Protest in Sofia
The protest was organized by the Federation of Anarchists in Bulgaria, autonomous group “Anarchoresistance “, and other people who stand behind the same cause. The main slogan was “Freedom for the arrested syndicalists!”
Despite the rain the protest started at about 19:10. It took part in front of the Serbian Embassy at “Veliko Tarnovo” street.
About 35-40 people showed up, showing their solidarity with their arrested serbian friends and comrades. In front of the embassy there were about 20 riot cops, some cars, vans and riot cop truck. The police stood in line in front of the embassy, while their helmets and shields were left prepared aside.
Noone got out of the embassy and no movement was seen inside.
There were two banners saying – “No to the state terror” and “Freedom for the Serbian anarchists”. Solidarity slogans were chanted, along with such against state terrorism. The official statement of the people taking part of the protest had been read, you can find the text below. The English translation of the text was posted in the embassy postbox.
The demo ended normally, a bit before 20:00. It is important to note that the usual freak was filming for the cops in Shiva-style – one camera in each hand.
STATEMENT IN DEFENSE OF THE ACTIVISTS FROM ANARCHOSYNDICALIST INITIATIVE (ASI) – SERBIA (* not exact translation)
On 04.09.2009, the, five young activists from ASI – Tadej Kurep, Ivan Vulovic, Sanya Dojkic, Ratibor Trivunac and Nikola Mitrovic, were arrested by Serbian authorities on the ridiculous charges of “international terrorism”, which according to Serbian law is tantamount to “genocide.”
The accusation is raised only on suspicion that the detainees may have been involved in a recent action, where an unknown person threw two cocktails Molotov in front of the Greek embassy in Belgrade. Our comrades categorically involvement, The state prosecutor gave them 30 days detention, If the court finds them guilty of the action , they face from 3 to 15 years in prison.
Totally unprovoked arrests and trumped-up charges against the five innocent people is an act of open government repression against the Anarchist Trade Union Initiative. For everyone who is a little familiar with the situation, it is not surprising that these particular members of the ASI were attacked by the prosecution.
The only reason is that they have always been among the activists, which have appeared most frequently and highly visibly in public without any “masks” – in the direct and metaphorical sense. Through organized activity to protect workers
that without them, typically remain neglected, ASI won the confidence of these workers and gives them the support they never received from the Serbian politcal cliques. Desiring to eliminate the threat that any autonomous trade union movement may create in a time of full political bankruptcy, this clique seeks salvation in the methods rejected even by its Western patrons. In a desperate, tyrranical effort to silence voices of resistance, it uses every opportunity to create provocations, and now have crossed the boundary, throwing our comrades in prison and accusing them
of “international terrorism”.
Arrests of trade union activists and above those who support them, are clearly the true face of modern Serbia, since even on the ashes of neoliberalism it continues to protect exploitation and enslavement. This act is a step towards establishing a more robust model of a repressive government which does not hesitate to shut the mouths of those who are against it.
To arrest people because of their political orientation is a crime by the state! Now, when we write this statement, should we expect to be arrested, because we are anarchists?
Just punishment for a criminal government! Freedom for all political prisoners!
The Bulgarian Anarchist Federation and the autonomous group “Anarcho – Resistance,” express their solidarity with the detained comrades, their full support and assistance and have joined the calls for their immediate release and withdrawing these ridiculous charges!
Freedom for all detainees!
Sofia, 18.09.2009g.
September 19th, 2009 at 01:34
Admin here. Sorry, but the translation of the statement is not 100% exact. There were a couple of rather creative or idiomatic phrases there that I couldn’t get exactly so I left out or made simplet. I get the sense of it all though. If somebody wants to edit it, please do.
September 19th, 2009 at 09:59
Bulgarian comrades said the translation is OK and added more about their demo.
September 21st, 2009 at 00:50
May be just a suggesdtion regarding the translations : trade unionist is not appropriate to translate “syndicalist”. Syndicalist exists as a word by itself, why not use it like that ?
Syndicalism, and furthermore anarchosyndicalism, is certainly not trade unionism … AIT is not a trade union international but a anarchosyndicalist international.
September 21st, 2009 at 01:38
Comrade,
I agree with this. But in both this text and the text about the picket in Berlin, the words unionist, not syndicalist, were used. I didn’t think I should change other people’s texts.