Today's 5 Topics:
1. wsm.ie: Irish Water bills may be refunded (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
2. Defying the nation-state in Syria by Leila Al Shami by Fifth
Estate #396, Summer 2016 (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
3. France, Alternative Libertaire AL #260 - Women in Prison,
more discrimination (fr, it, pt) [machine translation]
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
4. And after the riots in France... what next ?: interview with
Alternative Libertaire (II) by Rupture Collective (RC)
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
5. France, Alternative Libertaire AL - policy, Bans on
demonstrations: repression still up a notch (fr, it, pt) [machine
translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
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Message: 1
Since it's such a nice day, the Labour Party have some good news for you. They'd like to
give back all the money they took from those who paid their Irish Water bills. That's
quite a turnaround for Fine Gael's junior partner but they say it's because they don't
want people "feeling mugged". ---- This may be good news for the many people, particularly
elderly people, who paid out of fear as a result of media and government scare tactics
over the past year and a half. ---- The majority of people understood what was going on
and refused to pay even more of their hard earned money in order to fund a government
attempt to privatise our water infrastructure so private investors could reap billions in
profits. ---- A minority paid because of the tired old precept of 'It's the Law'. These
people do not deserve their money back but it may be that they will get it back, due
solely to the efforts.of water charge campaigners.
Others said "We have to pay for our water", despite the fact that we already pay for water
through general taxation. Any additional sums should be generated through central,
progressive taxation.
So the government parties are forced to retreat, and we advance. This battle is by no
means over but considering the forces arrayed against us when this all kicked off we're
doing well. Government parties are backing down, the media propaganda offensive against us
has largely subsided and the campaign we've built shows no signs of quitting either.
We've all learned a huge amount through this campaign and will no doubt be putting our
networks, experience, skills and energy to good use in future battles against governments,
the state, private capital and their minions. But in the mean time, don't let your guard
down, the fight against Irish Water is not won yet.
Well done to all the water charges campaigners and boycotters who's efforts have taken us
to this favorable position, you're all brilliant!
Make sure to buy yourself an ice cream.
http://www.wsm.ie/c/irish-water-bills-may-be-refunded
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Message: 2
Syria's current borders were designed by the imperial powers hundred years ago in the
midst of World War I as part of a secret treaty between France and Britain sought to
divide the spoils posed by the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire. The power was
transferred from western to local elites as colonial masters that the state was giving way
to the post-independence state. ---- The three political axes that emerged from the
anti-colonial struggle-socialism, Arab nationalism and Islam embraced the idea of a
strong state as the basis of resistance to Western hegemony. In the case of Syria, it gave
way to an ultra-authoritarian regime in which power is centralized around a single man in
Damascus, Bashar Al-Assad; underpinned by a powerful state bureaucracy and security
forces. But today, new forms of organization are emerging challenging the centralized
authority and state framework.
During the revolution against Assad began in Syria in 2011, large tracts of land were
released to the extent that, for 2013, the regime had lost control of about 80% of the
country. As the state disintegrated communities had the need to create alternative
structures to ensure that life could keep functioning in the new autonomous areas.
The model that emerged was based on the vision of anarchist Syrian Omar Aziz, who
published a paper in November 2011, the eighth month of the revolution, advocating the
establishment of local councils.
He argued that it was inconsistent that revolutionaries participate in protests the day
before returning to live in hierarchical and authoritarian structures imposed by the
state. Aziz believed that revolutionary activity should permeate all aspects of life and
therefore advocated radical changes in social relations and organization.
Supported and called to create autonomous non-hierarchical organization and
self-government, based on the principles of cooperation, solidarity and mutual support.
His vision of the councils as forums organized horizontally through which people could
work together to achieve three primary goals: to manage their lives independently of the
state; cooperate collectively; and start a social, local, regional and national revolution.
Together with his colleagues, Aziz helped establish the first local council in Zabadani,
which was followed by similar ones in the Syrian cities of Barzeh, Daraya and Douma.
Tragically, Aziz was arrested in November 2012 by agents of the secret services of the
Assad regime and was confined to the infamous prison Adad, where he died three months
later. Shortly before his death he said: "We are not less than workers of the Paris
Commune, they withstood 70 days and we already took eighteen months."
Hundreds of local councils have sprung up across Syria, transferring power to the
communities at the expense of the state. These are civil administrative structures, and
most have chosen their positions through democratic processes or by consensus something
never seen before in the totalitarian regime of Assad. Some of these structures convene
elections every 3 or 6 months to revoke representatives that are not properly and
decisions on issues dealing acting are taken by majority vote.
They consist of revolutionary activists, professionals and representatives of large
families or tribes. In most cases they are independent of political or military factions
or groups, and in mixed communities as Yabroud, Selemmiyeh and Manbij, local councils
include representatives of the various ethnic and local groups.
In the absence of the state, local groups are those that guarantee water supply, education
and health care to local communities. They have mounted alternative energy sources such as
solar energy, and cultivate the land to fight hunger in besieged communities.
Several members of the boards committees, assume different responsibilities: the work of
media relations, civil defense and humanitarian aid distribution. Local councils in the
neighborhood or village levels are sometimes connected with the broader provincial
councils. Choose presidents and co-presidents and contain a number of commissions or
departments such as media, health, safety, welfare, legal and civil services.
These experiments of self-organization happen in the middle of a complex web of challenges
and obstacles. The liberated areas have been the main target of air strikes Assad (and
more recently the Russians) in an attempt to crush any alternative to the regime.
Continuous attacks on these areas have contributed to the displacement of the population
and they have left many refugees seeking safety abroad. The militarization of the
uprising, which began in the summer / fall of 2011, it transformed from a horizontally
organized, inclusive and nonsectarian a struggle between authoritarian factions trying to
gain hegemony and deny freedom and self-determination movement to communities released.
The clearest example of this is the most extreme Islamist factions have tried to seize
power from local councils to impose their own parallel structures as the Shura Councils
and Sharia courts; despite popular protests in places that has happened this development
of the situation.
These groups are still part of the armed struggle against Assad, (and now with the
military involvement of the imperialist powers, are also part of the struggle against
foreign occupation) as fighting Daesh (ISIS). But none of these groups has been part of
the struggle of the Syrian people for freedom, social justice and self-determination. They
seek to replace an authoritarian state on the other.
Councils at the provincial level are often linked to the Syrian National Coalition (the
opposition in exile) which in turn is influenced by the agendas of international powers,
especially the reactionary Gulf and Western governments. Because of their financial
dependence, its grassroots character is seriously compromised. There are also other
obstacles social.
Syrian society is very patriarchal - through the family, the tribe and the nation state.
Few women are part of the local councils, despite the leading role of women in
revolutionary groups and civil society such as the Local Coordination Committees, or the
many social centers for women in the liberated areas. These support the activism of women
and their involvement in the economic, political and social spheres as a means through
which to challenge patriarchal structures.
In the northern Kurdish region, the social revolution has been much more inclusive with
regard to women. The three Kurdish cantons (Jazira, Ayn al-Arab and Afrin) declared
democratic autonomy in January 2014, each establishing a parliament, various ministries
and courts.
Together, the three cantons of Rojava make up the territory that is largely led by the
Democratic Union Party (PYD). The PYD is strongly influenced by the ideas of the leader of
the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) Abdullah Ocalan, who in turn was influenced by the
ideas of the American anarchist Murray Bookchin and defends the new political paradigm
Democratic Confederalism.
Based on the principles of direct democracy, gender equality and environmentalism,
democratic confederalism challenges the concept of nation-state, and substitution wants to
create regional autonomy and promote self-organization and self-government.
Along Rojava communes are the means by which people come together to find solutions to
their needs and challenges of everyday life they face. Each commune has a number attached
to it to address issues such as education, justice, food, environmental issues and
self-defense committees. Decisions are made on the basis of consensus.
The communes are connected to the district councils are composed of representatives of the
commune and political parties (as communes) have a participation fee of 40% for women.
These then are attached to the cantonal administration through various mechanisms that
coordinate with the councils and the regional government of Rojava.
Unlike other areas of Syria, Rojava has escaped the scorched earth policy of Assad and his
allies, allowing these territories flourish and develop.
Although this also face a number of challenges. Despite his libertarian rhetoric, the PYD
dominating the Autonomous Administration of self-government is an authoritarian party that
has silenced, arrested, and killed other Kurdish opposition groups.
People's Defense Units (YPG), dominated by the PYD, and the Democratic Forces of Syria
supported the US has recently developed offensives in areas of Arab majority with the
support of Russian air strikes. It seems an attempt to build a state that goes against the
ideas of democratic confederalism and generates the risk of inter-ethnic confrontation.
The Kurds face turn authoritarian continuous attacks of the Turkish state tries to crush
the aspirations of self-determination of the Kurdish people both within its borders and in
Syria. They also face attacks by extremist Islamist groups, especially the Daesh, Jabhat
Al Nusra (Al-Qaeda linked), and Ahrar Al Sham.
All over Syria, structures and oppressive and hierarchical institutions have been torn
apart and people are organizing their communities and dealing freely. There has been no
greater challenge to the concept of nation-state in the world since the Spanish Revolution
of 1930.
But as shown above, these experiments regions are threatened from many angles. Due to the
strength of the counter, what will happen with the collapse of the Syrian state, is the
imposition of mini-states, armed, fences and rhetorical speeches that create more division
and a state of perpetual war.
Solidarity with the Syrians in their struggle is vital. Still, many groups that identify
with the "left" not only have shown their solidarity with the Syrian revolution, but have
an infamous support the counterrevolution. This is usually due to ignorance on the Syrian
context, Orientalism and a growing Islamophobia.
Many have not understood the enormous diversity of the actors that are embedded in the
conflict right now, actors sometimes share similar goals (such as the overthrow of the
regime), but ultimately finalists have different objectives.
There is an inability to distinguish between armed groups and civil resistance; between
armed groups that have a democratic basis or whose activity is part of the self-defense of
their communities and those with an authoritarian agenda; between those who seek to
dissolve the traditional structures of power and those who only seek power for themselves.
The revolution faces many challenges, and no one should be fooled into thinking that a
free society is the result. And counter states are much stronger than us. Still, amid all
these challenges, anarchists should support the oppressed and exploited, those who are
creating new forms of organization in the most difficult circumstances and those who face
their total extermination.
Practices solidarity will be more fruitful than ill-informed theoretical bravado.
Leila Al Shami is co-author, with Robin Yassin-Kassab, of Burning Country: Revolution and
War in Syrians, Pluto Press (2016). He has worked in the human rights movement in Syria
and other Middle Eastern countries.
He is a founding member of Tahrir-ICN, a network that connects the anti-authoritarian
struggle in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. She lives in Scotland and has the
blog leilashami.wordpress.com.
In Rodolfo Pedrero
Excerpted https://leilashami.wordpress.com/2016/05/12/challenging-the-nation-state-in-syria/
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Message: 3
Women are significantly less confined than men and this is what causes inequality,
illustrating the saying almost without exception that says "when it's a disaster for men,
it's worse for women." ---- In February the Controller (Controller but why not?) General
of places of deprivation of liberty (CGLPL) issued a report on prisons. ---- Women account
for 3.2% of the prison population (there would have to write about the causes of this
figure ... and also on the uselessness and the illegitimacy of the prison). So, they are
welcomed in 56 establishments 188. The south of France is particularly poor in women's
prisons. This has two consequences: greater overcrowding so than for men in PACA and
remoteness of families and therefore visits. They also have access to fewer psychiatric
facilities. Again, the problem is the geographical distribution. The young girls are
incarcerated with adult women, juvenile units are reserved for boys. Similarly, the low
number of parole facilities holding women leads to what they represent just over 1% of
people in semi-freedom.
The strict separation of the sexes also hinders the movement of women within institutions
and access to common services (library, sports facilities ...) and most workstations. They
are often forced into domestic activities of women and the gendered segregation
neighborhoods activities raging outside is reproduced (maintenance work, embroidery,
sewing, no collective practice their religion, sewing CAP proposal ...).
specific needs little attention
Since 2009, joint activities can be organized, but it is still not the case. It's still
considered experimental, and women are highly regulated and are "protected" encounters
with men.
The specific needs of women are given little attention: variable access, and sometimes
unusual, to a gynecologist, limited supply of feminine hygiene products in the hygiene
kits "available" and reduced catalog for products be prison canteen (purchased by inmates
due to "wages" earned for their work).
Given these facts, it is difficult to have positions or claims. Demand more diversity is
difficult when you know the reality of sexual harassment everywhere. Wanting that all
facilities have a neighborhood women could well lead to more incarcerations. Demand
improved enforcement is generally a claim difficult to hold, which does not stop to
denounce such inequalities!
Christine (AL Orne)
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Femmes-en-prison-plus-de
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Message: 4
In April of the current year, we released the first part of a series of interviews with
fellow Alternative Libertaire in France, involving a serious analysis of the national
struggle against labor code (Loi Travail) and the establishment of self - management in
the French town after the huge distrust of the French state. Now, the various popular
sectors are organized movement Nuit Debot and other regional and alternative proposals to
the reformist parties and reformist union culture that has always co - opted the social
strength of the working class and students. ---- We share the second part illustrating the
work of the working class and libertarian groups after long days of direct action,
sabotage and riots in the French streets. Because not everything is the art of
disobedience... but the revolutionary and inclusive construction of a classless society!
As always, we thank all the members of AL and comrade Laurent of the International
Commission has given us this direct to Spanish conversation. A hug to all who fight!
http://rupturacolectiva.com/entrevista-con-alternative-libertaire-francia-una-mirada-revolucionaria-contra-la-loi-travail-de-francois-hollande/
previous comments (RC): We have seen several videos on social networks in which acts of
civil disobedience are shown in Nantes, France, such as blockades on the main streets and
even some protesters managed to remove surveillance cameras. From Latin America we have
followed closely some actions, texts and pronouncements that have made the most radical
unions and libertarian groups. In some other notes, we saw that May 1st was a big protest.
1: After this day of struggle, what awaits the libertarian movement in France?
Libertarian, anti-capitalist and militant trade unionism organizations concentrate their
efforts on the construction of the general strike and lock the perspective of the economy.
The law of destruction Labour Code (Loi Travail) is under discussion since May 3 in the
National Assembly. Both CNT (CNT CNT-F and SO), Solidaires and part of unions CGT and FO
press on the inter - union to achieve a common date in order to start a general strike
movement with professional protest tactics. Also they take initiatives without waiting for
the national inter - union which has seven unions (workers 4, 1 and 2 young students of
secondary education) decided to act.
Part of this militant trade unionism has initiated the call On block tout! (Stop it!).
This appeal has been signed by more than 1,400 union members and 100 local, provincial and
national union structures. It plays an important role to encourage everyone sl @ s who
want an offensive strategy that allows us win.
The date of May 18 begins to emerge. Several railway unions want to launch an unlimited
strike especially against a proposed increase in working hours is very close to the
project of destruction of the labor code. The CGT and FO road transport federations want
to launch an indefinite strike from May 17. In the public finance sector and oil
refineries, traditionally combative majority unions want to engage in this form of action.
It is positive but there are two types of difficulties. First, only the CNT and Solidaires
defend a strategy of breaking with the employers and the state. The CGT, the first union
in the country, is divided between very combative unions and before its congress in April,
but more confederal secretary reformist left. And try to keep a balance between reformists
and l @ s @ s more Embattled (something politically impossible).
Philippe Martinez, the secretary general of the CGT, said certain moments that workers
have to discuss the general strike in companies, but the CGT does not want to discuss
these actions in meetings of the Inter. We think that calls for general strikes are not
enough to concretize. The absence of appeal does not help organizations to develop such a
strategy.
Another difficulty. It is very difficult to build a mass movement. There is a protest
movement in youth, in businesses, and in the streets with movement Nuit Debout! which is
not limited to the issue of the Labour Code. But at the moment there are fewer people on
the street and on strike in 2010 in defense of pensions.
The current protest movement to open a perspective of social transformation. In Nuit
Debout assemblies there are debates about democracy, self-management, feminism, solidarity
with l @ s migrants... But past failures and defeats weigh and explain the current
difficulties.
2: How they have answered the 'mass-media, opinion leaders and citizens to the radical
actions occurred on April 28?
Usually the 'mass media' seeks to criminalize social policy and through the stigmatization
of hooded protesters clash with police protest. But part of this 'mass media' and
especially the independent media and counter-information, the 'average militant',
broadcast images, videos and texts that highlight the strategy of tension and the policy
of terror government. Government lies and instrumentalization of violence are so obvious
that the same police unions have revealed they have received orders to press
demonstrations and provoking incidents.
The idea that violence is the capital and police progresses. It is shared by many French
people.
Part of l @ s intellectuals up to now very silences @ s- wakes up and about unions and
members of Nuit Debout movement to denounce police violence and repressive power politics.
Most of l @ s @ s citizenship wants the government to withdraw its bill destroying the
labor code. Expresses its discontent in polls rather than on the street. You have to build
a majority of ideas for an alternative to capitalism and the establishment of voluntary
self-management. The absence of a political project shared by l @ s @ s dominion explains
the difficulty of building a mass mobilization.
3: After days of protests and riots, what do ?, and anarchist self-management projects now
exist that the libertarian movement organized along with the various social sectors of the
French people?
Currently the Nuit Debout movement as a movement of reappropriation of public space,
allows discussion of self-management, develop self-organization and self-management of the
struggle, also the occupation of squares with meetings, committee meetings, canteen,
security against the police and attacks by the extreme right. It is a great experience for
many people who were not so far in collective action.
This culture of self-organization is not the culture of most of unionism. There is a great
mistrust of political parties and organizations generally. You can see in the Nuit Debout
movement, but this agrees to work with organizations that respect their autonomy and
independence.
Militants of Alternative Libertaire deal with otr @ s libertarians partidari s @ s of self
- management to develop these ideas and practices in trade unionism, struggles, strikes,
occupation of places in a context of strong repression.
In the city of Rennes (big city in western France) for example, we participate otr @ s
activists with the occupation of the People's House. We open discussions on its role. Some
@ s want to transform rather than life, otr @ s in a counter-power in the service of
social struggles.
We participated for years in otr @ s experiences with militant libertarians s and social
movements in several cities. I think, for example La Barricade (coffee and social center
in Montpellier, southeastern France), La Rotisserie (a charity restaurant in Paris) or
L'Etincelle , a library and community center in Angers (western France). They are centers
of initiatives and counter-powers in connection with the struggles of these cities.
Today, the term "workers" and "working class" has been modified due to the extension of
the service sector (government workers, the health departments, various trades) and other
works and private telecommunications companies, fast food, entertainment, etc., especially
by the so-called "post-industrial era."
4: How should approach the libertarian militants to all forms of current work so that
workers can organize into a powerful political force ?, it is necessary to "modernize" the
speech?
Capitalism strives to break up collective work with unemployment, casualization and the
destruction of the minimum labor rights. The fight against the destruction of the labor
code is an important moment of this capitalist strategy based on the historical division
of labor.
Unionism does not exist in half of the companies and has many difficulties in organizing
workers and s Precarious workers. The mass media and the educational system pressure to
convince youth to be head of his own company.
The organized sector is the culture. A party affiliated unions and elsewhere grouped in
the Coordination of intermittent and Precarious (CIP). This coordination is composed by
radical activists, libertarians sy supporters of direct action.
The CNT, Solidaires and part of the CGT try to organize this part of the working class.
There are also groups of migrant workers without papers seeking to regularize their status
and combat their exploitation. Some of its members are union members. Their struggles
allow to deconstruct the identity discourses against migrants and allows show that the
ruling class specializes in dividing us not only with the common and cultural racism, but
a class racism which includes unemployed, unemployed, precarious workers or not, French or
migrants.
It is clear that for us the working class is not only that of l @ s @ s obrer industry.
Rebuilding a class identity must include the different components of the working class and
join with the struggle against cultural oppression and gender.
http://rupturacolectiva.com/y-despues-de-las-revueltas-en-francia-que-sigue-entrevista-con-alternative-libertaire-ii/
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Message: 5
Dozens of activists and militants were forbidden to participate in the events of May 17 in
several cities in France (Paris, Lyon, Nantes...). ---- The police arrived at the home of
these people for their return notification of the Prefecture prohibiting them from
visiting the manifestations of their cities. This draconian measure is facilitated by the
state of emergency, the famous state of emergency slavishly approved by 900 MPs of 906,
including those of the Left Front, remember, and that the National Assembly is about to
extend. Police calls "preventive" this draconian measure to prevent a "possible violence".
---- Again, as in the mobilization against the Cop 21, the government manipulates the
fight against terrorism to silence social struggles. While he is struggling and completely
isolated to spend the Labor Law, it can not rely on the authoritative measure of Article
49.3 and the maintenance of order by force.
Alternative Libertaire denounces these measures. For weeks, police violence are
systematically against the protesters and demonstrators: mutilation, intimidation,
gassings. This repression is a sign that the government is afraid. He fears being
overwhelmed by an extension of the strikes, actions and events in a crucial week ahead.
That his fears are justified! Everywhere we must extend the mobilization and down the
street. Everywhere must resist repression and intimidation. Everywhere we must demand the
immediate lifting of the state of emergency and the stay.
Alternative Libertaire, May 17, 2016
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Interdictions-de-manifester-la
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