By Situation Theatre 6/6/2019
The Stasi famously operated “at arm’s length” from the East German Government.
Erich Fritz Emil Mielke has stated he had no prior knowledge of Stasi operations throughout his time as East German Minister for State Security from 1957 to 1989.
Mr Mielke said “I never had any involvement in Stasi investigations of the press nor private citizens. The traditional practice is they would execute search warrants and then inform my office afterwards.”
“It was entirely appropriate that they conducted their investigations independently and, in fact, it was their statutory obligation.”
Meanwhile, East German leader from 1971-1989, Erich Honecker, has reassured the public that his government was “absolutely committed to freedom of the press”. He maintained that any operations undertaken by the Stasi were pursued “at complete arm’s length from the Government, not with the knowledge of the Government, not at the instigation of government ministers.”
“No one is above the law”, he added.
Upon the request of both Mielke and Honecker, historians have now revised their assessment of the East German regime and declared it to be the most democratic government of all time.
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