[fse-esf] Final declaration / Repression Network

Sun May 14 22:33:41 CEST 2006

Dear Josu Egireun,

First it is not my personal anger that the issues of the repression in Europe are not (or only so partly) considered in the Final Declaration. We have discussed this matter between some of the participants of the Repression Network.

Second and that worried us indeed: How was this Declaration made? Who decided and what? When did it happen? We didn't even have the chance to take part in this process. And nobody asked us if we wanted to add or change something although at least the Greek Organizing Committee always knew where one could find us. So we tried to add something during the discussion of the Declaration; but without any success. At least there is nothing added in the Declaration that circulates already in many languages in the net.

We thought that we wanted to build the ESF on a horizontal basis. This would mean that the ESF networks and the networking itself would play a more important role in the whole process. Our Network exists for one year now. The issues of the Network are part of the ESF policies and respected in the 16. thematic area. We had four seminars organized of our Repression Network about the issues of the security policies and repression in Europe; some other seminars with this subject were held by other participants of the Forum. Why aren't these issues included in the Final Declaration?

Do you think that we expect too much? Do you think that it is unfair to claim for a more visible process of setting up such documents?

You say that you don't understand the tone of my message. Even now that I explain it to you? I think our aim (and resulting of it the tone of my message) is not so difficult to understand in respect of a more democratic process that we wanted to achieve after the London ESF experience.

Comradely

Achim

PS: Between friends and comrades my name is Achim. That's how I signed my message. Rollhaeuser is my family name.

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Josu Egireun 
  To: Rollhaeuser ; fse-esf at lists.fse-esf.org 
  Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2006 1:10 AM
  Subject: Re: [fse-esf] Final declaration / Repression Network

  Dear Rollhaeuser,

  Up to the moment we have not concluded with the draft of all the reports 
  of the nets that constitute the second part of the statement of Social 
  Movements Assembly because there are nets that until now they have not 
  sent his declaration. In any case, I inform you that Sophie Zafari 
  included your papers with the others and that there is included in the 
  statement.
  I understand you're worried because we've not finished the work, but I 
  don't understand the tone of yours words. In any case we hope to finish 
  the whole statement (with all reports from the nets as the different 
  calls thar were realized in the Assembly) as soon as possible (probably 
  monday/tuesday).

  In solidarity
  Josu Egireun

  Rollhaeuser escribió:
  >
  > Europe is really beautiful, an oasis in a bad, bad world. We all love 
  > our European countries, our governments, our peaceful movement. Does 
  > anybody want to change this idyll?
  >
  > How did the self-determined "leaders" of the ESF come to a declaration 
  > where you find only one sentence about repression in Europe? And this 
  > sentence doesn't even speak of repression. ("We condemn the 
  > witch-hunts and criminalization of alterglobal and other progressive 
  > movements in Eastern and Western Europe.") Did anybody ever speak 
  > about (anti-)terrorist laws and Black Lists; did anybody hear about 
  > Political Prisoners or their isolation? Was there any criminalization 
  > of (mostly Muslim) communities? (All this isn't really about 
  > "alterglobal and other progressive movements"...) Were there seminars 
  > with more than 300 attendants about these issues?
  >
  > When I heard Sophie Zafari reading the declaration I thought I didn't 
  > understand her well because of her beautiful English. But finally I 
  > realize that the ESF must preserve its alternative playground. We must 
  > avoid under all circumstances any clash with the European states and 
  > governments. They could get a little angry with their disobedient 
  > children.
  >
  > Really, folks, I don't know what's happening here. After Iratxe of our 
  > Network read the conclusion (results) of our network we gave an 
  > excerpt to Sophie to be included in the final declaration or at least 
  > to be attached to it. Some lines only; see below at the end of the 
  > "Contribution". It seems that nothing happened with it. Very nice indeed.
  >
  > The days before I asked where and to whom I could give our 
  > contribution for the final declaration. Unfortunately I did not get 
  > any sufficient answer. Nobody told us where and when this declaration 
  > was discussed or how we could influence it.
  >
  > I don't think that this declaration has very big importance. But I'd 
  > wish anyway that the ESF finds a little more democratic way to set up 
  > such documents.
  >
  > Below you find the full résumé we read at the Assembly of the Movements.
  >
  > Achim
  >
  > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  >
  > *CONTRIBUTION TO THE 2006 ASSEMBLY OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS BY THE ESF 
  > NETWORK AGAINST REPRESSION*
  >
  > The ESF Network against Repression has carried out intense work during 
  > this 2006 ESF. We have held 4 seminars.
  >
  > During the seminar on Black lists and political trials we heard about 
  > the use of special, so-called antiterrorist laws and measures to 
  > criminalize political organizations and individuals and ban them from 
  > legal activity. The EU is at the forefront of this attack on our 
  > hard-earned civil and political rights; which affects all of us, 
  > whether in the Basque Country, in Germany, Greece, Turkey, or further 
  > afield. It is important to put a stop to this antidemocratic dynamics.
  >
  > In the seminar on political prisoners, we welcomed the testimony of 
  > the Turkish and Palestinian comrades, who outlined the terrible nature 
  > of the isolation policy they suffer and the inhuman living conditions 
  > their prisoners are held in.
  >
  > We had the privilege of hearing the reaffirmation of their political 
  > nature sent by Greek political prisoners. Greek and German support 
  > organizations insisted on the referential position Political Prisoners 
  > play in revolutionary movements. One thing was clear: solidarity with 
  > political prisoners is a task for all of the emancipatory movements
  >
  > All speakers insisted on the importance of the acknowledgement of 
  > political status and on the need to promote information exchange and 
  > joint solidarity work, for instance, the Kalera Project.
  >
  > The seminar on the War on Terror denounced the criminalization of 
  > Muslims and highlighted the need to confront the fallacy of the “war 
  > on terror”, used to legitimize the most reactionary measures and move 
  > us all further away from the hope of democracy and justice.
  >
  > In the seminar about criminalisation of migrant communities, we talked 
  > about the issue of how the migrants are harassed and humiliated in 
  > Europe, and suspected as enemies. We call it a system of European 
  > apartheid.
  >
  > Because of this, activists of the network against repression and 
  > activists of the migration network together, protested in a Greek 
  > police station, protested against how the Greek police humiliates 
  > migrants.
  >
  > We demand the right of free movement to and in Europe for everybody, 
  > and to stop deportations and extraditions.
  >
  > This idea of a European Fortress and the attempt to impose 
  > mind-control, criminalizing entire political, racial and cultural 
  > communities by branding anyone who dares to dissent as a “terrorist” 
  > must be stopped.
  >
  > All these issues affect any and all of us who aspire to build a better 
  > world. Bear this in mind. Think, organize and work!
  >
  > *THIS IS OUR PROPOSAL FOR INCLUSION IN THE 2006 ESF FINAL RESOLUTION*
  >
  > * *
  >
  > We call on everybody to reject any attempts to legitimize torture, 
  > detention centres and executions; both domestically and abroad 
  > (including candidate states to EU membership, like Turkey).
  >
  > It is necessary to raise the issue of the connection between the “war 
  > on terror”, racist exclusion and the attack on civil and human rights 
  > and against the banning of social and political organizations. We 
  > reject special courts and proceedings.
  >
  > “Antiterrorist laws”, old and new, and “antiterrorist” lists are being 
  > used to criminalise and attack political dissidence, with the EU 
  > playing an active role in this.
  >
  > We call for the recognition of the Political nature of Political 
  > Prisoners, which will allow a political resolution of the issue, 
  > leading to their definitive release.
  >
  > We call on everybody inside and outside the ESF to include the 
  > struggle for the freedom of political prisoners, against torture, 
  > against the “antiterrorist” laws and the migrants’ detention camps in 
  > all our political and social struggles. The right to have rights is on 
  > the agenda of the day.
  >
  > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  >
  >
  >
  > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  > *Texto añadido por Platinum 2006:*
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