from Protest to RESISTANCE

national | miscellaneous | news report Saturday March 22, 2003 14:08 by ipsiphi iosaf Oas-if - espai alliberat contre le guerre C/Arc de Teatre 54, Barcelona 08001, Catalonia.

a reflection on the days.

Last Night "Espai Alliberat contre le Guerre" re-opened buildings in the poorest area of Barcelona which had previously been the homes of refugees and those without papers. The last building is now nominated again "Espai Alliberat contre le Guerre" it is at C/Arc de Teatre 58. BCN 08001 on the corner of Avenue Parallel.

Yesterday multitutes of Spanish went to register their anger and revulsion at the illegal War being waged upon the people of Iraq by the USA, UK assisted by Spain at the Madrid Embassy of the USA.

The subsequent battle is still happening.

you may read an Irish witness at:
http://ireland.indymedia.org/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=36814

Yesterday at 12h15 The King of Spain gave his address as commander in chief of the Spanish Armed Forces and leader of the Nation.

Amongst his wishes that this war end promptly and with minimum loss of life, was the wish that
"the forces of democracy in the country redouble their efforts".

I have lived long enough amongst the Spanish to have learnt a little of what this King's words can mean. I remind the readers that this same King took to the TV to avert a fascist coup d'etat against a democratically elected Socialist government on Feb 23rd 1981. He is thus given the title "saviour of democracy".

Spain like many mediterranean countries has several police forces. Madrid is currently a battle ground between pacifist protesters and the Policia Nacional de Espana.

National Spanish TV reports have since yesterday shown footage of protesters being beaten into unconscienceness for attempting to approach the US Embassy.

In Barcelona there are four police forces.
The Policia Nacional have been guarding the Delegation of the Madrid governemnt buildings where an encampent has not met with brutality since the declaration of the War.
The same police force are guarding the offices of the PP a marginal party in Catalonia but the ruling party of Aznar. This office is now seriously damaged.

The Catalan Mossos de Esquerda are the national police force of Catalonia and have not so far worn
full riot gear. They guard the Catalan Generalitat the seat of Government. Upon the return of democracy to Spain the only symbolic link with the antecedent legitamate Spaish Republic was the return of Catalan President Taradelles from exile to this building.
The walls of this building are now covered in handwritten messages of peace. The flags are at half mast.

Candles and incense and pictures of Guernica are on the ground. Daily concentrations of people of all ages have gathered some carrying plackards calling for the "resignation of the fascist Aznar".

The Guardia Urbana are the police force of Barcelona city, yesterday they mounted guard on the buildings of the council whose flags are at half mast to prevent the occupation of these buildings by "Espai Alliberat".

After a march through the market and central shopping area of Barcelona the assembly of "Espai Alliberat" thus re-opened several buildings which had previously provided shelter to refugees, those without papers, drug addicts, homeless people, prostitutes.
Our march took us through the poorest area of the city where heroin crack and humanity is sold to tourists.

Where the majority of mosques are to be found.

At some point after 22h00 Espai Alliberat liberated the building at
C/Arc de Teatre 54
which had been a purpose built market, later an animal feed factory, sometime a cinema and theatre, often a squat of the most desperate, a place for rats and pigeons desiese and infection.

As of 3 years nominated as 8 apartments in a future more "affluent" Barcelona.

In less than one night the energy and co-operation that we have brought the channeling of our anger and revulsion at the dismissal of the democratic will, the erosion of the democratic tradition, the Social War upon humanity which is waged with and without licence has cleaned and secured this space.

The neighbours are in support. One girl was stopped at the corner by police "Guardia Urbana" and asked "¿is it open yet?". She replied "YES".
They smiled and left. Perhaps they are pleased it is not a council building. But whatever it's title-
it now belongs to the people.

There is another police force in Spain. It is the Guardia Civil. The fourth branch of the Armed Forces. They guard the ports, airports and borders. They no longer go upon the street as they did 1975-1978 and beat to death the protesters of a rainbow coalition of will.

That some may call forces of democracy.

Protest turns to Resistance when one says
Enough is Enough.
when one says
There is this time NO BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.
when one thinks
WHO COUNTS THESE VOTES?

The War is illegal.
Saddam was illegal.
Bush is illegal as well.
and we the people shall reject this caesar
in whatever city we may hold as our common public space.

MORE PEOPLE HAVE NOW BEEN ARRESTED FOR PROTESTING AGAINST THIS WAR THAN WERE ARRESTED THE FIRST YEAR OF THE VIETNAM WAR.

Enough = Basta

HEART AND MIND!

http://barcelona.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=35311&group=webcast

call to protest Spanish Embassys (inspired by Ireland).
http://barcelona.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=35306&group=webcast
internet things:
http://barcelona.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=35335&group=webcast