report of a participant

On 23rd of November at “Biblioteca Alternativă” was launched the 3rd issue of “Anarhia” – an independent publication that put accent on working class, syndicalist and libertarian history, (especially local history), that contain theoretical approach but that is also relating about recent events.

The actual edition includes topics about East Europe during 1980’s: political emigration, alternative projects, social and political analyses, worker’s movement from Romania and Eastern Europe and political repression. Special guest was Nicolas Trifon – whose political activity during 1980’s is related to “Iztok”, a libertarian group founded in France by Bulgarian anarchists in exile and whose activity was impugning the authoritarianism of the communist regimes from Eastern Block. Along with Nicolas Trifon it was discussed the condemnation of communism under the (actual) president Traian Băsescu: Why was it necessary for this report to be legitimated from the highest level (from a presidential commission)?; Is this report condemning the left univocally and is this condemnation corresponding to a historical period that is characterized by the triumph of neoliberalism?; Under the actual crises of capitalism, when new forms of political organisation or economies should be imagine/reimagine – this report is bringing in existence only two possible worlds: communism with its past of crimes and abuses and capitalism as a solution that was historically verified as being a success since the capitalist world has won the cold war.

At a larger scale that vision correspond to an attack that is taking place against the working class – and against all that the working class has gain through struggle during the XX century, an attack that is taking place all over the world. What is making things less clear for Romanians is their past, doubled by a narrow political imaginery, painted in black and white by ideological institutions of the State: authoritarian communism and laissez-faire capitalism.

Note: Traian Băsescu was reading before the Parliament in 2006 – a document offered by the Presidential Commision of Analising the Communist Dictaturiship in Romania, a document that condemn communism as beign a criminal regime.

The blog of the magazin “Anarhia” is here to find

Teilnehmerbericht

Am 23. November wurde in der “Biblioteca Alternativa” in Bukarest die dritte Ausgabe von “Anarhia” (Die Anarchie) vorgestellt – einer unabhängigen Publikation, die ihr Augenmerk auf die arbeitende Klasse, syndikalistische und libertäre Geschichte (besonders lokale Geschichte) legt, sowie theoretische Beiträge enthält aber auch auf aktuelle Ereignisse Bezug nimmt.

Die aktuelle Ausgabe beinhaltet Themen über Osteuropa in den 1980er Jahren, politische Emigration, alternative Projekte, soziale und politische Analysen, die Arbeiterbewegung aus Rumänien und Osteuropa sowie die politische Repression. Als besonderen Gast konnten wir Nicolas Trifon begrüßen, dessen politische Aktivität durch die 1980er Jahre mit “Iztok” verbunden ist, einer libertären Gruppe, die in Frankreich von bulgarischen Exil-Anarchisten gegründet wurde und deren Aktivität den Autoritarismus der kommunistischen Regime des Ostblocks anfocht. Zusammen mit Nicolas Trifon wurde die Verdammung (Absicht der Illegalisierung – Anm. ASIR) des Kommunismus unter dem (aktuellen) Staatspräsidenten Traian Basescu diskutiert: Warum war es notwendig das dieser Report von höchster Stelle legitimiert wurde (von einer Kommission des Präsidenten)? Verurteilt dieser Bericht nicht die gesamte Linke und findet sie nicht in einem historischen Moment statt, die gezeichnet ist vom Triumph des Neoliberalismus? Unter der aktuellen Krise des Kapitalismus, in der neue Formen politischer Organisation und Ökonomie vorstellbar werden und sind – bringt dieser Report nur zwei mögliche Welten zur Darstellung: Den Kommunismus mit seiner Vergangenheit an Verbrechen und Misshandlungen sowie den Kapitalismus als Lösung, der sich historisch als Erfolg bestätigt hätte, nachdem die kapitalistische Welt den kalten Krieg gewonnen hätte.

Auf längere Sicht gipfelt diese Vision darin, einen Angriff gegen die arbeitende Klasse darzustellen – und gegen alles was die arbeitende Klasse durch ihre Kämpfe im XX. Jahrhundert erreichen konnte. Dies ist ein Angriff, der überall auf der Welt stattfindet. Was diese Absicht für die Rumänen weniger deutlich macht ist ihre Vergangenheit, verdoppelt durch die politische Engstirnigkeit, die von den ideologischen Institutionen des Staates in schwarz und weiss gezeichnet wird: Autoritärer Kommunismus oder laissez-faire Kapitalismus.

Anmerkung: Traian Basescu verlas vor dem Parlament 2006 ein Dokument, das von einer präsidialen Kommission verfasst wurde und die kommunistische Diktatur in Rumänien analysierte. Dieses Dokument verdammt den Kommunismus generell als “kriminelles Regime”.

Der Blog der Zeitschrift “Anarhia” findet sich hier

On exactly the 1st of May this year a new anarchist publication reached the public in Romania. It is called „Anarhia” (Anarchy). The first issue contains articles on the topics of Anarcho-Syndicalism, Nationalism and on the history of Anarchism and Syndicalism in Romania. The magazine has 32 pages. Printed issues can be picked up for free at The Alternative Library (Biblioteca Alternativă), Strada Episcopul Radu, Nr. 17 in Bucharest. New issues of „Anarhia” will be published every three months.

In order to celebrate the publishing of the first issue a „Release”-Event took place in Bucharest on the 30th of April. Between 40 till 50 interested people have participated and a short speech from one of the publishers was followed by lively questions and debates. On the 1st of May as Romanian anarchists gathered on a public meeting at Piața Universității (University Square) in Bucharest, „Anarhia” was also distributed there.

Contact: anarhia@riseup.net

Pünktlich zum ersten Mai ist eine neue anarchistische Zeitschrift in Rumänien erschienen. „Anarhia” (Die Anarchie) lautet ihr Name. Die erste Ausgabe beinhaltet Artikel zu den Themen Anarcho-Syndikalismus, Nationalismus und zur Geschichte des Anarchismus und Syndikalismus in Rumänien. Die Zeitschrift umfasst 32 Seiten. Gedruckte Ausgaben liegen in der Alternativen Bibliothek (Biblioteca Alternativa), Strada Episcopul Radu Nr.17, zur kostenlosen Abholung bereit. Die „Anarhia” soll alle drei Monate erscheinen.

Um das Erscheinen der ersten Ausgabe würdig zu begehen fand am 30. April eine „Release”-Veranstaltung in Bukarest statt. Zwischen 40 bis 50 Interessierte beteiligten sich und nach einer kurzen Rede eines der Herausgeber kam es zu lebendigen Nachfragen und Diskussionen. Am 1. Mai beteiligten sich AnarchistInnen an der Kundgebung am Bukarester Universitätsplatz. Auch hier wurde die „Anarhia” verteilt.

Kontakt: anarhia@riseup.net

Beim Institut für Syndikalismusforschung in Deutschland ist ein Artikel zum morgigen 98. Todestag von Stefan Gheorghiu erschienen. Der Aufsatz „Stefan Gheorghiu zum Gedenken” berichtet über das Leben und die Aktivität des „revolutionären Syndikalisten mit deutlichen anarchistischen Ansichten”.

Der interessante Beitrag findet sich (nur in deutscher Sprache) auf dem Blog des Instituts für Syndikalismforschung.

Interview with a worker about working conditions, humiliations and abuses of bosses at eMAG, Romania. This interview was taken by Vladimir Borţun in January 2012 and it was published on Critic Atac (a leftist internet platform).

Vladimir Borţun: Where are you working?

Employee (AE): At ‘Dante Internaţional’ company, known as ‘eMAG’ as well.

VB: Since when?

AE: Since 2009.

VB: What are you doing there?

AE: I am working at one of their warehouses. I work on PC and operate with bills. I’m doing also other things: I print bills, I sort them and I give them to my colleagues to find the merchandise; I guide them to find the merchandise.

VB: I guess you have a work contract?

AE: Yes, of course.

VB: What is written in your contract about work time? How many days per week and how many hours per day?

AE: 5 days per week, from Monday to Friday and 8 hours per day and one more hour for break. When I get hire they told me – without written in the contract – that, once at 5 weeks I will have to work another 2 hours, Saturday.

VB: Except this, that was not stipulated into your contract, did ever happened to you to work more than the time that was stipulated in your contract?

AE: In the first 3 month it happened at every 2 or 3 days to work 1 or 2 hours over shift.

VB: Did they ask you this?

AE: Yes.

VB: Why?

AE: I had to finish the work, till the last order.

VB: The work was given at the beginning of the day or the work was added during the day?

AE: The work is added during the day. They had no limit and they were trying to push as much as possible. After 3 month of working there the things started to become worst.

VB: What do you mean?

AE: I mean that we started to work more over shifts, we were called at work Saturday and Sunday to finish the work that was not done over the week.

VB: Why was the work not finished during the week?

AE: Because of them – there were simply to many orders and we were to few and they didn’t knew how to organize the work.

VB: Did they force you to come in weekend?

AE: Basically, yes, because they let us understand that if we refuse to come at work in weekend, they fire us or simply they won’t sign a new contract.

VB: Did ever happened to someone to be fired for refusing to come at work in weekend?

AE: Yes, there was around 3 cases. They canceled their work contracts. Others were just relegated from their positions.

VB: How were they justifying these measures?

AE: The reason it was for indiscipline. Anyway, if they want to fire you, they can find a reason.

VB: How often it happened to stay over shift?

AE: Well, this year I was doing over shifts every day, when I was both – in the first shift or in the second shift.

VB: What is the work program for the first shift?

AE: From 9 to 18:30.

VB: And often – how much do you stay at work?

AE: Till 21:00 or 22:00. I was working 12 or 13 hours.

VB: What about the second shift?

AE: In the second shift you have to stay from 12:00 to 21:00, but in the last 2 month I worked till 3 or 4 in the morning, almost every day. Until 2 month ago, they ask us to stay only till the midnight, that is 12 hours of work. Now we stay 13, 14 or 15 hours to finish the orders.

VB: Day by day?

AE: Yes, day by day.

VB: Seven days per week?

AE: Seven days per week.

VB: Did they ask you to come Saturday and Sunday?

AE: Yes, but because we are very tired they keep us only 12 hours in
weekend.

VB: How many weeks did you worked seven days from seven?

AE: One month and a half.

VB: One month and a half day by day?

AE: Yes, day by day.

VB: And how many hours did you worked every day in general?

AE: 12 hours.

VB: And how many hours did you worked the most?

AE: 18 hours.

VB: 18 hours in a day work?

AE: 18 hours! It was in a Tuesday. I was at 9 in the morning at work till 3 in the morning next day. I reach home at 4:30 in the morning and I woke up at 8 o’clock to return to work at 10 o’clock. And there I worked for 12 hours and in the next 2 days – Thursday and Friday – I was working according to the usual program of 9 hours.

VB: Does this program affected you physically?

AE: Yes, I am exhausted. Sometime I can’t even get up from the bed.

VB: Did you had any colleagues that suffered because of this work program?

AE: Yes, some colleagues that are working in the warehouse are now having varices. Another colleague that is working at packages, he was sick off for 2 month, because he had water on the knee from too much work. Another colleague – in the middle of the night – was suffering a blocked back and they took him to the hospital. There are many things. Another one had to make some spinal infiltrations because he had problems with his spine from lifting heavy things. A girl collapsed and they barely agreed to sent her home with a car but they didn’t called for an ambulance. Most of the problems are with the back from lifting heavy things.

VB: Did your colleagues get some sick off days in order to recuperate them self?

AE: Yes, but when they come back to work they get punished: they were either relegated from their position and put them to work more or they was fired – their contracts was no longer prolonged.

VB: Can you give me an example?

AE: Yes, the guy that I was talking that he made water at knee – he was sick off for 2 month. He didn’t answered the phone during his medical recuperation, but he announced that he can’t come back at work and told them about the causes why he can’t come at work. He bring to Accountancy (service) all the papers that were required, including the papers that proved his illness. When he come back to work they reproached him that he didn’t answer the phone and that everything is a lie – that he paid the doctor to give him a long sick off certificate. So they terminate his contract.

VB: They had any prove that he bribed the doctor?

AE: No, of course they didn’t had any prove.

VB: But you know he had water at knee for real?

AE: Yes, he had water at knee. He even come back earlier to work, because the doctor told him to stay home for 2 or 3 month and that he should not walk and he should not stay on his feet to much.

VB: There are work accidents? What are the safety conditions there?

AE: As much as I know until now there was nothing serious but the safety is bad and if you count the fatigue – then the risk for accidents is growing. Do you think that a stacker driver after 14 or 15 hours of work can concentrate well? After so much work he get tired and become careless. You can’t tell what can happen.

VB: Let’s came back to the over shifts – did they pay your extra work?

AE: They pay, but if you don’t stay over shift they won’t pay the hours that they have to pay you already. For example, if yesterday I worked 5 extra hours and today I don’t stay over the program, then they won’t pay me the hours that I worked yesterday.

VB: So, this punishment it is because you want to go home at the end of the program and because you don’t want to make overtime?

AE: Yes, exactly.

VB: And this punishment is affecting only the bonuses or also your salary?

AE: They take only from bonuses, they never take from salary. But those bonuses are yours, it is your work.

VB: This is the only reason for cutting your bonuses?

AE: No! There are other things also. At our workplace some merchandise is stolen from time to time. Even if there are video cameras everywhere, the merchandise is stolen but nobody is caught, only exceptionally. Because of this situation to cover what was loss they take from our bonuses. So, basically we work over the program and leave from workplace exhausted to pay for what was stolen. In fact, I think they don’t even try to catch the thieves. It looks like this situation suits them – to put us work more over
the program without a proper payment.

VB: There are other kind of punishments if you don’t remain over the program at work?

AE: Yes, they relegate you or they give you more to work or even they fire you. They tell you that you should not come back tomorrow.

VB: Because you don’t stay over the program?

AE: Yes, because you don’t stay over the program. This is already a rule at eMAG.

VB: By the way, you said earlier that you have an hour lunch break every day. They respect this break?

AE: No! If you have to take your break at 1 o’clock or at 3 o’clock – that depends of your shift – they give you another hour or 2 hours to work more till they allow you to take your break. That is very often and it happened to all the employees.

VB: Did any of you tried to express your dissatisfaction over all these?

AE: Yes, and those that tried that was punished. They get smaller bonuses.

VB: …for the work they already did?

AE: Yes! They also can simply to cut all the bonuses. Sometime they swear you or they threaten to beat you. There was a situation with one of the team leaders that put his hand into a subordinate’s neck because he contradicted him.

VB: You told me that some employees were fired because they didn’t wanted to make extra shifts. There was other kind of dismissals for reasons that looks unfair to you?

AE: Yes! The last case was 2 weeks ago when the owner of eMAG – Iulian Stanciu – was coming in inspection. He saw a boy from ‘Reception’ staying and not working in that moment and he told to the most important team leader: “Look, if you see him staying you fire him. Look at that one! Fire him!” After a few hours there was a meeting – without Iulian Stanciu – because he was leaving, and the manager of the warehouse fired my colleague because that is what was told to him to do.

VB: But he was just staying and he was not working?

AE: He was staying because he was waiting for a car to come in front of the ramp.

VB: That means that he had nothing to work in that moment?

AE: Yes, there was nothing to do but wait. He was waiting a car to continue his work. And he was a serious guy. He was working for 2 month and a half and he had a 3 month contract, so he had only a few days to wait for a new contract. But they break the contract.

VB: What is the general attitude of the bosses over the subordinates?

AE: Very unpleasant. They scream, swear, offend, threat with beating.

VB: Did ever escalated to fight?

AE: Only among colleagues. In addition some team leaders that put their hand into the subordinates neck. Otherwise they swear our mothers, they threat with beating…

VB: But these bosses of yours, are they also being in turn swear by their bosses?

AE: No, no, no! Among them there is respect.

VB: Which them? What is their position?

AE: Team leaders. One is a chief at warehouse, another one is chief on ‘collecting’, another one is chief on packing, another one is chief on billing and another one is chief at reception.

VB: How many people are you there?

AE: Some time ago we were around 80 but now, for a while because there are many orders – the company is growing and it is the most important company on the market – it is the best online shop from Romania and East Europe, as profits I mean…

VB: …the best within its field of activity or generally speaking – the best?

AE: Generally speaking. So we rise up to 125 – 130 persons.

VB: At your workplace?

AE: Yes.

VB: And overall, how many are you?

AE: I don’t know exactly. From what I’ve heard – we are more than 500.

VB: How do you get along with your colleagues?

AE: We are not an unite collective. Everyone is on their own. There is no solidarity.

VB: Why do you think all these happen?

AE: Because they want to stay in good relations with chiefs. Team leaders ask their subordinates to tell them if someone is not making his or her job well, and they promise to give them in exchange some bigger bonuses. Matter of fact – denunciation is encouraged.

VB: Is there at eMAG any form of union organization?

AE: No, there is not such a thing yet. If it were like that maybe they would have respect our rights.

VB: There was any attempt to organize workers?

AE: No. At our workplace, at the warehouse, once, we wanted to make a group of 20 or 30 persons from all the departments, to ask for our rights in the name of every employee and to quite our jobs if they would not accept our requests. That is want we wanted but we couldn’t do it.

VB: Why?

AE: To the most of us because we feared. They have to pay rent, they have families and they depend to much on their wage they get from eMAG. They can’t quit their jobs so they can accept anything.

VB: If you would have succeeded then what would have been your demands?

AE: To respect our schedule, a wage rise and more respect for employee.

VB: By the way – with this working conditions you are telling me here – how much do you gain?

AE: 1.400 Lei (that is around 320 Euros)

VB: How much do you reach with bonuses?

AE: With bonuses included – if I don’t get penalized – I reach around 2.000 Lei

VB: If you would have to choose for real, would you do overtime?

AE: I would do overtime if I would have a bigger salary and bigger bonuses and if would exist any respect for us and for our work that we make for the company. But I am sure that I wouldn’t do so many extra hours.

VB: So – you are making all these overtime because you are threaten?

AE: Yes!

VB: They threat you that if you don’t make extra hours they cut your bonuses?

AE: Yes – or we are simply fired.

VB: Or you are relegated?

AE: Yes, also relegated.

VB: Should I understand, from everything you told me – that at eMAG it is rather bad than good?

AE: Yes, that’s for sure.

VB: Then, someone can ask you – why don’t you leave for another job?

AE: Because I simply had no time to look for another job, because of the schedule and because of all this hard work. More than that – we don’t have access to our phones as long as we are at work, except during 3 breaks of 10 minutes each and during our lunch break that last for a half hour. How can I look for another job especially when they call you at work also in weekends? Anyway, for them it is not big deal if you leave because they can find someone else to do your work. They can replace you in the next second.

Please send a email or a fax to the eMAG bosses (http://info.emag.ro/index.php?action=article&cat_id=005&id=22 ) to show your discontent about hard working conditions, humiliations and abuses that workers face at eMAG, Romania, at:

pr@emag.ro

sesizari@emag.ro

Fax: 0040-021-200-52-25

Here is a small text in Romanian language:

Catre conducerea companiei eMAG,
In atentia domnului Iulian Stanciu.

Va scriu pentru a imi arata dezaprobarea fata de conditiile de munca mult prea grele, fata de umilintele si abuzurile la care sunt supusi angajatii companiei dumneavoastra, precum si pentru a va solicita insistent sa puneti capat acestei politici de exploatare si ilegalitatilor pe care le comit cei aflati la conducerea companiei.

Mentionez ca voi monitoriza activitatea firmei eMAG Romania pentru a ma convinge ca abuzurile care au avut loc pana acum au incetat si nu se vor mai repeta pe viitor

Cu stima,
Your name here

In the last days, protests were held in various cities of Romania against the health bill that has been submitted by the government. Extensive privatization of the entire health sector will be enforced with this new law. By Sunday, January 15th, 2012, the social protests climaxed. In Bucharest it came up to street clashes that lasted for several hours [see video]. Police and gendarmerie inflicted severe injuries to demonstrators.

~ Privatization of the entire health care system – Health only for the rich

By the end of December 2011, the new health bill was submitted by State’s president Traian Băsescu of the right liberal-democratic party (PDL). The president expounded that he seeks the whole privatization of this elementary field of society in order to revive the ‘competition between the hospitals’. Simultaneously, the services of the health insurance were cut severely. Additional payments or general contributions of medical attendance are obligatory. The ambulance service (SMURD) is about to be privatized as well. That means in concrete: no money – no salvation. This purpose made sub-secretary Raed Arafat, director of the emergency service, to declare in public that this bill shatters the health system and that he would not agree upon this project. The reaction of president Traian Băsescu was authoritarian as is usual. He denounced Arafat as ‘the greatest enemy of the private health system’ and declared last Thursday (January 12th, 2012): ‘If he doesn’t agree with the law, he goes.’ To give more weight to his threat, Băsescu added towards a journalist: ‘It was a bigger issue when Stefan Lazaroiu (former labour minister) resigned from his position.’ Raed Arafat resigned finally and left his post on last week’s Friday. [For two and a half years, R.Arafat was under-secretary of State for Public Health, but he was compelled to resign on January 10th, after expressing his criticism during the current health care and welfare reform debate.]

Additionally, it came out that the IMF uttered complimentary and surprised comments towards the Romanian government because of the almost docile implementation of the most massive cuts in social services in the history of the country. The money for pensioners, civil servants, unemployed was cut extremely, the workers are deprived from trade union rights and the working hours were expanded. The prices for groceries, electricity and water rose massively, while there are regular tax increases. The impoverishment of broad parts of society fostered by government and IMF proceeds.

In support with the (officially) resigned Arafat, spontaneous solidarity rallies and protests against the health bill were held across the country. In the centre of Bucharest, the police attacked a peaceful gathering of some hundred protesters on Saturday evening. It’s unusual, however, that these protesters resisted the assaults and briefly clashed with the cops. By Sunday, the protests climaxed. Băsescu had already responded since Friday to the unrest among the population and the first protests, saying: ‘The people do not deserve their leader.’

Street clashes in Bucharest – Brutal police violence

Yesterday, January 15th, several thousands of people (by the end there were about 4,000) gathered at the Piaţa Universităţii [University Square] in the centre of Bucharest to protest against the privatization and police violence. In chants and on self-made banners, they claimed the resignation of Băsescu and the head of the government Emil Boc (PDL as well). On a banner one could read: ‘Freedom – Not profit.’ The protests were mainly carried by pensioners — who have been part of the most active opponents of the social services cuts in the last years — and youths. Police and gendarmerie took (as usual) authoritarian measures against the protesters. Consequently, street battles broke out. The fact that people resist state violence and counterattack is a very new development, thus surprises. It is the first time since decades that it came to such attacks on state authority. Obviously, the police violence and the condemnation in corporate media, naming demonstrators ‘terrorists’ and ‘hooligans’, could not prevent more and more people from joining the protests. The number of people increased from 2,500 in the early evening to 4,000.

In several cities protests against the government, against the health bill and in solidarity with the demonstrators in Bucharest took place simultaneously, as in Botosani, Deva, Alba Iulia, Craiova, Brasov, Pitesti (a gathering was held there at the central office of PDL), Cluj-Napoca, Piatra Neamt, Iasi, Timisoara (with several thousands of participants), Arad, Sibiu (a gathering was held there at the central office of PDL), Targu Mures (a spontaneous demonstration), Constanta. (This enumeration is not intended to be exhaustive.) Nationwide, tens of thousands took to the streets. In Brasov 200 demonstrators were hindered to go by train to Bucharest, where they wished to support the demonstrators. We have similar reports from Craiova, where football fans (ultras) of Universitatea Craiova were about to go to Bucharest to support the protests. In Rosio de Vede they were kicked out of the train by gendarmes.

Moreover, the participation of ultras from the Steaua and Dinamo Bucharestian football clubs in the protests is new. The bourgeois and pro-government mass media now attempt to blame them for the street battles. ‘The opposition and the ultras have driven the protests into violence,’ according to the right newspaper EVZ, which published numerous names of Dinamo’s ultras in today’s edition [January 16th]. A smear campaign against ‘hooligans’ is running on all TV channels, just as if football fans are not themselves affected by the impact of the state policy and had no right to political expression. A spokesman for the ultras of Dinamo Bucharest claimed exactly this right for the football fans too. ‘We show our solidarity with Raed Arafat and we are finally affected ourselves by the new health bill and have the right of political expression.’ Several hundred ultras participated in the protest. In a joint demonstration, approximately 300 students, most of them from the History Department, reached the Piaţa Universităţii in the evening and joined the protests. Just in December, they had a strike against the increases in tuition fees and kept a wing of the university occupied.

On Sunday, the street battles expanded to six kilometres in the city centre. In addition to the Piaţa Universităţii, clashes occurred also in the Piaţa Unirii; barricades were erected there, several of which were set on fire. Shops and newspaper kiosks were stormed, along with three banks. Police units were attacked with stones and Molotov cocktails. Police and gendarmerie have beaten protesters indiscriminately, as well as bystanders. A man, who was on his way home, was harassed by cops, tried to escape, was caught by the police and pressed against a wire fence where he lost a leg. One paramedic explained to the corporate Antena3: ‘We do not know with what they hit him, we only found out that he held his severed leg in his hand.’ [Correction, January 17th, 2012: We reported that a man’s leg was severed when he was pressed by police officers against a fence or something similar. Last night, the real reason was publicized. As stated in the commercial Antena3, a tear gas grenade was fired from the ranks of the police against the man from one metre distance and cut through his leg. The bone at this point is completely fragmented.] Other uninvolved pedestrians were dragged by cops to police stations, where they were totally unduly beaten up. Journalists and observers that covered the events with cameras were attacked and got beaten by the police, who used batons, tear gas and water cannons. The bourgeois media virtually never reported on this police violence. In order to be difficult for more supporters to come to the protests, the ‘Universităţii’ metro station was not served; the trains continued on without stopping. Masked police snatch squads hunted down demonstrators deliberately. As the corporate Antena3 reported, officials of the Romanian Intelligence Service infiltrated in civilian demonstrator blocks. The street clashes lasted until one clock in the morning.

~ First reactions

As aforementioned, the mass media now shift the blame on the football fans. Representatives of the bourgeois political parties still try to use the opportunity of the moment and demand new elections. In a joint press conference, the conservative party (PC) and the national liberal party (PNL), both calling themselves advocates of privatization, urged people to support the protests, but distanced themselves from the violence. The social democrats of PSD expressed themselves similarly. The parliamentarian Urban Iulian of the ruling right-wing PDL stated publicly on his website about the protesters: ‘Those who take to the streets are worms. They deserve to die prematurely in hospital, because they are against the new health bill.’ The cops requested that armored cavalry squadrons and dogs be used in future protests.

~ An outlook

What forms of protest to assume further on, is still not yet assessed. Large parts of the protesters argue with nationalist positions, some call for the return of the king, and the fascists are present too. The left is weak in most cities, or rather not present at all. The majority of the few communists are themselves ardent nationalists without any understanding of the situation. Anarchists are a small minority. Many of those affected by the new measures do not see the context of welfare cuts in Romania as part of the international capitalist ‘crisis’ and leave the social problems solely up to the ‘leaders’. At that, capitalism and the State have led to this misery, and the situation will only get worse if the knowledge will not spread en mass, that the capitalist system itself is the error and must be abolished. In similar violent protests as on Sunday, the government will be better prepared. The struggle against the privatizations should also extend to the economic sector and be built on further pressure with strikes. However, this is not at all in sight. While the front of the middle class is well organized and possesses influence through legislation, media and executive power, the extra-parliamentary opposition is yet neither well organized, nor prepared for such conflicts. The coming days and weeks will show whether the protest of Sunday was a flash in the pan. More rallies have been announced for today. Reports will follow.

Anarcho-Syndicalist Info Service Romania (ASIR), January 16th, 2012

Translation by Contra Info

http://en.contrainfo.espiv.net/2012/01/18/romania-thousands-in-angry-protests-against-social-service-cuts/

There are many forms of violence that Romanians are confronting every day: government violence, capitalism violence, the symbolic violence that is used through the state or private institutions in order to creat the proper medium for the absurdities and crime of both – the state and the capital. It is imposible to live with the minimum wage of 570 lei per month when only the heat over the winter may rise to 300 lei per month, when the price for a small flat rise to 400.000 lei and the rent can reach 1.000 lei.  I should also mention the arrogance of Traian Basescu that is naming the working class – ‘lazy’; the arrogance of senator Iulian Urban that named the protestors – ‘worms’ and the arrogance that can be seen daily on the faces of the politicians and on the faces of those almighty businessman they protect, and that can get away with any crime they make. They have the monopol over violence, including physical violence when people’s voice rise.

Those that thrown bricks and Molotov cocktails represent a tiny part of the violence that people confront daily and their violence is a direct result of all the frustration accumulated in time, in a society ruined and leaded to poverty by the government and the cupidity of the capitalist class.

Mass media reports

There are a few clichés that are to be found in mass media reports:
- ‘Those that thrown bricks are football hooligans’. No one reported that among this ‘hooligans’ can be found middle class youth with university studies. The media reports tend only to discredit them and not to find and analyse the causes of their anger and although most of the protesters are peacefull this attitude will legitimate the government to repress them and to abuse them with more violence;
- ‘The number of gendarmes on the street must grow’. The number of gendarmes is already big and they are making victims including among elderly people;
- Some TV stations report a much smaller number of protesters;
- The press don’t reveal to the large public that protesters shout among others – ‘The only solution – another revolution!’.

Government reaction

- The government called the gendarmes from all over the country and placed them in the cities where protests are taking place;
- The government stoped a train, when people from another city – Craiova, wanted to come in Bucharest to support the protests;
- Under the reason that ‘they are making noise’, the police took in custody – only last night – over 70 persons and they arrested around 100 persons although there was no violent acts from the protesters.

What the government should know

These protests are against the system. What the government should know – is that the repression of these protests can be the prelude for the revolution.

Privatisierung des gesamten Gesundheitssystems – Gesundheit nur für Reiche

Ende Dezember 2011 wurde das neue Gesetz von Staatspräsident Traian Basescu von der rechten Liberal-Demokratischen Partei (PDL) auf den Weg gebracht. Der Präsident erklärte, das er eine vollständige Privatisierung dieses elementaren Bereichs der Gesellschaft wünsche, um den “Wettbewerb zwischen den Krankenhäusern” zu beleben. Gleichzeitig wurden die Leistungen der in den Krankenkassen Versicherten massiv beschnitten. Zuzahlungen bzw. Generelle Bezahlungen von Arztbehandlungen sind obligatorisch. Auch der Rettungsdienst (SMURD) für Notfälle soll Privatisiert werden. D.h. Konkret: Ohne Geld – keine Rettung. Diese Absicht veranlasste den Unterstaatssekretär Raed Arafat, Direktor des Rettungsdienstes, öffentlich zu erklären, das dieses Gesetz das Gesundheitssystem zerschlagen werde, und er diesem deshalb nicht zustimmen werde. Die Reaktion von Präsident Traian Basescu viel gewohnt autoritär aus. Er erklärte Arafat zum “größten Feind des privaten Gesundheitssystems” und erklärte am letzten Donnerstag (12. Januar 2012): “Wenn er dem Gesetz nicht zustimmt, dann geht er”. Um seiner Drohung mehr Gewicht zu verleihen schob Basescu gegenüber einem Journalisten noch hinterher: “Überlag doch wie das ging, als Stefan Lazaroiu (damaliger Arbeitsminister) seinen Ministerposten aufgab.” Raed Arafat trat dann am Freitag letzter Woche von seinem Posten zurück.

Zusätzlich wurde bekannt, das sich der Internationale Währungsfond (IWF) lobend und überrascht über die nahezu widerstandslose Durchsetzung des massivsten Sozialabbaus in der Geschichte des Landes gegenüber der rumänischen Regierung äußerte. Rentern, Beamten, Erwerblosen wurden massiv die Löhne bzw. Renten gekürzt, den Arbeitern gewerkschaftliche Rechte genommen und die Lebensarbeitszeit verlängert. Seit Jahren steigen die Preise für Lebensmittel, Strom und Wasser massiv an und regelmäßig werden Steuern erhöht. Die Verarmung breitester Bevölkerungsteile schreitet gefördert durch Regierung und IWF immer weiter fort.

Aus Solidarität mit dem (offiziell) zurückgetretenen Arafat kam es im ganzen Land zu spontanen Solidaritätskundgebungen und Protesten gegen das Gesundheitsgesetz. Im Zentrum von Bukarest griff die Polizei am Samstag Abend eine friedliche Versammlung von einigen hundert Protestierenden an. Ungewohnt war dabei, das sich diese gegen die Angriffe zur Wehr setzten und es kurzzeitig zu Auseinandersetzungen mit der Polizei kam. Am Sonntag nun erreichten die Proteste ihren bisherigen Höhepunkt. Basescu reagierte bereits am Freitag auf die Unruhe unter der Bevölkerung und die ersten Proteste mit den Worten: “Das Volk verdient seine Führer nicht”.

Strassenkämpfe in Bukarest – Brutale Polizeigewalt

Gestern (15. Januar) versammelten sich am Piata Universitatea im Zentrum Bukarests mehrere tausend Menschen (gegen Ende bis zu 4000) um gegen die Privatisierung sowie die Polizeigewalt zu protestieren. In Sprechchören und auf selber gemalten Schildern forderten sie den Rücktritt Basescus und des Regierungschefs Emil Boc (ebenfalls PDL). Auf einem Transparent stand zu lesen: “Freiheit – nicht Profit”. Der Protest wurde vorallem von Rentern getragen, die schon in den letzten Jahren zu den lautstärksten und aktivsten Gegnern des Sozialabbaus zählen, sowie von Jugendlichen. Polizei und Jandarmerie gingen wie gewohnt in autoritärer Weise gegen die Protestierenden vor. Daraus resultierten die nun beginnenden Strassenkämpfe. Das sich Demonstranten gegen die Staatsgewalt zur Wehr setzen und diese angreifen, ist eine Entwicklung, die völlig neu ist und überrascht. Es ist das erste mal seit Jahrzehnten, das es zu solchen Angriffen auf die staatliche Autorität kam. Offensichtlich konnte die Polizeigewalt und die Verurteilung der Demonstranten als “Terroristen” und “Hooligans” in den meisten Medien, vorallem den TV Sendern, die stundenlang live berichteten, nicht verhindern, das sich mehr und mehr Menschen den Protesten anschlossen. Waren es am frühen Abend um die 2500 wuchs die Zahl auf bis zu 4000 an. In zahlreichen Städten kam es geichzeitig ebenfalls zu Protesten gegen die Regierung, das Gesundheitsgesetz und aus Solidarität mit den Demonstranten in Bukarest, so in Botosani, Deva, Alba Iulia, Craiova, Brasov, Pitesti (dort wurde vor der Parteizentrale der PDL demonstriert), Cluj-Napoca, Piatra Neamt, Iasi, Timisoara (mehrere Tausend Teilnehmer), Arad, Sibiu (dort wurde vor der Parteizentrale der PDL demonstriert), Targu Mures (dort Spontandemonstration), Constanta. (Diese Aufzählung erhebt keinen Anspruch auf Vollständigkeit.) Landesweit waren mehrere zehntausend Menschen auf der Straße. In Brasov wurden 200 Demonstranten von der Jandarmerie daran gehindert, mit dem Zug nach Bukarest zu fahren, wo sie die Demonstranten unterstützen wollten. Das gleiche wird aus Craiova berichtet, wo Fussballanhänger (Ultras), von Universitatea Craiova ebenfalls mit dem Zug nach Bukarest fahren wollten um die Proteste zu unterstützen. In Rosio de Vede wurden sie von Jandarmerie aus dem Zug geholt.

Neu ist zudem die Teilnahme von Ultras der Bukarester Fußballvereine Steaua und Dinamo an den Protesten. Die bürgerlichen und regierungsnahen Massenmedien schieben diesen nun die Schuld an den Strassenkämpfen zu. “Die Opposition und die Ultras haben die Proteste in die Gewalt geführt”, so die rechte Tageszeitung EVZ, die in ihrer heutigen Ausgabe zahlreiche Namen von Dinamo-Ultras veröffentlicht hat. Eine Hetzkampagne gegen “Hooligans” läuft auf allen TV-Kanälen, ganz so, als ob Fussballfans nicht selber auch von den Auswirkungen der Politik betroffen seien und kein Recht auf politische Meinungsäußerung hätten. Ein Sprecher der Ultras von Dinamo Bukarest beansprucht exakt dieses Recht auch für die Fussballfans. “Wir zeigen unsere Solidarität mit Raed Arafat und sind schließlich selber auch von dem Gesetz betroffen und haben das Recht der politischen Meinungsäußerung”. Mehrere hundert Ultras hatten sich am Protest beteiligt. In einem gemeinsamen Demonstrationszug erreichten am Abend ca. 300 Studenten, größtenteils der Geschichtsfakultät, den Universitätsplatz und schlossen sich den Protesten an. Erst im Dezember hatten diese gegen die Gebührenerhöhungen für das Studium  gestreikt und einen Flügel der Universität besetzt gehalten.

Die Straßenkämpfe von Sonntag erstreckten sich über eine Distanz von sechs Kilometern in der Innenstadt. Neben der Piata Universitatea kam es auch am Piata Uniri zu kämpfen. Dort wurden auch Barrikaden errichtet und einige davon in Feuer gesetzt. Geschäfte und Zeitungskioske wurden attackiert und ebenso drei Banken. Polizeieinheiten mit Steinen und Molotov-Cocktails angegriffen. Polizei und Jandarmerie schlugen wahllos in die Demonstranten und auch auf Unbeteiligte ein. Ein Mann, der auf dem Weg nach Hause war, wurde von Polizisten bedrängt, versuchte zu fliehen, wurde von den Polizisten eingeholt und an einen Drahtzaun gedrückt wo er schließlich ein Bein verlor. Gegenüber Antena3 erklärte ein Rettungssanitäter: “Wir wissen nicht mit was sie auf ihn eingeschlagen haben, wir haben nur feststellen können, das er sein abgetrenntes Bein in der Hand hält.” Andere unbeteiligte Passanten wurden von Polizisten in Polizeireviere gezerrt und dort ohne Angabe von Gründen zusammengeschlagen. Journalisten und Beobachter, welche die Ereignisse mit Kameras aufzeichneten wurden von Polizisten angegriffen und geschlagen. Die Polizei setzte Schlagstöcke, Tränengas und Wasserwerfer ein. Über diese Polizeigewalt wird in den Berichten der bürgerlichen Medien nahezu nicht informiert. Um zu erschweren, das weitere Unterstützer zu den Protesten kommen, wurde die Metro-Station “Universitatea” nicht bedient. Die Züge fuhren ohne Halt weiter. Maskierte Greiftrupps der Polizei machten gezielte Jagd auf Demonstranten. Wie Antena3 berichtet, mischten sich auch Beamte des Geheimdienstes SRI in zivil unter die Demonstranten. Die Strassenkämpfe dauerten bis gegen ein Uhr am Morgen an.

Erste Reaktionen

Wie berichtet schieben die Massenmedien den Fussballfans nun den schwarzen Peter zu. Vertreter der bürgerlichen Parteien versuchen dennoch die Gunst des Augenblicks zu nutzen und fordern Neuwahlen. In einer gemeinsamen Pressekonferenz der Konservativen (PC) und der Nationalliberalen Partei (PNL), beide selber Befürworter der Privatisierung, riefen diese zudem zur Unterstützung der Proteste auf, distanzierten sich aber von Gewalt. Ebenso äußerten sich die Sozialdemokraten der PSD. Der Parlamentarier Iulian Urban von der regierenden rechten PDL erklärte auf seiner Webseite öffentlich über die Demonstranten: “Die auf der Straße sind Würmer. Sie verdienen vorzeitig im Krankenhaus zu sterben, weil sie gegen das neue Gesundheitsgesetz sind.” Die Polizei fordert, das sie bei künftigen Protesten Reiterstaffeln und Hunde einsetzen darf.

Ein Ausblick

Welche Formen der Prostest weiterhin annehmen wird ist noch nicht einzuschätzen. Große Teile der Protestierenden argumentieren mit nationalistischen Positionen, manche fordern die Rückkehr des Königs und auch die Faschisten sind zugegen. Die Linke ist in den meisten Städten schwach bzw. überhaupt nicht vorhanden. Die Mehrheit der wenigen Kommunisten sind selber glühende Nationalisten ohne Verständnis für die Situation. AnarchistInnen sind eine kleine Minderheit. Viele Betroffene sehen noch nicht den Zusammenhang des Sozialabbaus in Rumänien als Teil der internationalen kapitalistischen “Krise” und machen die sozialen Probleme ausschließlich an den “Führern” fest.  Dabei ist es der Kapitalismus und der Staat der zu diesem Elend geführt hat und es weiter verschärfen wird, wenn sich nicht massenhaft die Erkenntnis breit macht, dass das kapitalistische System selber der Fehler ist und abgeschafft werden muss. Auf ähnliche gewalttätige Proteste wie am Sonntag wird die Regierung nun besser vorbereitet sein. Der Kampf gegen die Privatsierungen müsste sich auch auf den ökonomischen Sektor ausdehnen und mit Streiks weiterer Druck aufgebaut werden. Dies ist allerdings überhaupt nicht in Sicht. Während die Front des Bürgertums gut organisiert ist und über Einfluß durch Gesetze, Medien und exekutive Gewalt verfügt, ist die außerparlamentarische Opposition weder gut organisiert noch auf solche Konflikte vorbereitet. Die kommenden Tage und Wochen werden zeigen ob der Protest von Sonntag ein Strohfeuer war. Für heute sind weitere Kundgebungen angekündigt. Wir werden weiter berichten.

ASIR, 16. Januar 2012
Anarcho-Syndikalistischer Infodienst Rumänien

Korrektur 17.01.2011

Wir berichteten gestern das einem Mann ein Bein abgetrennt wurde, als er von Polizisten gegen einen Zaun oder ähnliches gedrängt wurde. Gestern Abend wurde nun der tatsächliche Grund publik. Aus den Reihen der Polizei wurde dem Mann eine Tränengasgranate aus einem Meter Distanz an das Bein geschossen und dieses durchtrennt. Der Knochen ist an dieser Stelle vollständig zersplittert. (Quelle: Antena3).

On the 8^th January 2012 on the Facebook-Page of the London Wobblies (https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/london.iww) the person responsible for the Facebook-Page of the IASR has posted sexist comments and comments which justify the rape of fascist women as an antifascist act. To counter-reactions he answered with further comments of the same kind.

Quote:

IASR: I’m a bad “sexist” for wanting some fascist scums to be raped LOL

IASR: The same can be said to the partisans, those damn “pro-rape” dickheads. But wait, most of you like WW2 partisans. Well i got a news for you, partisans done some good fascist raping.

This responsible member of the IASR showed a total lack of reason in his acting, not even when he got from another member of IASR internally addressed about his comments. His reaction was, that all these things would be just a joke and not upsetting in his opinion, and that the case should be sit out as he refuses “political correctness”. For this position he got the support from all members of the IASR, except the only one who demanded a consideration of what happened.

After information about the rape-justifying comments from IASR occurred on the international libertarian platform Libcom http://libcom.org/forums/general/disturbing-comments—08012012, the IASR resorted to a lie and declared that the member of IASR who has written the comments would not be a member anymore and would also be suddenly unreachable.

Quote Entry IASR No 18 on the Libcom Discussionpage:

“Of course, he was a member of IASR, but he seems to be out of reach to us. His telephone number is closed, and he doesn’t answer to our emails. This individual was in charge of the FB account, until our international secretary resolved his personal problems and came back.”

IASR also claimed that the international secretary would have taken now over the administration of the Facebook account. The IASR would distance themselves from the reactionary statements and would lead an internal investigation.

This is a sheer lie set up to mislead the international movement. The person who has written the sexist comments on the London Wobblies Facebook-Page was none other than the international Secretary of the IASR himself, who poses himself now as the “Saviour” who would have taken back the groupaccount. Furthermore, this international secretary declared now that the person who posted these sexist comments must be a person “that seems… to have lost his entire human dignity”. (Comment No. 20)

Because of these happenings the member who demanded an examination, after several attempts to open a group discussion, has declared his withdrawal from IASR. He writes about that: “I believe that is unacceptable to lie a community that you pretend you are part of. I also believe you can’t build anything good on that ground. I think it’s useless and led by a blind ego to persist into a mistake that you can’t assume. More than the comments that occurred on a social internet page these are the reasons for which I distanced myself from IASR, a project that I put my heart into”

We bring this information to the knowledge of all libertarian and anarcho-syndicalist groups and organisations so that they get aware of what it is the case with the IASR and so that the comrades can take the appropriate measures.

ASIR, 12^th January 2012

Anarcho-Syndicalist Infoservice Romania