On 9 December 2015 a discussion about movement as a human right was held at the premises of The Creative Platform INDE as part of the series of events »Gibanje omejeno« (Movement Restricted). To begin with, Barbara Gornik, a young researcher and PhD student studying nationalism and interpretation of human rights talked about how the interpretation of human rights, being supposedly universal, may vary depending on local values. Gornik pointed out the French Revolution as the beginning of the creation of the concept of human rights, and stressed that at that time they were only applicable to upper middle class, the “simpler” classes being ignored.
The discussion quickly changed from theory to practice, which is vital to understand the criminalization of movement (of the right to movement). At this point spoke the members of the Anti-Racist Front Without Borders, an association of various collectives and individuals which was created as a direct response to the situation regarding the refugees. The front was put to life as a means to organize the protest that took place on 9 September in Ljubljana, and has thus continued its work towards raising awareness and political pressure in addition to also being engaged in helping and working at the border since the arrival of refugees. They were present in the field even before humanitarian organizations, and their way of working is quite different. In addition to food and clothing they also provide information, with great emphasis on personal contact with people who were coming along the Balkan route. These activities were made impossible when the government established a disciplined corridor of movement which – while restricting it – does not completely prevent movement. With the establishment of this system the segregation begun – people were categorized as economic migrants or refugees, i.e. first- or second-rate asylum seekers, which also led to different conflicts between them.
This opened up a discussion about the methods of segregation, which are being used on Slovenian borders – segregation on grounds of nationality and colors of skin. At this point the third guest, Tomaž Gregorc, who works for an Italian NGO which set up foundation for the so called dispersed accommodation, joined the discussion. This organization is helping asylum seekers by forcing institutions to assure the existing rights are being respected and by exerting pressure over policy-makers to legalize the protective rights that have not yet been put into Italian law. Tomaž has worked with people who have been granted status, but were later left by the institutions to fend for themselves. He highlighted the example of ten Sudanese and Somalis who were transferred from Malta to Maribor, Slovenia following the logic of ‘allocation of burden’ as part of the EUREMA study. These were people who already had a lawful status and life in Malta but they agreed to the move because they were promised a chance to apply for citizenship. Upon arrival, they were housed in the integrationhouse and left to fend for themselves. Despite the fact that in theory this was a well-planned and well-financed project, it was poorly executed in practice. We can only imagine how integration of refugees will work when the EU members will start to “distribute” their quotas among themselves.
The debate highlighted a number of problems and presented different viewpoints and solutions. We talked about the first international refugee crisis after the end of the First World War when 80,000 Russians were granted passports which were valid in 50 different countries. It was assumed at that time that freedom of movement would lead them to a place where they would be accepted and where they would be able to help the community. It was agreed that the refugees and economic migrants should not only be seen as victims but as people who contribute to community. Some see them as a necessary link in the maintenance of the European economy which is at risk due to low population growth, others see them as innovative people who will have the opportunity to develop their potential, open businesses and jobs, and others still see them already as the courageous fellow combatants in trade union struggles for labor and other rights.
The second Caffeteria Anarchia brought us a visit from Rijeka, Croatia. The topic of discussion was criminalization of protests and activism in general. Eugen and Zorana, who came to us for a coffee, have plenty of experience with this. In March 2013 they participated in the organization and execution of a protest against privatization of public goods and cutting of the social rights. At the end of the protest when Eugen was about to go for a drink with friends he got caught up in a small dark street by two policemen in civilian clothes who without any reason simply knocked him to the ground and forcibly took him to the police station. Besides Eugen they also arrested Zorana who protested against the violence with her own body, trying to protect her friend. What followed were six hours of psychological harassment at the station, in the manner of old police textbooks – trying to manipulate them to force out of them some kind of confession for acts that did not exist. One of the policemen, who violently arrested Eugene, supposedly broke a finger while performing the arrest and Eugen was charged with the offense of causing serious bodily harm and assault on an official which is punishable by 8 months of imprisonment. Zorana is charged with the offense of obstructing the police procedure and could be sentenced to 2 years of conditional imprisonment.
These are the dull facts of the judicial process that started this year for both activists. Nevertheless, some new interesting things are coming out of it – the witnesses of the prosecution tell contradictory stories, some no longer wish to testify, the official footage of the event is not obtainable; in short, a bunch of stuff that clearly prove the constructedness of the whole case against Eugen and Zorana.
While we were drinking coffee Zorana and Eugen narrated the broader context of the story which the court will probably never hear about, but it is crucial for understanding the real causes of the police attack. From the outset activists clearly understood that in reality this persecution was all about criminalization of protests. Zorana and Eugen were in 2013 part of a group which had for years been calling for the attention to the neo-liberal interventions of the Croatian state. They were organizing various events, actions and protests and were actively involved in political life in Rijeka. But as long as they were students who were protesting against state policy, which was then still lead by HDZ, while in Rijeka the opposition was in power, they were freely able to organize protests against cuts in social rights and against the sale of public property. But when the political picture changed, the young activists suddenly became a thorn in the side of local authorities. And then the criminalization of protests began. The attack on Eugen and Zorana must not be understood other than an attempt to silence criticism and resistance.
After the attack the formal and informal pressures followed in form of various provocations, surveillance, personal harassment, pressure on witnesses by freezing their accounts, etc. – all with the aim to break the will and instill a sense of fear and helplessness to the accused. But all this stress hasn’t achieved its purpose, because in the end it was channeled into an even greater rage against social injustice. Activists said that the relationships between colleagues has even strengthened due to this experience, plus they got also the confirmation that all their work makes sense, because obviously it greatly disturbs the ruling structures in their nonchalant anti-social maneuvers, while it keeps people feeling that they are not without power.
The trial will continue next year. You can help Zorana and Eugen the best you can by means of sharing information, organizing support campaigns, and exercising pressure on local authorities and the police in Rijeka. You can support them and express solidarity and you will also be most welcomed to the public court hearings if you manage to come. News about the outcome of the trial will be posted on the website http://alternativa-obstaja.blogspot.si/.
We were honored to be the first stage of the jubilee fifteenth Klubski maraton (Club Marathon). Exactly for that reason (jubilee number) a two day event was organized, so we were able to see and hear all the contestants. On the first day we listened to Nevemnevemnevem, Haiku Garden and HAY. The second day Muzikačaka, Persons from Polrock and Meduzalem took the stage. We thank all who came and supported the event and all the marathon-runners.
Sk8 contest & benefit concert
The FIRST skate contest in the new INDE Skatepark took place on Saturday, 26th September 2015. The organizers were local skaters with the help from the Indean team (UPI Collective). The competition was held in two groups: “junior” (up to 16 years) and “open” category. Competitors had time to perform two runs (1min30sec), plus time for the last trick. The best run was then evaluated. Most »on fire« was Matjaž Bedenik who performed two massive and totally different runs (BS flip over the pyramid, 5-0 to tailside on quarter). Moreover, he picked up also the award for best trick – a feeble on top of the wall. Martin Lazar performed many tricks in the first run (from overcrook to BS flipside on box and huge 50-50 on new ledge) and was ranked 2nd. Milan Stupar won the 3rd place. Among juniors the first place was won by Jernej Mahnik who was also the only competitor in this category.
The event continued with a BBQ and a concert – the coastal bands Korte sexperience (punk/ska) and Recession (slave rock) and HC bend Kreshesh Nepitash from Trbovlje.
During the performance of the Kreshesh Nepitash we unfortunately had some problems with the generator so the concert was interrupted. Despite a few difficulties the all-day event was quite successful and a lot of people visited.
We thank the sponsors who helped us with the prizes. We collected around € 200 of voluntary contributions that will go to the improvement and upgrading of the skate park.
Audition
The Editorial team has grown. At the audition we acquired three translators, three lectors, four writers and one designer. That sounds a lot but these listed talents are united in 6 actual persons. We are very pleased that the team is being reinforced also outside the audition. Another result of the reinforcement is today’s “Past events”, thank you all! Although the Audition was organized by the Editorial team we forgot to take photos.
Dan Dwoba. Dwoba day.
October third, twothousandfifteen. Day D.
On Friday before the day D a group of coastal bikers went for a beer in Koper. While sipping on the hop beverage we were surprised by the rain. That would not be a problem if the next day wasn’t scheduled for an event we’ve all been waiting for – Dwoba BMX session. For that event to actually be dwoba we needed nice weather to begin with. So we all started to worry a bit that we would have to cancel the entire thing, but soon afterwards we just drank another beer and decided that the decision would have to wait until the next morning.
I wake up. Weather dwoba. View from MONTINJAN towards the sky is quite encouraging although behind Marezige I can see a few clouds with their blackness signaling an urge to pee. On the social network I find out that the blue sky above me is not only a make-believe of Montinjan. People in the heart of Koper can also see clear patches of sky above them. A friend drives me to Inde factory, where former Postojna’s, but now Koper’s new skate park lies. We experience a few more exchanges between the sun and the rain, but early in the afternoon it is clear that the event will be executed. The rest is history.
But this kind of history is not written in school textbooks, so I’ll let you in on it in the following lines. Soon after the official start of the event at 15 hrs, the first contestants began to appear. First ones were Triestini, after them Horicjani, followed by all the others. Altogether there were 13 riders, from which the locals were in minority. The riding was spectacular, constant, but above all, great fun. Just a few steps from the skatepark both the visitors and the contestants were able to refresh themselves with delicacies from the grill and out of an improvised refrigerator. After all the cries, sighs and shouts of satisfaction that resembled more a kind of an erotic film then a BMX competition, it was time for awarding the prizes. Due to excellent support from our patrons we were able to grant 8 of them. Koper’s own Voranc Kumar with its breakneck elements picked up two prizes – for the best trick on quarter (he performed a huge number of breathtaking tricks while flying so high that allegedly at some point a piece of meteor caught into his eye) and the best competitor of the day. Max Bruch from Triest earned the prize for the best trick on the pyramid while also getting standing ovations for his combination of 180 to half-cab to manual 180. The prize for the best trick on grindbox was given to Borja Bovcon from Nova Gorica who drove on the front wheel for the entire length of the facility while simultaneously rotating the handlebar (nose manual to barspin). The prize for the best trick on rail went to Slovenske Konjice – it was granted to Žan Juhart who beat up the poor metal tube in a thousand and one ways with a quartet of pegs. The award for the best trick on our beloved EXTRA! EXTRA! sub box was won by Jaka Miklavčič for a combination of feeble to smith. The other two awards were somewhat more specific, humorous, and maybe even slightly erotic. The award for the biggest balls was granted to Eric Matcovich from Trieste who – as rumors say – due to specific anatomy characteristics supposedly wears extra-large underwear. The prize for the oldest competitor was awarded to Dalibor Cvijić, because we all know that he is already one and a half foot in the grave.
For the eleventh time thanks to everyone who helped in carrying out this epic event, to the collective Up Inde, who support us and allow us to have that hardware&timber in their courtyard, to all the competitors and spectators who appeared on Ulica 15. Maja on 3rd October 2015 and last but not least to our distinguished sponsors who were:
Evolution BMX shop
Dok7 skate shop
Cult Eyewear
Targetbag
Store and bicycles servicing Real
Picture organic clothing
Positive recreation
Bicycle store Koloset
Refugees welcome
We proved again that a party can be very useful if only there’s a good reason for it.
Thanks mostly to our musicians who donated their time and effort for the benefit concert, and of course to all of you who responded and contributed. We collected € 324 for helping refugees.
Within one month of operation of the collection center at Inde we also collected several vans of aid material that has already been delivered to a number of crises locations from Trieste to Serbia.
Apocalypse
Ali: We arrived late, but not so much to miss Ali on hip hop and drumnbass rhythms. Undoubtedly one of the hottest MC’s currently in the Land below the Alps. Strong and energetic vocals in combination with hiphop gangsta rhythms. We would point out his rapping on drumnbass bases … We want more…
Kalifat Dub: In big anticipation of a new project from well-known Haris Pilton, this time in the project KalifatDub with MC Chakka, Haris gave us a bit of a scare because while taking up the stage he fell down in all his glory. Fortunately for us he quickly recovered. KalifatDub started their bass wheelwork and took us through the Balkans and the Arab world with a view of our beloved island of Jamaica. Gently but intensely we were carried away into dreamland by the mixture of genres in Kalifat Dub dub-reggae bases…. An excellent project from two veterans of the Balkan scene! Rakia for all!!
Jahklin selekta (Jamcoast): Our Jahklin selekta arrived on the scene a little late with a bottle of water in his hands, which was promising a drumnbas-jungle spectacle. He started with a few reggae songs on vinyl but quickly switched to old school jungle. This was followed by some newer jungle pieces; before he switched to drumnbass … He finished it with a great reggae / dubwise selection. Jungle is a MUST!
All the praise to the INDE team for all the effort they put into organizing such events featuring different musical genres that cannot be felt far and wide!! +++++++
P.S. … the only minus was too harsh and ear-piercing sound …. More bass and less treble and mid-tones … (MM)
Aerial Ruin
On Sunday we got a visit from the singer-songwriter Aerial Ruin. Without electricity and by mystical candlelight Aerial Ruin created a magical atmosphere and took us to remote sunny landscapes. He’s currently on tour, traveling across Central Europe. He has just returned from a three-month tour of the United States. He is currently presenting his album Ashes of your cares.
Friday and Saturday were reserved for community work effort. The turnout was good with with over 30 supporters attending and lending a hand. We managed to put up the new stage and the DJ area, clear out the drains, sand the walls of the future kitchen and hallway, plug holes with concrete, tidy up the exterior, systemized the waste disposal…
News of our efforts reached beyond our nations’ borders and we were visited by fellow supporters from Austria. They gladly offered to aid and managed to create a stand to hold our paper publications out of some flat pallets. After we were done our culinary masters served us hot dinner and desserts. We would like to thank our supporters for all the help this past weekend!
