AMSTERDAM POLITIESTAD


2:30:37 μμ

Europe - "The name of the dream"




"I thought that socialists are supposed to create problems to capitalism, not solve them to its favour"
Anonymous Renault worker



"During our trip to Holland, we refused to show our passports, whenever we crossed borders. We presented ourselves as individuals without papers, not as citizens of a specific nation, but as members of humanity. We also refused to pay the train ticket. Since we were going to demonstrate against unemployment, it was obvious that we couldn't afford the fare..."
Louca, from Radio Serwood, Padova (Italy).


"[...] The people gathered intended to infiltrate other demonstrations and cause trouble. I don't think that anyone could let a group like this on demonstrating in the city."
Vrakking, General prosecutor in Amsterdam.



It is our intention that the following article will be first of all informative. This is because we believe that the important events that took place in Amsterdam between 14 - 17 June, were presented by the media in a not only incomplete but also misleading way. Of course, this wasn't the first, and won't be the last, time such a thing happened. It happens with events that take place right here, wouldn't it happen with whatever played a part in "distant" Amsterdam? But our surprise on our return to Athens about how little had been known and our fear that all those events would stay unknown, force us to rather provide information (at least for the moment) than get down to the theoretical aspect of a situation of suppression of those facts that constituted the first massive paneuropean action of resistance to capitalist rule in recent years. Because, if the distant descendants of the people who met in London in the 19th century to establish the First Labour International gathered in Amsterdam, this is something which is worth reporting and has to be reported. Id est, if we want those red and black flags to wave under the european sky, like they did that Saturday on 14 June, this has to be known at least by those who are interested in. Because the greatest problem isn't that people don't care, but that they think that they are the only ones and there aren't any other people like them.




THE MARCH

On Saturday 14 June, 2.00 pm,there is an appointment at Dam square, the central square of "free" Amsterdam. The "foreigners" who have started to gather from all over Europe haven't come here for the free cannabis, the sex industry, or the tulips and walks by the canals with the picturesque bridges. They have come from all over Europe to tell the bosses that they can't create a Europe for them without them.
The group of greek anarchist in Amsterdam
The first organised group which appears is that of the spanish anarchosyndicalists of CGT, to the satisfaction of those already gathered. This day, the red and black flag will be the passport to the square. One after the other, more arrive: the french anarchosyndicalists of CNT, the Anarchocommunist Federation from England, scandinavian anarchosyndicalists with the suedish SAC at the head, then the red flags of the extreme left, trotskyist groups from France, Germany, England, Greece, the "Communist Reestablishment" from Italy...
Then representatives of social movements, feminists, activists for the rights of foreign workers and immigrants, animal rights defenders, solidarity committees to the unemployed, organisations for the right to housing, independent trade unions, antimilitarist and antinuclear groups etc and finally, Renault workers cheered by everyone.
The start of the march is delayed, because everyone is waiting for the arrival of the train with the italians from the social centres. Last night only 900 of them arrived, while there were about 3.000 who intended to come. Finally, at 3.30 p.m., suedish anarchists make the first move, the red and black mass gets at the head and the march begins enthusiastically towards Weteringcircuit. On the way, spondies break the E.U. flags that had been set up on the occasion of the Eurotop. When the crowd gets there, they want to turn left, towards the Dutch Bank, which hosts the Eurotop, instead of right, which is the decision of the organising committee. Riot police have blocked the way. There is a skirmish. Something is thrown towards the police force and the first arrest follows. Immediately, people start thowing objects to the cops, who charge with buttons and personnel vehicles. There are no casualties and the march goes on to Leidseplein. A bank is attacked. The headquarters of Amsterdam police are further down. The cops have made the mistake to leave a van outside. The crowd overthrows it. Outraged, the cops charge again and people retreat running towards Jordaan. But the rest of the march is coming from behind, so the cops are forced to get back to their vans. Some arrests have been made, though. In the meantime, back in the central railway station of Amsterdam, the police have blocked about 130 italian comrades, while the rest have retreated towards the city, after some skirmishes. They finally head to Dam square, with picketing teams in alert.
The march continues with no more incidents. At around 5.00 p.m., the first demonstrators reach Dam square. It will take one more hour for the last ones to arrive. Speakers get on a big stage that has been set up in the middle of the square to salute the gathering crowd. A black woman from the solidarity committee to the Liverpool dockers says that the immigrants have contributed to the growth of the industrial centres of the North and are so entitled to its benefits. "Power to the sisters, Power to the black people, Power to all the people!" she shouts. The presenter of the concert that is about to begin says: "I'm moroccan. I came here many years ago. Now, they tell me, there is no more work for you here, go back. I'm going NOWHERE!". Renault workers receive a warm applause after their brief greeting to the gathering. The concert begins, musicians and bands form all over Europe get on the stage, the crowd which has filled the square is singing and dancing. People in small circles talk about what has happened to the italian comrades. There are various rumours circulating. Anyway, this is the first sign of the change of the situation and what is going to happen in the next days. Because, as we mentioned before, thing were generally quiet up to this moment. Late at night, the last demonstrators leave and the square is now empty.


THE ARRESTS

In the next day,Sunday 15 June,takes place the "great" Legalise Party! Demonstrators ,dressed in colourful suits,three Hi-Fi systems put on vans,a lot of joints wander the central streets in Amsterdam.
Street theatre,dance,songs.Nothing portends what is going to happen at night.At the same time,in various places a lot of conversations about labour and unemployment,poverty and social exclusion,democracy,nuclear power,immigrants,racism,feminism,environment,the consequences of social-economic policy of E.U,animal's rights,peace and weapon trade,relationship between South-North and East-West,homosexual's rights,OTAN,Europol,as well as direct democracy beyond frontiers,different Europe ,the break of national market.In the meantime,we heard that the Italians who were arrested the previous night have already been expelled.Before that, they were transported to the central prison of Amsterdam for photos and fingerprints. With their train with the windows covered, so they weren't able to look outside,they were led to Italy.Thus,a protest demonstration is decided not only for the Italians ,but also for the people arrested  in Friday and Saturday  outside the squat Vrankrijk,placed behind Dam.This squat is a very famous one,which is legalised now and a lot of homeless people are housed there.There is also an info-cafe and an alternative bar there.In this demonstration the riot police surrounded the block and arrested all the demonstrators except of those who managed to get in the squat.The arrested people handcrafted put in different jails all over Holland.The total amount of arrested is over 400.Among them some greek people.During the arrests, police on horseback broke off group of people gathered outside the squat yelling signals against them.
After that,the conditions prevelant changed into a different situation in Amsterdam.The police force is obvious by patroling and blocking the town . All over the night the police helicopter circles the town.
South Central L.A in the "Free" city of Amsterdam.


AMSTERDAM - L.A.

The next day,Monday 16 June,the concern was shifted to the previous night's events.In the morning,at Dam palace, the official reception of the E.U leaders takes place.The square from a "social liberated area" changes into a prohibited area.two demonstrations,one for the nuclear power and one for the animal's rights ended there.The riot police wearing bullet-proof jackets keep the demonstrators in distance.The rights have been inhibited due to EUROTOP.The newspaper circulated all these days by the organising commitee has been prosecuted.The police arrestes someone who holds the paper and shows the title to them : AMSTERDAM POLITIESTAD .
The midday,in the house of women in Vrouwenhuis,one of the places where conversations occur,a discusion for the arrests is organised.But unfortunatelly , there is no practical conclusion.A little later in the near by museum of the Labor Union, representatives of Vrankrijk give press conference nad we learn that the arrests were made based to the 140 article of participation to criminal organisation.It's the first time that this article is used to a demonstration.It's a law of collective rensponsibility.
The precise number of the arrested people is unknown.The police is talking about 22 arrests but the telephones at the solidarity groups for arrested people are ringing all the time in order to be reported missing persons obviously included to the arrested people.It is rumored that they will be kept until the end of the EUROTOP.It is obvious that the arrests are precautionary.Four lawyers are running all over the prisons to meet the arrested people.The prosecutor declares ,by breaking the law that he defends ,that the people in custody violate a law by refusing to give their names and make statement.Informations about the violation of human rights are coming all the day.Some of the arrested people because they look like punks are dropped down and their eyes were covered with a kerchief.Men carried out body research to arrested women.They didn't give food to some arrested peple,something unheard for the dutch datum.Two Dane reportes were arrested but they leave them free later.The Green interpellate to the Parliament.In these days takes place in Amsterdam the "Inspiration Festival".That's why in the statement of the organising commitee is mentioned :
"If Amsterdam is the city of inspiration, then inspiration has taken the wrong direction."
At the same night a street party is organised with the intention not to leave the euroleaders to sleep.
Outside the hotel,the police arrest 100 people more and some of the others fall to the canals in order to avoid the arrest.We could write much more not only for the events themselves but also concerning the society of the surveillance has already been formed basically in the metropolitical centres.As well as ,for the quality and the depth of the resistance that is formed.
It is sure that in Amsterdam two dreams for Europe met each other: the bosses' dream(for a Europe of capital without borders) and our dream (for a Europe - and a world -of its citizens-and not only them-without borders). That we lived in Amsterdam during the first days was the prelude of our dream and their nightmare.That we lived in Amsterdam the last days was a prelude of their dream and our nightmare.

This assay was written by Panagiotis K. and Marlen L.
and published by "ALPHA" in Saturday 21 June 1997.


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