Welcome to another English edition of Črna luknja, the local voice of anarchism on Radio Študent. The focus of today's show is the Balkan Anarchist Bookfair, which took place this weekend on Metelkova and marked 10 years of the bookfair. In the first part of the show we will listen to the statement of the general assembly of the bookfair, which sheds light on the background of the spontaneous protest that took place on Saturday night in the streets of Ljubljana. In the second part we continue with an interview with the local organizing team of the bookfair. One of the workshops that took place during the bookfair was about nationalism on the Balkans. Among other things, the workshop resulted in a common statement, which you can hear in the last part of today's show. As half an hour is simply not long enough to present all the amazing experiences, debates and intriguing analyses which emerged during this weekend, we will make sure to present the final statement of the bookfair next time, so be sure to tune in. In the meantime, check the website www.a-federacija.org/bab2013 for the statement, videos and other information about what went on. They say cut back, we say fight back!

We are their crisis – for a transnational struggle against capitalism and repression

 

We, the participants of the Balkan Anarchist Bookfair in Ljubljana, are taking to the streets today in order to express our common rejection of capitalism and repression. We are an international community of anarchists and anti-authoritarians, engaged in struggles against the regime of capitalist exploitation, austerity measures, the rise of nationalism and fascism and state repression. The global crisis of capitalism has completely discredited the dogma that capitalism and liberal democracy can provide for the well-being of all.

As anarchists and anti-authoritarians, we reject austerity measures and authoritarian crisis management as a solution to the crisis. We understand austerity measures as a path towards a Europe of generalized poverty. We also reject nationalist populism and fascism as responses to the social crisis that the austerity measures are causing. The only solution to the crisis can be the destruction of capitalism and the state and the continuous construction of new social relations, free of all forms of exploitation and domination. For a new world in the shell of the old!

 

In the time of the crisis and intensified social conflicts, state repression is becoming increasingly brutal and police is transforming more and more into a paramilitary force, serving the interests of political and economic elites. Basic rights of all those who resist capitalist expropriation of our lives are being continuously suspended. We stand in solidarity with all political prisoners and subjects of repression. We strongly reject the criminalization of widespread revolts. No justice, no peace, fuck the police!

We invite everyone who is interested to take part in the common struggle: Let’s kick capitalism while it’s down!

General assembly of the Balkan Anarchist Bookfair 2013

Ljubljana, 25. May 2013

Joint Statement of the Balkan Meeting on Nationalism

 

The Balkan Anarchist Bookfair is an expression and an example of international solidarity, uniting comrades from Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, Belarus, Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, England, Sweden and Hungary.

 

Each anarchist gathering is an opportunity to unite our forces in the struggle against capitalism and the State, thus against nationalism – a weapon the ruling class is using to divide us.

 

The Balkan countries have a long history of ethnic and religious conflicts, which is why the working class must mobilize their forces in a social conflict instead, for the purpose of focusing on real problems, such as cutting social rights (due to austerity measures), rising unemployment and increasing poverty for the majority of people.

As always, in times of crisis, the ruling structures once again turn to nationalism to divide the people and strengthen their own power. In addition, the Balkan countries are slowly joining Europe’s chauvinism, taking over the repressive attitude towards immigrants.

That is why, as anarchists, we must regain focus on the struggle against all forms of nationalism, for as long as there is the State, nationalism will always follow. We can oppose nationalistic hatred only by solidarity between all oppressed groups of society, regardless of national borders. We must all rise in a social struggle, everywhere in the world.

NO WAR BETWEEN PEOPLES, NO PEACE BETWEEN CLASSES!

The participants in the Balkan meeting on nationalism,

Balkan Anarchist Bookfair,

Ljubljana, 26th of May 2013