POLAND, CZECH REPUBLIC AND SLOVAKIA
CONTENTS
Nurses' Strike in Poland / Tomasz Wilkoszewski Case / New Squat in Bialystok /
No one is Illegal Campaign Continues/ New Anti-Eviction Actions a Success /
Just Desserts for Balcerowicz / Fuck Your Supermarket / Warhead / Anti-Fa Actions/ Prague Prisoners / Feminism
in the Streets / New Anarchist Position / Anarchy in Slovakia / News from the Czech Republic - Repression and Solidarity
***
The Polish Nurses' Strike
or Restructure Government and Parliament - 100% Downsizing!
-banner hanging at a nurses' action
The main demands of this strike are quite straightforward: nurses' work is useful and should be compensated by at least an average salary in this poor country. Nurses' salaries can vary depending on region, senority and so forth, but the figure quoted most often as a nurse's salary in Poland is just 600 zl. (about $135) a month. The nurses protesting in the streets scream, "Put the government to work for 600 zl.!" They went on strike around Poland in November and as of the New Year, many of them still are.
The mood of some of the nurses is somewhat radical and this is expressed in their actions. They occupied the Ministry of Health in Warsaw, blocked border crossings in Cieszyn, Frankfurt and Zgorzelec, blocked highways in Warsaw and even battled a little with the police. We anarchists were quite impressed by their spirit and lent support to their struggle; we were surprised to learn that some of the organizers of the strike had heard of our actions and were quite eager to see what teatrics we could provide.
Undercover anarchists went off to the Kasa Chorych (which is the bureaucracy in charge of hospital budgets) and
padlocked the bureaucrats into their own building. (This observer quickly learned that it's actually not too difficult
to bust open even the largest of padlocks --- perhaps useful information for the future.) Others joined in blockades,
tossed around a few cops, put up posters, distributed leaflets, brought freezing demonstrators tea and so forth.
Anarchists from around Poland have joined in with pickets - in Szczecin, Bialystok, Krakow and other cities. Even
though anarchist partipicipation in these actions is quite marginal (and even though a few less politically saavy
nurses think the Anarchist Federation is actually a federation of electrical workers --- don't ask) these actions
are quite important for anarchists who all too often are seen as marginal elements of society, who are alienated
from and thus have little in common with other people. In contrast to other political groups (such as the paper-peddling
Workers' Democracy who were beaten away from one action - and SHIT, NO WE DIDN'T GET PICTURES!), anarchists have
managed to start a dialogue with people. Now we have an opportunity to make imaginative and radical proposals of
different ways to run services like health care and education without the government and it will sharpen us all
theorectically. If we succeed in getting a few normal people to hear our ideas and think they make sense, we'll
be happy. And of course we'll be happy if the nurses who are keeping up the strike and ignoring the government's
measly offerings are victorious in the end.
Leaflet for the Nurses
No funds for the sick funds! * (Kasa Chorych, which controls hospital budgets)
We had enough! We don't accept that our taxes serve
to sustain corrupt politicians, who do not know any other language of dialogue except repression. We don't intend
to feed thieves any longer. It's clear, that the "Funds for the Sick" were designed exclusively to make
stealing of public funds even easier. Now the government can put the blame on the funds, and the funds can put
the blame on the government. This cynical way of avoiding responsibility is a plain insult in the face of nurses,
doctors and patients.
Enough! Only those who really help people deserve our
money. Higher wages are due only to those who execute socially useful jobs. Today, raises are due to nurses first
of all. We can no longer tolerate a situation where the money from our taxes is wasted, and the people on whom
we depend with our lives and our health do not have enough money to even sustain their family. We demand fair wages
for the nurses and not scrap-money. We demand that the "Funds for the Sick" be liquidated and that the
control over the finances of the health care system is transfered in the hands of the medical personel!
The time has come to remember that the Solidarity movement
of the 80's wasn't a struggle for a system based on injustice and theft. No one wanted a system where social protests
would be pacified by new incarnations of the ZOMO [Motorized Squads of Citizen's Militia - stalinist riot police,
used as a synonym of Gestapo]. Today - same as always - the only chance of ordinary people is a common fight against
injustice enforced by government under all its forms.
Help the nurses and yourselves!
Organise protests and solidarity actions!
Motto:
"The strength of the people and human freedom
resides in associations. Where the associations are numerous and varied, human life is free of police administration
and all attempts of the government at limiting freedom are met with invincible resistance. Where there are no associations,
the police rules unchallenged, administers all and everything, with complete disregard for the needs and interests
of the inhabitants. Without associations, people are not able to oppose the violence of the government. They are
at it's mercy."
Edward Abramowski
ANARCHIST FEDERATION
PO BOX 66
00-956 WARSZAWA 10
from: Alter-EE mailing list
Alter-EE@most.org.pl
http://www.most.org.pl/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/alter-ee
***
WILKOSZEWSKI APPEAL DENIED
Tomasz Wilkoszewski has served more than 4 years of a 15-year
sentence for the murder of a nazi-skinhead committed in self-defense. Tomasz (Tomek) is from Radomsk, a medium-sized,
working-class city with a skinhead problem. Tomasz was one of only a handful of anarchists in this city which has
recently become more and more economically deperssed as a result of the destruction of Polish industry. The local
skinheads would constantly be on the prowl for these anarchists, often attacking them and, in effect, terrorizing
them. Tomasz could have fled the city but decided to stay - and to defend himself if necessary.
In March of 1996, the worst happened. Tomasz was attacked again and fought back with his knife. Unfortunately,
he cut an artery when he stabbed one of his attackers in the leg and the person died. Clearly, there was no intent
on Tomasz's part to committ a murder; he was only trying to defend himself. It probably does not need to be said
that local police did nothing to
prevent the attacks that eventually lead up to the tragedy in the first place.
Tomasz was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison. At that time, he was a 21-year old student. The sentence
is exceptionally harsh compared to others normally given in Poland; such sentences are reserved for premeditated
murders and felonies committed by hardened criminals.
Gazeta Wyborcza wrote about this case years ago and presented it as a tragedy - and as the failure of society,
including the police, to control such street violence that may end in murder. It is that, but even more so, it
is a case of the police looking the other way as skinheads terrorize the town and then blaming the victim who would
not take it any more. Tomek's case is important not only to us as anarchists, his comrades, but also to anybody
who wants to put a stop to police-endorsed violence against anarchists, leftists, immigrants, and anybody targetted
by these ring-wing thugs.
On September 27, the case came up for appeal in the Warsaw Supreme Court. Despite pressure and even some sympathetic
press, the appeal was turned down. This was the last possible appeal and only a pardon from President Kwasniewski
can help Tomek now. We were all greatly saddened by this; the only thing we can do is to keep trying, to keep doing
whatever we can to help Tomek out.
Anarchists have raised money to get Tomek a computer and send books, food and letters of support. More information on Tomek can be got from the Anarchist Black Cross of Poland or Friends of Tomek. (See addresses in the LINKS section.)
***
NEW SQUAT
News is that there's a squat in Bialystok - occupied
since the beginning of November. The squat is in a 4-storey building and people have set up a bar and kitchen there.
We hope they'll have a long life and many events. And BTW, we'll set up a regional meeting there in May or June
(--- just thought I'd let you know in advance that we're coming).
***
Speaking of Bialystok, I've included Warhead, a bulletin from that lovely city, in this News and Views. So I'd like to thank Soja for his contribution (if you can call the anti-copyright cut and paste that). And not only. Thanks to everybody who sends out the news, who collects it, translates it, distributes it. Special thanks to Zaczek from alter-ee for never kicking me off the list and for helping me with stuff, to road_rk and akcja lists, to the Czech anarchists (even though they never answer their letters) and to Antti and Mihaljo whose ravings are in the Russia and Serbian parts of News and Views.
***
THE NO-ONE IS ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN is continuing is Poland with continued actions throughout Poland and plans for a camp this summer on the Polish-Belarussian-Lithuanian border. Demos have drawn between a low of 100 to about 300 people and have created a lot of talk in the press, including articles on the treatment of immigrants and assylum seekers in Poland. For contacts, see the LINKS section of News and Views.
***
NO TO EVICTIONS! NO TO GENTRIFICATION!
More and more, housing is becoming a major problem
in Poland. Not just because there was always a shortage of subsidized, affordable housing. The authorities have
been talking of raising rents to "market levels" (whatever that means!) for years. Municipal authorities
are getting ready to smash buildings and erect new, upmarket dwellings in gentrification projects. And those whose
meagre salaries make it impossible for them to pay even the marginal prices now demanded of them are REALLY in
trouble. There has been a rise in the number of forced evictions around the country and the anarchists have started
a campaign against them.
In one recent action, where the resident lived in a 12-square meter hovel, the presence of protesters made the eviction police back down. Anarchists plan to meet in Poznan the first week of January to plan the coordination of further actions and hope the campaign will gain strength and grow.
***
JUST DESSERTS FOR BALCEROWICZ
Leszek Balcerowicz,
pied by anarchists on November 21, 2000 during a speech. Balcerowicz was author of the infamous "Balcerowicz
Plan" to transform Poland to a market economy and twice served as Minister of Finance. He will become head
of the National Bank of Poland on January 2, 2001.
Young, integrated, bourgeois Europeans wanted to lynch the anarchists for the incident but at least half the spectators found it highly amusing and thought that Balcerowicz got his just desserts.
Speaking of pieing, the vice-president of Bialystok (yes Virginia, there is such a bureaucrat) was apple-pied by
anarchists at the end of December. No motives were given for the attack - but we're sure he deserved it. I wonder
if apple pies make a messier face than the traditional cream favorites. I think we'll have to put it to a scientific
comparison.
***
FUCK YOUR SUPERMARKET
Poland's small shops and ecological, locally-produced
produce are coming increasingly under attack from the big corporate supermarkets. Anarchists around the country
have named supermarket chains as objects of attack and have mass hijinx in store for Geant, LeClerc and Carrefour.
ON Nov. 29, the FA Torun and a group called Furia held an action against a supermarket to be built on the Torun
Old Town Square. (Which is damned nice without one!) They later handed out over 800 leaflets at the local Geant.
If it is not obvious why we hate hypermarkets, then you've totally forgotten what it is like to live in a neighborhood
with small specialized shops, with small stores selling fresh tomatoes grown by someone nearby. The supermarkets
would love to end all that --- and sell just all that corporate stuff for the companies that pay them to get their
shelf space.
The corporations themselves are odious. (I just got back from Argentina where they also have Carrefour and where
even the average person seems to find it disgusting. So there is a good chance to make these anti-supermarket campaigns
as international as the chains themselves.) There's a fucking Carrefour going up in my neighbourhood. It's a totally
strange place my neighbourhood, with little tiny shops - like the one that sells only Dr. Scholl's shoes, or only
shampoo, curlers and hair dye. The locksmith, the watch shop, the silicon store, the small grocers, the small newstand
--- you almost wonder how any of them will survive. Zaczek told me that construction was temporarily suspended.
It seems somewhere on a Szczecin builduing site a Carrefour collapsed due to shody construction materials being
used and people died. They caught Carrefour using the same type of inferior materials on this site, despite filing
a plan with the city which stated they'd be using high-quality ones. People should be reminded of this. Posters
should go up, but we've got to find other ways to make people think more deeply about these markets.
No doubt you'll be hearing more of supermarket sabotage in the futrue!
***
WARHEAD #10 (anarchist info-bulletin from Bialystok) --- November 6, 2000
Editorial
Hello! Welcome to the tenth issue of Warhead.
Well, its been a few years since I've started making this infosheet and it's gaining more and more impact in the
international anarchist community. It has also become a good source of information for comrades in other countries
on struggles in Poland and in struggles involving Polish comrades in other countries. Recently Polish anarchists
have gained a lot of new experience, especially after the Battle for Prague. Please enjoy this issue and feel free
to send us articles or just contact us with comments or opinions.
Special thanks and greetings to James Butcher for editing this English language version of Warhead.
SOJA
BATTLE FOR PRAGUE
A lot of Polish anarchists took an active part
in preparations for actions against the WB/IMF in Prague. Polish anarchists made a few web sites helping people
to get to Prague, receive accurate information about WB/IMF policies, how to protect yourself and other topics.
You can visit one of the web sites at HTTP://
www.s26.prv.plwww.s26.prv.pl
During the protests a 300 person strong Polish bloc, called the Disco Polo, took an active part in street fighting
on the streets. We were on the front line fighting with police and took part in property destruction. A lot of
Polish activists were arrested (about 20), and two still remains in Czech prisons waiting for trial and possible
prison sentences. (More about Kamil Olejnik in Polish section of News and Views. - Akai) Many people were injured
during street fight with cops, but we gained many new skills (such as how to throw bricks in the best way possible
he he).
Anyway after Prague there is a lot of refreshing discussion within the Polish anarchist movement. This is despite
the fact that some people argue about the usefulness of protests and the use of violence. In general Prague was
a good kick on for the Polish movement.
S26 SOLIDARITY ACTIONS
During the S26 protests activists who stayed in Poland organized some solidarity protests for those fighting in
Prague. In Bialystok on the 25th September over 20 people protested outside McShit distributing leaflets about
McDonalds and shouting anti-capitalist slogans. The next day about 40 people attended a solidarity action in the
centre of the city with speeches and leaflets about World Bank crimes. At the same time around 50 people held a
solidarity action in Wroclaw distributed free vegetarian food. After S26 there were solidarity actions for those
arrested in Prague. In Warsaw and Katowice activists protested outside Czech embassies. In Katowice activists condemned
the acts of violence which occurred during the Battle for Prague an act which we consider really stupid and just
false political correctness trying to impress the corporate media with a "pacifist" approach. In Poznan
activist occupied the Czech consulate for around 3 hours. The Warsaw group organized a press conference and a demonstration
outside government buildings on the issue of torture within Czech jails and the apathy of the Polish Ministry of
Foreign Affairs toward arrested Poles.
ANTI-ELECTIONS ACTIONS
A large amount of anti-election work was done against the elections here in Poland. We were trying to convince
people that they don't change anything by voting for some stupid guys running for government. Lodz section of AF
promoted their own candidate for elections, Tytus de Zoo. Tytus is a monkey, the hero of a very famous Polish comics.
Nearly all chapters worked putting up a lot of posters on the streets, painting slogans on the walls etc. In Bialystok
the police gave two activists high fines for putting up posters. During election in Slupsk anarchist threw firecrackers
into the election commission building and left anarchists leaflets. In Krakow anarchists disrupted elections in
one commission.
ADAM MUCHA IS FREE, TOMASZ WILKOSZEWSKI REMAINS
IN PRISON
Adam Mucha, anarchist militant from Krakow arrested after fights on a Bash the Rich demo, has been finally convicted.
He has been sentenced to 1to 5 years on probation with some fine, this is a really big success for the anarchist
movement as Adam could have got up to a 10 years sentence.
Unfortunately Tomasz Wilkoszewski, anti-fascist militant from Radomsko sentenced to 15 years for killing a Nazi
skinhead, had his appeal rejected by the high court and remains in prison. We will organize more actions for his
release but chances are getting low now. We now have to rely on the president's decision which as you probably
know is possibly a false hope.
NEW ANARCHO-FEMINIST GROUP FORMED
A new anarcho-feminist group named KURWA has
been formed after a Warsaw meeting of 15 people from various groups. (See News and Views #10 for more on KURWA.
- Akai) KURWA is co-educational and will try to be an alternative to both mainstream and separatist feminist groups
which consider themselves anarchist. You can contact KURWA through the Warhead address as alternative contact are
still being set up.
Warhead
***
There were a number of ANTI-FA actions throughout Poland
on Nov. 9 and 11. (That's Polish Independence Day, a patriotic holiday loved by fascist fucks, for those of you
who didn't know.) About 150 people showed up in Lodz on the 9th. This was very important given the history of Lodz
and the fact that fascists vandalized Marek Edelman's house last year, an event which mobilized local anti-fascists.
Warsaw commemorated the 9 with a No One Is Illegal Rally which was followed by an egg raid on the Czech embassy.Also
of note was a counter-offensive in Wroclaw against a nazi rally on Nov. 11.
Even though it's not in Poland, we wanted to mentioned the 1000 strong anti-fa rally in Dresden. We don't really have a section for the former east Germany, so they can be a mention here. :)
***
You may ask why people went to the Czech Embassy after the No-One is Illegal demo. Actually, they had at least a half dozen visits in Warsaw alone in the aftermath of the Prague events. At first we were protesting for the release of all prisoners and against police brutality. These protests got quite a lot of press. In particular, one member of FA Warsaw who was beaten and told his story to the press outside the embassy was then encouraged by them to press charges against the police. It seems that particularly harsh treatment was being given to one Kamil Olejnik of Olsztyn, who was still in custody on Nov. 9. He was eventually deported back to Poland but will face charges here. He is out of jail for now but hasn't managed to get charges dropped, despite a storm of publicity around his case.
***
Another day which drew a lot of activity was Dec. 10. That day stood out in particuliar due to the fact that just about every feminist group in Warsaw took to the streets to do some street theater. KURWA did a couple of little plays, including an X-rated number about a priest who falls rape victim --- the one thing the media was too gutless to film! Feminist group Emancypunx also did an act and altogether, with all the different groups, it was a feminist appearance like this city's never seen before.
***
Speaking of feminism, a great anarchist discussion
of it was started after the last meeting of
the anarchist federation where it was decided
that it needed a new mission statement. After a few wooly mammoths who found it irrelevant were outvoiced,
anarchists found themselves having to write new positions on feminism, the EU and globalization. Not an easy task.
Especially when many people seemed to agree that globalization was not an appropriate term for what we were fighting
against and when people disagree on whether to use terms like feminism or patriarchy. We can only wait til the
spring to see what ideas people have come up with. In the meantime, ideas are floating around the net for discussion.
***
Finally, the internet is a good way to share ideas - as long as it's affordable. Internet users in eastern europe often find that's not the case. In Russia, telephone users do not pay by the minute yet - even though they've long wanted to put that into pratice. Internet users have organized several large protests against this - most recently in Dec. 24 in Moscow. Now Polish internet users will see if they can organzie an effective action. The phone company wants to raise rates (up to 30%) so internet users propose a national internet strike for the week of Jan. 10-20. It seems to me that those who surf the most tend to be junkies - not the best people to adhere to a strike - but we'll see. In any case, the idea is interesting and I'll be promoting it for it's symbolic value.
***
GREETINGS FROM SLOVAKIA
Salud comrades!
This is an info about anarchism in Slovakia composed by International secretary of PA-AKOP and a member of Slovak
section of CSAF. Hope it will provoke some reaction.
PA-AKOP
Priama Akcia Anarchokomunisticka Organizacia Prace (Direct Action Anarcho-communist Organisation of Labour, PA-AKOP)
was formed as a result of needs and aspirations of anarchist workers and students on a meeting held on 1st April
2000 . We are 4 working class comrades with several sympathisers. All 4 of us are also editors of Priama Akcia
which is our newspaper founded in July 1999 orientated on socio-political-economical issues and anarchocommunist
struggle in general. We are the only openly class-struggle anarchist organisation in Slovakia at the moment (except
for Solidarita Organisation of Revolutionary Anarchists which has one member in Slovakia).
We try to work out a campaign and a stable practical work in Bratislava where 3 of us live most of the time but
it's not finished yet.
We have comradely relationships with Slovak section of Czechoslovak Anarchist Federation (õSAF), Federation
of Social Anarchists (FSA-IWA) and Solidarita ORA (both Czech) and we regularly help each other with exchanging
our publications and attending organisational meetings and actions.
By the way, as we have heard about some people who think we are a Slovak section of FSA we have to say no, we are
not. We are close to them, that's all.
SLOVAK SECTION OF CSAF
Ceskoslovenska Anarchisticka Federacia Slovensko (Slovak section of the Czechoslovak Anarchist Federation, CSAF)
was formed in September 1999 as a result of anarchist activists' need to be organized and to increase the effectivity
of our struggle. Slovak and Czech part of CSAF cooperate, but they are fully autonomous in their decision making
and activities. Now we try to target especially issues connected with capitalist globalization, to start campaign
against NATO and EU and against entry of Slovakia in these two institutions (in case of EU this concerns also Poland,
Hungary and Czech republic and cooperation with anarchist groups from these countries is necessary), and to support
squatting activities in our country. Our collective makes the biggest distribution of anarchist magazines, books,
pamphlets, flyers and other propaganda, which helps us to build an effective communication and activists network
all around Slovakia. As CSAF offers a lot of space for disscusion and is not so strictly ideologically profiled
as, for example, Priama Akcia-AKOP, there are various views and opinions on green anarchism, class war or syndicalism
among us.
GENERAL INFO
Social situation in the country differs just little to situation of working class in countries like Russia or Ukraine.
The rate of unemployment is around 18 % (but it should grow soon as this is just a result of governmental plan
saying that everyone who is more than 2 years on a dole (social benefits for unemployed) has to find work for at
least 3 months; most of the work authorities provide to these people is a communal work). In the first half of
2000 11, 5 % of Slovak population (600 000) lived in poverty with less than 3 USD per person daily. According to
last years statements of official bureaucratic trade unions, more than 60 % of working population lived under and
near the poverty line. Traditional trade unions are doing their collaboration work with power elite brilliantly
and strengthen the feeling of powerlessness, erase working class consciousness and enforce fatalism in workers.
This results in atmosphere of distrust among working class people in their abilities and power. Other negative
aspects of this situation is reinforced individualism and in many places also alcoholism. However, despite this,
there are still some militant workers trying to radicalise trade unions although this tactics seems to be not much
successful.
PROBLEMS WE FACE
Not only this makes our work hard but also the financial situation we're in. Our funds are actually null after
we publish 3rd issue of our newspaper this month. In the "Western world" comrades enjoy their own offices,
printers and other technical conveniences, while comrades in the East strive to buy at least computers. Although
this is not our case completely (we have some old PCs) we have to work under really tough conditions and face the
possibility of not being able to put out our materials. Also, perhaps our most appealing problem is that we are
not able to take part in social struggles of working class much as we cannot travel and speak with those people.
We simply financially cannot afford it.
ANARCHISM IN SLOVAKIA (chronology)
As anarchist movement in Slovakia has no tradition we did only few actions till now. Here is information about
the "movement" in general. Slovak section of Czechoslovak Anarchist Federation was formed last year in
summer. They publish informative bulletin "From the bottom". Slovak section of Organisation of Revolutionary
Anarchists Solidarity was formed this summer. Our future plan (if there will be enough dedicated people) is to
form a union. I'll try to give a quick look at actions that went on concerning anarchist and social actions. September
1999 members of future PA-AKOP spread over 800 pieces of first issue of Direct Action newspaper on a 20 000 bureaucratic
union demo. November-December members of õSAF with some NGO members, punks and other people start Food Not
Bombs in Bratislava, in following months they spread food and anticapitalist leaflets to poor, other 2 groups arise
in Trnava and Ko ice. In spring political disputes within Bratislava group escalate, anarchists give it up as there
is no chance to come to agreement with others who don't practice direct democracy and most members are being ignored
by a self-styled authoritarian leader. Group still functions, without anarchists. April PA-AKOP is "officially"
formed. 1st May õSAF organises infoshop on one Blava square with an exhibition focused on globalization,
as part of the Global Day of Action against capitalism. We meet there with member of French Anarchist Federation.
12th June 800 strong street party in Bratislava organised by some members of õSAF, NGO members and other
folks. Streets are blocked for over 2 hours, police is helpless and unprepared. SP is organised as a solidarity
action with INPEG and against automobilism. NGO, punk and anarchist distros sell literature and music. Biggest
action against capitalist globalisation in Slovakia ever. Bolsheviks from Czech Socialist Organisation of Labourers
(SOP) and Slovak Communist Youth Association (SZM) have their infoshops there, too. Members of PA-AKOP try to force
them out, but in a chaotic situation we let them stay. PA-AKOP and õSAF agrees after SP that this was the
first and the last time we tolerated them on our actions. Physical violence will be used next time if necessary.
26th September õSAF does s26 infoshop in Blava. Members of PA-AKOP, õSAF and ORA take part in red
and black bloc in Prague. õSAF member is arrested before s26 for illegally crossing borders (he had a ban
to visit Czech for taking part in last years 1st May riots in Prague; released after 40 days in prison). On S27
another õSAF member is detained, beaten and tortured for alleged participation in battles with police on
S26. Set free after 8 hours. 2nd October PA-AKOP and õSAF organise solidarity demo with s26 activists in
front of Czech Embassy and demands their release and dropping of all charges. 2 protest e-mail actions follow,
organised by International Secretary of PA-AKOP.
FURTHER ACTIONS
Members of PA-AKOP, CSAF, ORA and few unorganised anarchists and sympathisers are trying to build several campaigns
at the moment. We hold regular meetings and these are the most important actions we work on putting them into reality
(we'll bring more details in the future):
1. Campaign for 30-hours working week. This is going to be a longtime activity. Basically the idea is to take part
in social struggles, try to "anarchise" them and after they are finished (won or lost) to keep the militancy
in workers/students permanently alive. We think that it would be inefficient for struggling working class to end
up their activities after they finish particular struggle at their own workplace. So, we advice them to take part
in this campaign. The first social stuggle we want to take part in is in support of railway workers. Slovak Railways
(ZSR) received a bank loan from European Investment Bank last year. This means, among other obligations, that ZSR
have to fire 16 000 workers (30 % of their workforce), reduce length of railways by simply cutting them off and
privatise parts of them till 2007. We want to encourage them to organise an occupation strike (on basis of maximal
possible direct democracy from the bottom up, delegation system, federalism and solidarity) to stop realisation
of these obligations. We are going to publish "Anarchist newspaper of workers mutual aid" WORKERS SOLIDARITY
which will be a platform for anarchists and militant workers to share experiences and views, kinda "voice"
of struggle initiative.
2. Actively working Anarchist Black Cross there is an ABC done by a member of CSAF at the moment but not working
that effectively as it could be so we would like to activate it more. We discuss theoretical issues and organisation
structure at the moment.
3. Anti-fee university campaign Slovak government plans to pass a new law which would mean paying fees for university
study. This is a plain and simple attack on the poor. We will resist. We hope to provide you with more details
soon. Now only this we desperately need to build an international pressure. We need to get in touch with all our
student comrades in the world, please contact us!!! Share your experiences with us, we have none! Tell all your
comrades who might know any university students to contact us!
4. Forming of Antifascist Action Revolutionary Antifascist Organisation.
APPEAL
Finally, we have very bad experiences with anarchists worldwide contacting us. For example, PA-AKOP sent 40 mails
to anarchist and anti-athoritarian organisations and groups where we asked them to exchange publications, give
us an info about their situation and simply be in touch. Hardly 7 wrote back... Guess how we feel... So, please,
it is more than welcomed to contact any of these organisations! Tell us about you. If global lack of communication
is reality (at least from our experiences), how can we build a global solidarity...
CONTACTS:
PRIAMA AKCIA
PO BOX 16
840 08 BRATISLAVA 48
SLOVAKIA
EUROPE
e-mail: priamaakcia@hotmail.com
website: www.volny.cz/priamaakcia
CSAF
POSTE RESTANTE
851 06 BRATISLAVA 57
SLOVAKIA
e-mail: csaf-sk@post.sk
website: www.csaf.cz
SOLIDARITA-ORA
e-mail: solidarita.slovensko@post.sk
***
Czechoslovak Anarchist News service
Provided by Federation of Social Anarchists
Section of International Workers Association
Subject: Update on repression against FSA-IWA members
Today, on November 2nd, FSA-IWA militant JAN ROUBICEK, was again interrogated by Police pending his accusation
of "violent public rampage committed in organised group under ideological pretext", a charge related
to streetfight, which occurred on September 23rd during Prague massive antifascist/anarchist demonstration, for
which he can be given 5 years in prison.
On 23.9. group of some 20 militant antifascists violently dispersed some 15-20 neonazis, members of organisations
like "National resistance" and "National Alliance", fascist nuclei of political parties. Nazis
were having demonstration in Prague Letna gardens to allegedly protest against IMF and WB politics. Due to massive
presence of Czech and international anarchist/antifascist movement in Prague they did not dare to march in streets
and quickly tried to leave the city. Anarchist/antifascist street rally, which started on Namesti Miru, proceeded
downtown and its head met some fascist groups close to Main railway station. Fascists were quickly beaten and almost
immediately opted to flee, offering only very mild resistance.
On 16th of October, political police "Antiextremist department" detectives tried in vain to arrest comrade
Roubicek in his home, at 6:00, harassing his family. Next day our comrade was interrogated by mjr. STEPKA, one
of the responsible officers, entrusted by struggle against anarchist movement. Political police demanded in vain
information on S23 and S26 protests and threatened comrade Roubicek by accusation of "violent public rampage,"
using alleged video, provided by Czech state television, covering most of the streetfight. Comrade Roubicek, assisted
by our defence counsel, refused to provide Police any information, which won him above mentioned accusation, which
was raised against him on October 26th.
Comrade Roubicek, age 20, student of pedagogical institute of Charles University, is one of the most dedicated
and active anarchist militants in Czechoslovakia. His active involvement won him already many troubles with Police,
latest related to May Day 2000 brutal dispersal of peaceful Prague anarchist rally by riot police units. Comrade
Roubicek as spokesperson of FSA-IWA had been violently abused and arrested amidst of his speech by Political police
(Antiextremist department) officers, together with second FSA-IWA militant David Srott, one of the 10 defendants
of monstrous "Zlin Ten" trial.
We appeal to world anarchist and revolutionary antifascist movement to support our persecuted comrade.
What you can do:
- Write/fax/e-mail your protests to your local Czech embassy and consulate. Demand that charges against comrade
Roubicek are dropped and express your outrage that our comrade had been accused from purely political reasons with
Police having no real evidences at all. Always demand official reply to your letter.
- Protest against continuous repression against Czech anarchist and revolutionary antifascist movement, led and
conducted by infamous Political police (Antiextremist department of IVth Police Command of struggle against organised
crime) from purely political reasons. Name cases of Vaclav Jez, Michal Patera, David Srott and others.
- Spread this information world-wide
- Support even by small contribution our Czechoslovak Anarchist Black Cross (an integral part of FSA-IWA) defence
account. Every little bit helps!
Since its establishment in November 1998, our Defence Fund spent on legal support of prisoned and persecuted anarchist
and revolutionary antifascist comrades more than 11.000,- USD, which equals to 50 monthly worker salaries here
in Czech republic.
Data of account:
Name of the account holder: VLADIMIR PATERA
Name of the account: VLADIMIR PATERA
Bank: INVESTICNI A POSTOVNI BANKA, IPB, A.S.
Bank branch: MASARYKOVO NABREZI 2/2014, 12000 PRAHA 2
Account number: 151440919/500
Reason of payment: DONATION / TRANSFER (if stated differently, your
contribution gets heavily taxed)
Yours with anarchist-communist greetings
FSA-IWA International secretariat
PO BOX 5
15006 Praha 56, Czech republic
tel: *420-0604-773440
e-mail: use both fsa-praha@usa.net AND intersec@atlas.cz
Czechoslovak Anarchist News Service
Provided by Federation of Social Anarchists
Czech section of International Workers Association
Report 001/2001
Subject: URGENT CALL FOR SOLIDARITY WITH PERSECUTED
ANARCHISTS AND ANTIFASCISTS
(PRAGUE - January 1, 2000) - On January 8th there is scheduled probably the final session of the famous case of
"Zlin Ten". Ten anarchist and revolutionary antifascist comrades are accused of "heavy health injury,
committed in organised group under ideological pretext", for which they can be given maximum 10 years sentence.
Zlin City Court shall decide this case after more than 3 years of prolonged legal and political battle between
anarchist movement and biased capitalist INjustice.
One of the ten defendants is David SROTT, age 22, metalworker, dedicated FSA-IWA militant, one of the most active
comrades all over former Czechoslovakia. On December 12th the State prosecutor proposed to pass against David the
sentence of at least 3 years in high security prison. Comrade David has been common target of Police persecution,
see our reports about violent Police dispersal of 1st May anarchist demonstration in Prague 2000, when David Srott
was for no reason attacked by riot troopers, violently abused and arrested. So called Zlin trial started as early
as in April 1998, when group of local anarchists/ antifascists violently repulsed attack of 12 naziskinheads, organised
in so called "Patriotic Front", extreme nationalist and fascist organisation, leaving one of the nazis
heavily wounded. Police hastened to the scene, rounded up all well known local anarchists and constructed monster
case when "group of dangerous extremists attacked the group of innocent citizens." All comrades were
given charge of "heavy health injury, committed in organised group under ideological pretext" (=A7 222
of Penal Law), for which they can ge given 10 years sentence.
Details of biased Czech INjustice
Some of the neonazis, giving witness reports against David and his co-defendants - especially Tomas OZVOLDIK, Viktor
PAPALA, Stepan PLACAK and Petr PECENA - were already sentenced in the past for racially motivated violence and
other crimes. Mentioned Stepan Placak, who is used as a witness against comrade David, has been for instance charged
with attempted murder (=A7219) for armed assault on life of young soldier of compulsory service of Jewish origin,
who protested against Placaks verbal propaganda of holocaust and nazism in one Prague pub.
The whole case is led by the state apparatus in the style of disgusting manipulation with facts, using fake witnesses
and open support, given to neonazi violence. Here are some more cases.
The responsible Police investigator, officer PALISEK, forced by various threats former naziskinhead J. Kubik to
testify against the defendants. Officer Palisek moreover smuggled into the crime file one falsified report, allegedly
made by one of the witnesses, originally proving innocence of the defendants, but now dismissing her statements.
Officer Palisek had been in the past already punished by the Interior Ministry Inspection for serious offences,
like denying arrested persons the right to have a defence counsel.
When the whole trial started to be closed with very probable result of acquitting of all defendants, State Prosecutor
proposed two new false witnesses, coming from top ranks of regional neonazi groups. First of them is Petr PECENA,
26 years old, leader of Zlin naziskinheads, who stood in elections for ultra-right wing Republican Party. Pecena
gives really "valuable" report, stating, that one of the defendants allegedly told him personally about
his complicity in the "attack". Pecena had been in the past already sentenced for various racially motivated
violent offences, like attacks on local Gipsy community etc and also for violent abuse of his girlfriend. During
this trial he even physically attacked the judge.
The whole situation is perhaps best described by comrade David Srott himself in the statement, given to our magazine:"It
is obvious that this is the case of fabricated monster trial, conducted hand in hand by fascists in bomber jackets,
fascists in police uniforms and fascists in disguise of judges. We know very well, who is standing against us.
This is the real organised crime, based on democratic politics and fascist ideology."
Conclusion
The situation of our comrades is again very bad, but we can see again that powerful combination of international
anarchist protest and pressure and activity of good defence counsels, paid by CZ Anarchist Black Cross group (integral
part of FSA-IWA), is serious threat and obstacle for repressive plans of Czech state forces. CZ Anarchist Black
Cross is covering expenses for David Srott legal defence, because he as all ordinary anarchists -workers, cannot
afford to do so. Costs of legal defence in this case, covered by CZ ABC, climbed over 2000,- USD. Greater part
of it comes from international solidarity.
We send brotherly anarchist greetings to organisations and comrades, who recently contributed to defence of Zlin
comrades:
-Anti-racist Action, Ottawa, Canada
-Bristol (UK) antifascists and anarchists
-Confederation Nationale du Travail, French section of International Workers Association
What you can do:
-IMMEDIATELY send letters, faxes and e-mails of protest to your local Czech consulate or embassy. Demand dropping
of charges against David Srott and his nine co-defendants, charged by "heavy health injury, committed in organised
group under ideological pretext." Demand that the State prosecutor and judge cease to protect and cover the
fascist political identity of "victims". Protest against the fact that this case is conducted in very
common and almost obvious manner of Czech police and courts denying existence of political identity of organised
neonazis and using organised neonazis against people with antifascist conviction. Always demand an official answer
to your requests.
-send donations to CZ ABC Defense Fund (for details, contact our International secretariat)
-spread this information world-wide - write articles for your local anarchist press.
-became subscriber of CZ ABC English-language information bulletin
Federation of Social Anarchists
International secretariat
PO BOX 5, 15006 Praha 56, Czech republic
e-mail: use BOTH intersec@atlas.cz <mailto:intersec@atlas.cz> AND fsa-praha@usa.net <mailto:fsa-praha@usa.net>
www.volny.cz/fsa-map <http://www.volny.cz/fsa-map>
tel: *420-(0)604-773440
***
GOODBYE TO LADRONKA
After many eviction scares, the Ladronka squat was evicted on Nov. 9. It had lasted for 7 years and had even been
given an agreement by the authorities permitting them to legally occupy the building. It played a very important
part in the city's anarchist and alternative culture and will be missed.
