Berlin's oldest squatters take a stand for their social club
Purchase this article for republication
Buy SPH photos-
Left-wing party Die Linke member of parliament Gregor Gysi, (second from right), talks to a group of pensioners squatting in their community centre in Berlin on July 12, 2012. A group of about 50 elderly people are squatting in their community centre in Berlin's Pankow district after the local council announced it will close the facility citing financial reasons, local media reported. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
-
A man listens to a conversation between a member of parliament and a group of pensioners who are squatting in their community centre in Berlin on July 12, 2012. Some of Berlin's most senior squatters are nearly a century old, but age is not stopping the scrappy bunch from fighting impending eviction from their cherished social club. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
-
Members of a club for senior citizens in Berlin's Pankow district and their supporters discuss recent events at the club on July 13, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
-
Ms Ingrid Pilz, member of a club for senior citizens in Berlin's Pankow district, poses for a photo on July 13, 2012. Members or the pensioners' centre in Pankow's Stille Strasse street have occupied the house and are refusing to move out, after the council of the district announced to close the club due to financial reasons. -- PHOTO: AFP
-
People walk past a banner reading "This House is Occupied" hanging in front of a club for senior citizens in Berlin's Pankow district on July 13, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
-
Members of a club for senior citizens in Berlin's Pankow district use the kitchen at the club on July 13, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
-
Ms Ingrid Pilz, member of a club for senior citizens in Berlin's Pankow district, shows her camp bed at the club's bridge room on July 13, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
-
Left-wing party Die Linke member of parliament Gregor Gysi (2nd left) leaves a community centre for the elderly after talking to a group of pensioners squatting in the facility in Berlin July 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Left-wing party Die Linke member of parliament Gregor Gysi, (second from right), talks to a group of pensioners squatting in their community centre in Berlin on July 12, 2012. A group of about 50 elderly people are squatting in their community centre in Berlin's Pankow district after the local council announced it will close the facility citing financial reasons, local media reported. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A man listens to a conversation between a member of parliament and a group of pensioners who are squatting in their community centre in Berlin on July 12, 2012. Some of Berlin's most senior squatters are nearly a century old, but age is not stopping the scrappy bunch from fighting impending eviction from their cherished social club. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Members of a club for senior citizens in Berlin's Pankow district and their supporters discuss recent events at the club on July 13, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
Ms Ingrid Pilz, member of a club for senior citizens in Berlin's Pankow district, poses for a photo on July 13, 2012. Members or the pensioners' centre in Pankow's Stille Strasse street have occupied the house and are refusing to move out, after the council of the district announced to close the club due to financial reasons. -- PHOTO: AFP
People walk past a banner reading "This House is Occupied" hanging in front of a club for senior citizens in Berlin's Pankow district on July 13, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
Members of a club for senior citizens in Berlin's Pankow district use the kitchen at the club on July 13, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
Ms Ingrid Pilz, member of a club for senior citizens in Berlin's Pankow district, shows her camp bed at the club's bridge room on July 13, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
Left-wing party Die Linke member of parliament Gregor Gysi (2nd left) leaves a community centre for the elderly after talking to a group of pensioners squatting in the facility in Berlin July 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
BERLIN (AFP) - Some of Berlin's most senior squatters are nearly a century old, but age is not stopping the scrappy bunch from fighting impending eviction from their cherished social club.
The cash-strapped authorities in the former communist eastern district of Pankow have said they need to cut around five million euros (S$7.6 million) from their budget and plan to close public facilities to do so.
Among the sites hit is a villa on Stille Strasse, the home of despised Stasi secret police chief Erich Mielke in the 1950s and now a beloved gathering place for some 300 pensioners to play chess, learn English, dance and socialise.
The stately old place is surrounded by mature trees and, most recently, draped with banners reading "Hands off!" and "This house is occupied".
