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(Some photos from the action can be find on the internet page: http://n17-n17.blogspot.com/ )

Reports on students and workers resistance in Slovenia

This material consists of different sections: description of the Autonomus Block (AB), call for actions, letter of support and short history of Autonomous Tribune (AT).

Short insight: formation of the autonomous block (AB) around the workers’ protests on 17.11.

Autonomous scene

It has been at least a good year since the activist “autonomous scene” in Slovenia has been united in the important struggle on the local level. Last year, it was the squatting and the formation of the temporary autonomous zone ROG (the former bicycle factory) that produced immense energy and desire for the transformation of vacant space into a lively community of different social relations. Even though later the community ROG faced many difficulties, it still remains one of the most important alternative and public spaces. One of the groups created a space and a group Social Centre ROG that works on alternative education (Nomad University: films, discussions…) and on immigrations issues (specifically connected to the Erased). Apart from these political realities, the autonomous scene in Slovenia has been in demise since the end of ANTINATO and antiwar movement in 2003/04.

This year, with the advent of privatization on all societal levels, with the mounting governmental repression, the Autonomous Tribune, autonomous student movement emerged (see further chapter for the short genealogy of the movement). In the autumn, the autonomous scene started to gather around the issue of the “normalization”. Normalization-disciplinary techniques are quite evident in the dominant attitude towards minority groups, in specific case, the homophobic outbursts against lesbian couple in one of the famous clubs in Ljubljana (October). A small protest was organized, where many different political groups showed solidarity. This was a precondition for the formation of Autonomous block.

Workers protests: all trade unions agreed to create a trade-unionist block that will demand for higher wages and criticize neoliberal tendencies. Autonomous block (AB) supported their claims and at the same time wanted to open a space for different questions and demands. Various groups, ranging from Autonomous tribune, social centre Rog, feminists, the revolt of Lesbos, student associations to others debated around issues that want to be presented to the public.

Working-groups started their elaboration on different topics that would finally result in a small paper that could be used as a speech and material for the future activities. Groups were centered around the problematic of student situation, capitalism, repression … Main conclusions were later on formalized in common slogans, demands that were transmitted via flyers, graffiti, call for action (see number 2).

Mobilisation starts. New logistic groups were formed in order to attract young population. It was through flyers, banners, internet guerilla and small symbolic actions that the message for the formation of autonomous block was spread. Intention of AB was presented in the letter of support (see number 3) and the initiative was greeted with respect and enthusiasm by official trade-unions.

N17

More than 50 thousand people came to flood streets of Ljubljana. There were old, young, workers, students, pensioners who joined the march for the workers’ rights. The autonomous block started at the different location as the official event. Symbolically, it started at the Square of the Liberation Front (Anti-FA front in the 2WW). There were not only local groups that joined the AB, but also comrades/compas and groups from Italy, Croatia, Austria and Serbia. The AB presented itself with various materials: from newspapers, flyers to speeches and music that was echoing from the sound-system. The mobile and colored caravan of 500 hundred young people moved and finally joined masses.

The arrival of the autonomous block was emotional – you saw people crying, cheering and shouting “Solidarity”. Banners and shouted slogans of the autonomous block radicalized the demands of the workers: “smash capitalism”, “In factories and on universities, against the logic of capital”, “without resistance there is no existence”, “government should resign”… Many small direct actions took place during the march, but stories are yet to be written by others as well.

Trade unions demonstrated that they are one of the only real political forces in Slovenia, what is specific si that they are not subjugated to the government or to political parties, which is quite exceptional regarding the situation in Europe. What remains unknown is the future of the trade-unionist movement and the fate of their demands. If they are not to be heard, in January they call for the general strike.

Apart from that AB showed that alternative politics is possible; that different political groups can participate and will participate. Next time already in December, for the official introduction of Slovenia into the Schengen regime.

CALL FOR ACTION

JOIN THE DEMONSTRATIONS!

On 17th November we will massively occupy the streets of Ljubljana because we think, that today's situation and even more importantly, the path for the future is not set right. Workers' demonstrations for higher wages will be supported by both, elderly and young. All of those fed up with humiliation and exploitation!

Governmental and capitalistic propaganda and their advocates would like us to be convinced that we are living life of dreams. But since we are not stupid, we know, that our situation is not improving and that the prospects for the future are uncertain. So very praised economic growth does not only mean successes of Slovenian economy but also indicates larger levels of exploitation and further social differences.

Demonstrations will unite thousands of workers, men and women. Numerous young - workers, schoolkids, students will also participate, as well as numerous deprivileged workers, who don't have their own labour union's representatives. Not only because of their own status but also to support union's demands. Given the fact, that today's situation is not bright for any of those groups and the fact, that the future perspectives for those groups are very uncertain, we think, that it is a high time for serious and organized incorporation of these subjects into the public debate about current situation and about future.

Student movement Autonomous tribune is therefore motivating formation of Autonomous block at the demonstrations, which will join both young and a bit less young from different stories: students, schoolkids, unemployed, deprivileged and migration workers and many others. In this way, we will be able to clearly express our views, address masses with wider topics and in doing so, will be able to respond to labour unions' call more seriously, support their demands, and enrich the demonstrations with our own content.

We will meet on 17th November at 9:30 a.m. at the bus station!

Letter of support for workers’ protests N17

Today situation of workers is not rosy. Although government, capitalistic sounds and their ideological priests would like to convince us otherwise, people are not stupid. People can think and know that their situation is not improving. So very chanted economic growth does not mean solely successes of Slovenian economy. Back side of this process is reduction of worker's rights. Actually we have to step on the side of student or worker in order to understand the whole phenomena: economic growth means above all larger level of exploitation of workers and also students. What does that mean concretely? Wages are reducing, there are more and more of unemployed, gained rights are reducing, really, life in this splendid country beneath the Alps is getting better...

Labour fight is student's fight. It is not only about act of solidarity, more it is about wider perception of social problems, which demands mental effort of each individual. Students will become workers, some of them work even now during their study. To be more educated does not mean assured job. Therefore students have to deal with eminent working issues very early. But workers and students also have many things in common. Not only that they are their parents. Workers can soon realize that trends of privatization of school system are not separated from privatization of other sectors of social state. Therefore the front for maintaining public sector is in formation and new programme basis which can serve alternative organization of society, are being defined through common fight.

Fight for higher wages is of course legitimate union fight. We accompany and welcome this fight and at the same time we announce that we will address the masses with wider themes in the range of autonomous bloc. Our main 'sting' will 'fly' on problem of privatization and capitalistic organization of economy as well on state's repression and other forms of domination. Extra important is of course also difficult situation of students in the light of educational reform, which is being rejected from the very beginning by the Autonomous tribune. Autonomous tribune will work in direction of immobilization of student population and will not only support demonstrations declaratively.

Therefore, see you on 17th November in occupied and motley Ljubljana, where drums will resound and where we will exclaim that we are not so easy up for sale. Not today, not tomorrow, never!

WE DO NOT NEGOTIATE ABOUT RIGHTS!
RIGHTS ARE FIGHT FOR, NOT GIVEN!

Autonomous tribune

Ljubljana, 30.10. 2007

“Autonomous tribune” as an event in the Slovenian student struggle

A story of autonomous student movement begins in late May in 2007. It definitely did not start very ambitiously, quite on the contrary, it started as yet another discussion about the student conditions in Slovenia, why students are so passive, event though the situation is getting much more difficult with every generation. The attendance of this discussion in Metelkova (autonomous centre in Ljubljana) was surprisingly big – more than 50 people attended. What was even more surprising – something happened. The reflections were suddenly translated into actions. It was one of those rare moments when words pass from the symbolic to the real dimension: someone suggested “Are we going to squat the Faculty of arts next week?” - and all students willingly embraced this suggestion. It was a political promise, promise of what was to become alternative politics to the governmental program of privatization of the Slovenian high education system (introduction of tuition fees, privileged position of private schools, introduction of governmental control of professors etc.).

The day of the occupation of the Faculty of Arts came and with it the first general and constitutive meeting of Autonomous Tribune (AT). First statement was written (see appendix), couple of hundreds students attended the meeting. The main target of critique was the general process of privatization and exclusive democratic practices. However, Autonomous Tribune was successful in radicalizing “student” demands that depart from the narrow student agenda that just wants to preserve actual rights... so, even the first statement already addressed antimilitaristic issues and the social circumstances in general. AT stressed the fact that all across Europe students are fighting for the same cause, against neo-liberal agenda and privatization of all public sectors etc.

After this meeting – the movement arose – it was like a snowball effect. It gained quite a big recognition in media and started spreading to other faculties, where similar meetings and autonomous groups were formed. Autonomous tribune started to hold regular meetings and what is even more important, is a fact that it gained autonomous spaces within faculties. Its form of organization is directly democratic, horizontal and inclusive. It is autonomous of all other student organization and political parties (the intention to influence/discipline AT was not negligible).

It started to intervene into public spaces, with smaller (graffiti etc) direct actions and bigger actions: street theater, performances on the convention of right-wing civil society initiatives (see also http://avtonomnatribuna.blogspot.com/). In the beginning it was met with strong repressive measures from police that started to criminalize its actors and its actions. One of the official reports stated that participants of the actions carried “anti-governmental” slogans and would be persecuted due to this fact. The discursive articulation reminded on older Stalinist and also contemporary anti-terrorist measures that we are facing today.

Even the official student organization started radicalizing itself and organizing smaller actions against the official governmental agenda. Student movement was successful in postponing the privatization agenda – the main actor, the Minister of Higher Education was deposed due to his “incompetence”, but largely this can be attributed to the demand of the movement who had already deposed him in one of the first actions in front of the Slovene Government.

Even though it seems that everything is normal today, a new Minister will of course just carry on with business as usual. That means no rest for AT activists! After a long summer, a period of exams, one has to admit that AT has lost its momentum. However, new alternative agenda is being set: AT is at the moment organizing a public forum with trade-unionist groups against privatization. In the middle of November (17.11.) there will be a mass demonstration against neoliberal tendencies and student movement will take part in this initiative.