has resulted in the deaths of at least three African immigrants, many Injuries and unknown numbers threatened and terrified by verbal abuse.

Bavarian tv reported recently that an Argentinian

married to a German and their six month-old baby daughter were the object of attacks and insult! from racists on the street.

"Until recently racist attacks were directed against Africans and scruffily dressed poor foreigners," one Latin American diplomat told IPS. 'But now racism is directed against all those who aren't Germans.'

Marta Perez, a Spanish maid in a German household, told IPS: "1 arrived In Germany young and healthy 30 years ago. 1 paid may taxes and my social security, but now that I am old and ailing, they want me to leave."

Ralph Giordano, a distinguished German Jewish writer declared at a forum in Frankfurt that racism is a legacy of Adolf Hitler's National Socialist institutions which though "dismantled and destroyed forever in Germany, their effects remain deeply Inculcated in people's mentality."

He expressed the hope that German pro-democratic forces would win this struggle against racism and extremism.

In recent weeks there have been massive rallies by organi-

sations opposing attacks against foreigners and urging the formation of a multi-cul-

tural society tn Germany

Gregor Gysi, president of the formerly Communist Party of Democratic Socialism

expressed the fear that racist groups are again gaining ground in Germany. He warned that ’history was open' in this direction.

Internationally, the racist attacks are reviving old preJu-

dices against the Germans and discrediting the government, whose police forces seem incapable of protecting immigrants from this constant violation of their elementary human rights.