Showing heightened visibility in condemning neo-Nazi violence, German Chancellor Helmut Kohl has urged his countrymen to support efforts by authorities to put an end to xenophobia and racist attacks.
In a New Year’s Eve message carried widely in the national media, Kohl promised the government would do its utmost to protect non-Germans who have been the target of neo-Nazi assault.
Kohl came under earlier criticism for failing to respond firmly to attacks on foreigners here.
Meanwhile, Bonn is moving to enact a constitutional amendment to curb the inflow of asylum-seekers, whose number this year neared half a million.
Interior Minister Rudolf Seiters has readied government legislation that will limit the right to political asylum, in a change that has been formally approved by the main opposition party, the Social Democrats, whose support is indispensable for parliamentary passage.
The move cost the Social Democrats one of its most prominent members, the writer Gunther Grass, who resigned in protest.
Both the ruling Christian Democratic Union and the Social Democrats say the change is needed to handle the misuse of asylum, which has taken on enormous proportions.
They believe most of the asylum-seekers do not meet the test of admission to refugees persecuted for political beliefs but rather are people seeking to improve their economic and social status.
The Jewish community in Germany has criticized the move to change the constitution because it creates the impression of surrender to neo-Nazi violence.
Germans turned out in large numbers last weekend to protest xenophobia and neo-Nazi violence.
In Essen, in the heavy populated state of North Rhine-Westphalia, 300,000 people joined in a candle and torchlight vigil stretching almost four miles. The demonstrators formed circles around hostels for foreigners and other buildings that were recent targets of violence against refugees, homeless people and the handicapped.
It was among the largest of the demonstrations that took place in the last few weeks, signaling increasing awareness of the danger of extreme rightist violence.
Smaller vigils took place in other towns, mobilizing hundreds of thousands in demonstrations of opposition to racism.
The chairman of the German Jewish community, Ignatz Bubis, said the demonstrations indicate widespread desire to take back the streets from neo-Nazi gangs.
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