European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 05, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                . Military convoys to crowd autobahn in route to reformer Friday january 5.1990 the stars and stripes page3 by the Stan and stripes the crowded West German aul Bahns will be even More so during the next week As thousands of soldiers from the United states and throughout West Ger Many drive to the Cen turion shield a never area. Until Jan. 12. Drivers can expect to Sec Large convoys of military vehicles said maj. Lawrence Dearmon refer Ger planner with the 1st trans movement control Agency in Obe Rursch. It will be Busy believe me partic ulary autobahn 61," Dearmon said thursday. Other crowded autobahn will be a-9,a-8, a-6, a-7, a-67 and a-3. About 15,000 . Troops from the states 42,500 troops already stationed in West Germany and 12,500 German soldiers will participate in the two week exercise that begins Jan. 15 in Bavari and Badin Wurt Temberg. Refer Ger stands for return of forces to Germany an annual exercise since 1968 that brings .-based troops to West Germany. Convoys on the autobahn will Start before Dawn and will travel after dark but the goal is to have them off the roads by 9 . Each Day Carmon said. On saturday 21 convoys of stateside troops will be heading South from the monchengladbach area near the dutch Border id Mannheim and then on to the exercise area. On sunday 20 convoys will be on the highways. Each Convoy will consist of 30 vehicles Carmon said. On tuesday wednesday and thursday 650 vehicles from the 8th inf div will be moving toward the Man Euver Box. About 2,300 3rd army div vehicles will be travelling in convoys to the exer Cise area on monday through thursday. Is Susan Harris and 1.000 vehicles from the Lith army Cav regt will be on the Road Mon Day tuesday and wednesday. The 1st army div will have 1.600 vehicles on German roads through thursday while the 3rd inf div will have 300 vehicles on the roads saturday and 600 on monday. About 330 vehicles from the 2nd army Cav Rygl will hit the highways on thurs Day. Group wants to close Heidelberg army Airfield by Rosemary Sawyer suit writer a West German group wants the Heidelberg army Airfield closed saying the . Army conducts unnecessary flights that disturb local residents. We Are not anti american said Klaus Dieter Neundorf who lives about 150 Yards from the Airfield. If this Airport were German we would also say abandon the Airport and leave the civilians alone " citizens from Stop the flying noise said the army frequently makes unnecessary Short distance flights and flies on West German holidays. The Airfield Borders a Reid i Al area in Heidelberg s Pfaff Ungrund Section. The Airfield is Home to the 207th aviation co which supports us Arhur commander Gen. Crosbie e. Saint and his staff. The unit Flics seven c-12 Beech Craft air planes 10 ui1-i Tucy helicopters and two uh-60 Black Hawk Utility helicopters. Protesters said most flights shuttle officials to Desti nations within about 62 Miles of the Airfield. They be dubbed the practice military  they said Many of the trips could be made by train. The group especially objects to flights Between Heidel Berg and Mannheim West Germany a 12-Minulc train trip. The protesters also said trips could be avoided if officials employed telecommunications. A Heidelberg Community spokesman was unavailable for comment thursday. Neundorf also said the army frequently flies on West German holidays but rarely does co on . Holidays. If there is a military Nice my to fit because the evil Empire is about to strike Back then there shc., d be the necessity to Fly even on american  he said. However an army aviation official said thursday thai . Flights at Pfaff Ungrund on West German holidays arc uncommon and require High level command approval. The protest group which has about 60 Active Mem bars also pointed to noise tests conducted last year by a West German state Agency. The average aircraft noise during the Day measured 66 decibels Neundorf said 16 decibels above the City s daytime noise limit. The Peak level recorded from the aircraft was 106 decibels. The level in a disco is 80 decibels according to a West German newspaper. In a statement to a local newspaper. Heidelberg mayor Reinhold Zundel criticised the group for not Rico Gnu ing the extent to which technology could reduce noise. The army has commissioned an Institute in Dies Sci Dorf West Germany to develop technical noise reducing measures for installation this year. E. German opposition forms coalition for elections Berlin a six pro democracy opposition groups banded tog Cirr 1  to Chal Jenec the communism Pur y in to increasingly volatile Campaign leading up to National elections in May. Leaders of the diverge Reform move ments contend United action is r. Cd because they fear the Gunni units Are trying to generate Public by Icaria or recent Rise in Neo fascist incidents paint ing the grass roots groups As rightist advocates of reunification. Slof fun Criche a Leader of the new social democratic party of East Ger Many announced that his group was entering a coalition with new forum the largest of the pro democracy forces with 200,000 members nationwide As Well As with democracy now democratic Awakening the initiative for peace and human rights and the United left. The coalition is calling itself election Alliance 90, Criche said. Criche accused the communists Oral tempting to stir up Public fears of a resurgence of Ultra Ghrist activity and of forcing the opposition into a  communist parly leaders marched in a mass demonstration wednesday night in the Southeastern neighbourhood Oft Riplow in protest of the vandalism committed by no a is Over the past two weeks. The official adn news Agency said the March Drew 250,000 citizens though eyewitnesses contended that figure was inflated. A communist organized crowd in East Berlin demonstrates against right wingers. This country was born from anti fascists communist party Leader Gregor Gysi told the gathering at the site where rightist vandals last week defaced a soviet War memorial. Don t let it become the Homeland for  it can not be allowed that the right its ruin the chances for a democratic socialism in East Germany Gysi stated. Leaders of the opposition groups fear the communists arc using the Neona i Issue As a springboard to gain support for the May elections while at hit same time discouraging Calls in East Germany for reunification of the two German slates. Despite the Success of the pro democracy movement in stripping the communists of their constitutional mandate to Rule the communists remain the strongest single political Foice in the country according to recent Public opinion surveys. Hut the new coalition pools the re sources and voter support of the largest Reform groups into a Force Likely to pose a serious Challenge to the communists. The May 6 elections will be the first free secret and competitive balloting in East Germany s 40-year history. They will seat a new 500-Mcmber parliament which will then select a new Cabinet. Communist Premier Hans Modrow is viewed As an interim government Leader by the opposition forces who have pressed him to take the views of the rival political factions into consideration and keep them informed at weekly round table talks. However. Democratic Awakening has threatened to pull out of the talks if Modrow s government does t present evidence by monday that the nation s secret police Agency has been disarmed and disbanded. New forum made similar threats ear Lier but Modrow managed to appease the group and avoid collapse of the talks that aim to draft reforms. Opposition leaders contend Modrow s Cabinet has limited Powers to govern be cause it was named by a parliament under the control of  communist party figures. Modrow enjoys relatively Broad sup port As a transition figure but opposition complaints have been increasing that control of the government apparatus gives the communists an unfair advantage in the election process