Interview with eastern-european

anarchist collective

(discussed and answered by Veronika and Muri)

November - 2002

We are bringing you interview with Abolishing the Borders from Below, one of quite new, but very important and successful group with "base" in Germany.

How and when was formed ABB, who founded it?

For better understanding a formation of such a group like "Abolishing the Borders from Below" has to be mention that it was formed by east European activists living constantly in German city of Berlin. There were various reasons why we have decided to form such a specific group. Some of us have just made not the best experiences by working in groups consisting mostly of german activists. Some felt a language barrier so they were looking to work in collective were they could express them fully. The others have joined this project because they start to like the main idea. First talks about starting this initiative were made shortly after events in Genoa (G8 summit) and were in the spirit of "there is a need to bring a fresh wind to anarchist structures around the continent". On the other hand, the east-European activists living in Berlin were acting together on different projects already since years. Unfortunately it was more from one occasion to another, but it was usually a great experience. Than it comes an idea that for better results and just to make some things more easy for everyone we could coordinate our ideas and activities. The first meeting to discuss this concept took place in October 2001 when different proposals of cooperation and ideas for common activities were brought.

Already few weeks later such a projects like "Abolishing the Borders from Below" an anarchist courier from Eastern Europe, as well as internal ABC-structure and east-European libertarian library have started very intensively. Meanwhile apart of library we have opened a printing room and are short before open a regular office (this in collaboration with two other groups). From beginning we are consequently holding solidarity actions (embassies occupation, financial support etc) with anarchist structures and activities in Eastern Europe and are involved in co-organization of such events like anti-border camps, anti-capitalist international protests, independent cultural gatherings etc. Of course we are active on the local level as well.

How many people are in editorial collective now?

We are just a small collective with no ambitions of growing or searching for new members to join but we are of course open for everyone likes to do it. All together there has to be about 15-20 persons which are involved in all these projects I have mentioned. With different level of dedication of course. There are some more which are joining us rather occasionally but they are almost always with us when it is really necessary. The editorial collective of the publication are forming 6-7 persons.

How many issues was published and in which periodicity?

In December 2002 "AbolishingBB#7” will be out on which one we are just working - that is why you have to wait so long for our response this time. It is from beginning bi-monthly publication with ambitions of becomes to be a monthly-one but we are still not ready to take this task.

What are goals of ABB? What do you write about and who write in this magazine?

I understand that you ask about goals of publication not the collective activities as the whole ... that's good, it makes the answer more easy ... he, he. So the goals of "AbolishingBB" are written pretty clear on editorial page of our magazine. It is basically about to help the anarchist structures around the continent to know each other, to tighten cooperation, to recognize a common aims and to better understand differences and problems. It is as well an attempt to bring an anarchist movement in Eastern Europe from isolation and this way help it to develop. We strongly believe that continual exchange of ideas, tactics, experiences and materials with similarly minded groups from other regions of Europe will help eastern anarchists to operate much more effectively.

But there is an interesting thing happened. While from beginning we were focusing on helping to build this kind of bridge between anarchists from the east and the rest of Europe, suddenly we have recognized that in between our publication helps a lot to bring together many anarchist groups from the east! It has happened so fast that we even have not realized it until many people start to tell us about it. It is great and now we see it as a good beginning of the process which we have aimed originally. But just to make it clear - "AbolishingBB" as a publication is and will stay as a tool in hands of anarchists around the continent to learn how to communicate and work together. Nothing else. We don't want to stay in the middle of anything new, we just wish to provoke and motivate people to start do things in a new more effective way.

About dozen of great correspondents from almost all regions of Eastern Europe are writing for "AbolishingBB". They are sending their regular reports. We are basically coordinating this flux of information and completing the rest from other sources of information which are available for us. Well, the best work here is definitely made by our correspondents. In this meaning we could say that the collective of "AbolishingBB" is much wider than people leaving in Berlin.

How often is published and how many copies is printed?

We started with 1000 copies. Pretty fast we have realized that there is a big interest around "AbolishingBB" so we were trying to increase issue but it was exactly the time of our biggest financial crises. Now everything looks much better and we can print about 2000 issue.

How it is distributed?

We are still forming a good working network of distributors around the continent (and not only), so that in every region of Europe we have someone who is getting from us between 50 and 200 newspapers to distribute it in his/her region. It is still not everywhere working as good as we would wish but with every issue it seems to be better. In whole Europe it should costs about 50 cents. The libertarian libraries and info-shops are getting free exemplars so they should let us know if they are missing "AbolishingBB" on their shelves.

Do you call themselves anarchists, and what does it mean for you? Or do you think, that this label is not important for you?

This is a question everyone from collective should answer for him/herself - what is not possible right now. I can say that at least half of the “Abolishers" would call themselves anarchists and I would risk the statement that all of us are wishing to live our lives and organize our activities based on anarchist principles. The fact is that part of my friends doesn’t take it as necessary to wear an anarchist label or to give any specific name to their life principles. But there are some values which, I strongly believe, are common for all of us. These are: rejection of any hierarchical structures and authoritarian relationships between people, cultivation of such values like friendship, solidarity and cooperation instead of competition. Some of us are already satisfied with fact of existence of these values in his/her own community, the others have the ambitions to propagate these values as wide as possible, but this difference is definitely not a problem for us. What is for sure - when we take a part of any bigger actions under anarchist flags, nobody of collective has a problem with it. So at the end, there is consent on anarchism as a description of our views and politics.

Your magazine has connected east-european movement - how do you look on its perspectives? Dou you think that there is possibility for bigger coordination and cooperation?

We believe that there are big perspectives for continuation of development of this east-European cooperation. Our optimism is because we see from different sides a lot of will and dedication for that process. The great work of various EE anarchist groups during actions in Prague last week was a best proof on that. We will definitely continue our work to push it forward but it needs for sure to be discussing EE-wide what are the expectations and future goals of such coordination. We could shortly point already now a few which we see. It is a common fight against rapidly growing criminalisation and elimination of anarchists’ structures in our region. It is putting our strengths together to oppose such processes like economical globalisation or worldwide re-militarization of the relationships on all possible levels of life. Both of these processes are very visible and crucial for general situation in our region. We would really like to see EE-wide discussion about possible development of new effective ways of anarchist activities, discussion which could be based on positive and negative experiences of different groups in their own regions. What we would like avoid is a creation of another elite of "international activists" knowing each other very good and having a "great cooperation" but at the end forming just another ghetto, circle of friends which are feeling good with their imaginated, changing nothing "east-European anarchist family".

(…)

You live in Berlin, where is also published "AbolishingBB". What do you think about movement there and also in whole Germany?

This is very big question and I am afraid I would need about two weeks time to tell you about all different aspects of German movement. There is so many groups and organizations, so many conflicts and interesting projects ... and the Germany as a country is very specific place (because of the history but as well because of the present role it plays in the world) that I would suggest you to make an separate interview to get at least a bit complete picture of the movement in Germany. And as a first ... what movement exactly you have in mind?

If you want to say something to czech anarchist, you have opportunity…

POZOR ... the revolution is around the corner! And more seriously ... we would like to send you words of our full respect for taking the decision for another big mobilisation in Prague against second flux of the world bosses, and this after all long term repression which you have faced not such a long time ago after S26 and which ones for sure cost you a lot of strength. We have to say that it is each time a very good experience for us to work with Czech anarchist groups and that evolution of revolutionary processes in your local movement is very visible. We have a lot of personal friendships with many of you what help us to realise how interesting, honestly, dedicated and determinate people are among you.

And on the very end ... we would like to invite all anarchists groups from Czechia and Slovakia to use our publication for wider presentation of their ideas, politics and activities. We know many people would like to get more info about differences in ideas between such groups like CSAF, ORA-S or Feminist Alliance of 8.03. Not in order to deep in these differences but to could better understand your goals and visions. So feel in the future free in expressing yourself on our pages. I think that's all for now. Thanx a lot for your interest and for giving a possibility for wider presentation of our project. In solidarity ... Abolishing the Borders from Below.