Rencontres Ufologiques - 2013 11 15 - No 015

Magazine Overview

This issue of "Les Informations du jour des Rencontres Ufologiques" (dated November 15, 2013) focuses on Germany's reluctance to disclose its secret UFO documents, contrasting this stance with the transparency efforts of numerous other nations. The publication, from the Fédération Francophone d'Ufologie (FFU), highlights a legal battle in Germany over access to parliamentary information concerning unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

Germany's Refusal to Disclose UFO Documents

The main article details a legal action initiated in Germany to obtain the declassification and public release of documents pertaining to the UFO phenomenon held by the Bundestag. This legal challenge reached the superior administrative court of Berlin-Brandenburg on November 13, 2013. The request sought the disclosure of a parliamentary study commissioned by a member of parliament on UFO sightings and extraterrestrial life, as well as documents prepared for the former Minister of Defense, Karl Theodor zu Guttenberg, for his doctoral thesis. However, the court of appeal upheld the secrecy of these documents, resulting in the failure of this legal action.

Previously, in December 2011, a Berlin administrative court had made a historic ruling, stating that the Freedom of Information Act applied to projects of the Bundestag's scientific services. This ruling allowed access to a dossier titled "The search for extraterrestrial life and the implementation of UN Resolution A/33/426 on the observation of unidentified flying objects and extraterrestrial life forms." Despite this initial victory for the plaintiff, the Bundestag appealed the decision, employing international lawyers to overturn the judgment. The plaintiff was ultimately unable to access the requested document.

The article explains that the appeal was based on the Freedom of Information Act, stemming from UN Resolution A/33/426. The Bundestag claims the law is not applicable to its internal proceedings. It is known that the Bundestag's research and linguistic services were involved in the work related to Karl Theodor Guttenberg's doctoral thesis, with eight photocopied documents from 2003-2005 having been previously communicated to the plaintiff, indicating his awareness of this work.

The Bundestag's argument is that it cannot comply with the request because fulfilling such demands would require fulfilling the duties of a deputy and would violate the secrecy of internal parliamentary discussions. The high administrative court in Berlin subsequently annulled the previous judgments on October 13, 2013, agreeing with the Bundestag that these documents are related to parliamentary activities and are therefore exempt from freedom of information laws, as they do not constitute an act "of public administration."

Robert Fleischer of Exopolitik Germany questions the German federal government's assertion that governmental organizations do not investigate the UFO phenomenon, suggesting the possibility of secret or marginal programs.

The article criticizes the situation where studies funded by taxpayers' money are not accessible to the public, giving the Bundestag an unfair informational advantage. The German federal government, in response to a query from parliamentary deputy Hartfrid Wolff in May 2008, stated that it possesses no information on UFOs or extraterrestrials in Germany and thus has no relevant files or publications. This position was also adopted by Minister of the Interior Wolfgang Schäuble in 2008.

International Comparison of UFO Document Disclosure

The publication contrasts Germany's stance with that of 20 other countries that have declassified or published UFO-related archives. These include:

1. Argentina: Air Force studies since 2011, creation of the "Commission for the study of aerial space phenomena" (CEFAE).
2. Australia: Royal Australian Air Force progressively released secret UFO dossiers since 1979, covering observations from 1950 to 1980.
3. Belgium: Belgian Air Force transferred its UFO investigation reports to the civilian organization SOBEPS in 1990.
4. Brazil: Air Force published previously secret UFO files covering 1952-2000 and established a transparent procedure for handling UFO information.
5. Chile: The "Committee for the Investigation of Anomalous Aerial Phenomena" (CEFAA) collects and studies UFO reports, publishing important documents and radio communications.
6. Denmark: The Air Force command published 300 pages of UFO files from 1978-2002 online.
7. Ecuador: President Rafael Correa authorized the "Ecuadorian Commission for the Investigation of UFO Phenomena" (CEIFO) in 2005, which interviews military pilots and publishes information on YouTube.
8. Finland: Military authorities compiled UFO observation reports from 1933 to 1979, with the National Archives publishing nearly 300 dossiers in 2009.
9. France: The civilian space agency CNES has published over 1600 case studies from 1963 to 2013, with 22% remaining unexplained.
10. Great Britain: The UK Ministry of Defence deposited numerous documents with the National Archives from 2008 to 2013, covering reports from civilians, soldiers, and pilots since the 1950s.
11. Ireland: The Army released UFO files from 1947 to 1984, with the Ministry of Defense stating the program was not continued.
12. Italy: The Ministry of the Interior has made UFO observation reports from the Italian Air Force available online since 1978, with files from 2001-2009 published.
13. Canada: National Archives released 9500 UFO case files from 1947 to early 1980.
14. Mexico: The Air Force released infrared video footage of unidentified objects in 2004.
15. New Zealand: National Archives published approximately 2500 pages of previously secret UFO files from 1952-2009.
16. Peru: The Air Force founded the "Institute for the Research of Anomalous Aerial Phenomena" (OIFAA) in 2001 and later established the "Airspace Directorate" (DINAE).
17. Sweden: The Swedish Air Force transferred non-secret UFO dossiers to a private research association (AFU) in 1987.
18. Spain: The Ministry of Defense published its secret UFO files from 1968 to 1999 in several stages.
19. Ukraine: The "Ukrainian Ufological Association" (UFODOS) published reports, photos, and documents on UFOs covering several decades.
20. Uruguay: The Air Force created a commission (CRIDOVNI) in 1979 to study UFO reports, with over 2200 observations recorded, 40 of which remain unexplained.
21. United States: The US Air Force conducted research through various commissions, including Project Blue Book, from 1947 to 1969, with 701 cases remaining unexplained.

Centralization of UFO Observations in Germany

In late 2011, the German UFO research association DEGUFO inquired with interior ministries about which authority receives reports of strange aerial phenomena. The Ministry of Interior of North Rhine-Westphalia responded that the National Command Center "Airspace Security" (NLFZ) is responsible, involving the German army, federal police, air traffic control, and the office for civil protection. Reports of strange phenomena from the police are transmitted directly to the NLFZ.

The press officer for the Federal Ministry of Defense confirmed that UFO reports are transmitted to the NLFZ but stated that they are not to be studied by the airspace security center and "must be destroyed immediately." This policy is seen as contrary to practices in other countries and raises concerns about potential dangers if foreign or extraterrestrial craft were to infiltrate the environment.

Freedom of Information and Transparency

The article criticizes Germany for restricting freedom of information and destroying UFO reports, a stark contrast to the majority of countries that make such information public. Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, Peter Schaar, has called for a reform of the Freedom of Information Act, deeming the Bundestag's legal protections unacceptable and advocating for greater transparency.

Upcoming Events and Related News

The issue also includes announcements for upcoming ufological events:

• A "Ain Ovni" meeting in Bourg-en-Bresse on December 6, 2013, featuring a conference on "The entity of Aleister Crowley and its implication in ufology."
• The 17th meeting of the "Café Ufológico de Corrientes" in Argentina, held on November 6, 2013, which included discussions on various ufological topics and a mention of the passing of researcher Liliana Flotta.
• A report on the resignation of Pascal Isoulet as the regional director of MUFON France.
• A theater performance titled "L'Extraterrestre" (The Extraterrestrial) at the BO St Martin theater in Paris, described as a fun and interactive one-man show for children.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the struggle for transparency regarding UFO phenomena, particularly highlighting Germany's restrictive approach compared to other nations. The publication advocates for the declassification of UFO-related documents and criticizes governmental secrecy. The editorial stance clearly favors open access to information and supports serious research into the UFO phenomenon, as evidenced by its promotion of ufological organizations and events.