đŸ Archived View for library.inu.red âș file âș workers-solidarity-movement-rebels-at-ruesta.gmi captured on 2023-01-29 at 14:54:43. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content
âĄïž Next capture (2024-06-20)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Title: Rebels at Ruesta Author: Workers Solidarity Movement Date: 1996 Language: en Topics: meetings, Red & Black Revolution Source: Retrieved on 8th August 2021 from http://struggle.ws/rbr/reusrbr2.html Notes: This article was originally printed in Red & Black Revolution no 2.
LAST SUMMER saw the red and black flag of anarchism flying high in the
mountains of Spain. Alternative Libertaire of France organised an
international meeting for libertarian socialists, anarcho-syndicalists
and anarchists, which saw over 100 delegates gather at the village of
Ruesta in the Spanish Pyrenees. Unlike the average holiday resort, this
village is owned by an anarcho-syndicalist trade union (the Spanish
CGT). Comprising two hostels, two bars, a restaurant, a campsite, a
lake, a church which has been turned into a small hall for meetings, a
shop and about twenty buildings in need of major renovation, Ruesta is
run as a leisure centre for members of the CGT (and anyone else who
wants to visit).
The majority of the delegates came from the CGT, Alternative Libertaire
(France), and the Libertarian Socialist Organisation (Switzerland),
Smaller numbers came from Libertarian Alternative (Lebanon), the Polish
Anarchist Federation, the Italian Libertarian Communism and the Workers
Solidarity Movement, as well as from two other anarcho-syndicalist
unions: the SAC of Sweden and the Spanish Solidaridad Obrera.
AL-F have about 150 members, many of them established activists in trade
union and campaigning work, which includes a lot of work in DAL (âRight
to Housingâ). France seemingly has more empty houses than homeless
people, which has given rise to a squatting movement which takes in
single people and families, native French and immigrants. A number of AL
members hold national and local positions in DAL, which indicates that
they are active in the struggle and not just talking about it. Another
area of activity is AC! (âAgainst Unemploymentâ), which has recently won
free public transport for the unemployed in several cities. Other
struggles mentioned were abortion rights and anti-nuclear.
In the unions they also seem to be pretty busy, and they say it was AL-F
members who took the initiative to form the radical independent SUD
union in the Post Office & Telecom, after the CFDT union bureaucracy
expelled a branch during a dispute. SUD is now the second largest union
in the Post Office. Similar unions have been formed in the health
service and tax offices.
On the negative side of things we were bothered by their attitude that
supporting candidates in parliamentary elections is just a tactical
question. They do not see the massive contradiction that exists between
anarchism and involvement in electoral politics. After all, we want to
get rid of rulers, not help to prop up the division into rulers and
ruled.
They see themselves as libertarian communist rather than anarchist, in
the sense that they wish to add parts of other traditions to anarchism.
They mentioned Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Marx but didnât tell us which
bits they wanted, nor what they saw as the âfailingsâ of anarchism (as
opposed to wrong strategies or tactics).
The politics and culture of the OSL appear to be very similar to AL-F.
With about 80 members they are active in both the French and German
speaking cantons of Switzerland, though they seem to be much stronger in
the French speaking regions. They spoke about their involvement in
anti-militarism, squatting, anti-racism and opposition to âworkfareâ
schemes. They said the libertarian CRT trade union is primarily based on
the watchmakers of the Jura (the people who took the anarchist side over
120 years ago in First International!) and is small, but does have some
influence on other unions.
We also had any notion that Switzerland is a reasonably progressive
country shattered when we learned that the last canton to give the vote
to women only did so in 1994!
Very much linked to the French AL, this is a relatively new group. Their
situation is one of working in a country which endured 17 years of civil
war, where parts are occupied by Israel, where Syria is a force to be
reckoned with, where religious sectarianism is institutionalised in law
and repression of dissidents is increasing.
A handful of people operating in difficult circumstances, they have just
begun distribution of their Arabic translation of Daniel Guerinâs
Anarchism, from theory to practice (towards the production ofwhich the
WSM made a donation). They intend to distribute 2,000 copies in the
Lebanon and another 2,000 to Arabic speaking workers in France.
The Polish Federation are a looser body than the others who attended. At
a national level they have no common political project, strategy or
tactics. Their exact membership is unknown, even to themselves, but they
have about 30 local affiliates which vary from 3 or 4 people up to 30 in
some cases.
Activity has included big actions and ongoing campaigns on the Russian
invasion of Chechnya, pensions, anti-racism/anti-fascism (four people
were killed by nazi skinheads last year) and anti-militarism.
These comrades attended because they wanted more contact with Western
anarchists, rather than because of any particular interest in
Alternative Libertaireâs desire for an international federation of
âplatformistâ and libertarian communist organisations.
The people from the SAC, CGT and SO carried no mandates but were an
inspiration, a living proof that anarchists can win workers in their
tens of thousands. And they are not being won by militant trade unionism
alone. At present the SAC is debating the future direction of their
union, centring on whether to spend money on more ombudsmen (elected
full-time officials who can be called upon by branches if they need
assistance) or to improve the weekly SAC newspaper instead. Some members
feel that, essentially, this is about whether to be primarily a union or
primarily a libertarian political organisation. Whatever we may think
about the relative merits of either proposition, it is a healthy sign
that members are debating like this. (Not the sort of discussion you
come across in SIPTU or IMPACT!)
As well as participating in the debates, the WSM delegates gave a formal
presentation dealing with the situation in Ireland. This covered the
historical weakness of âleftâ politics; the problem of partition; the
historical attraction of radical nationalism for rebellious youth, and
the activities of the WSM. The latter covered our work to explain and
popularise anarchism; and our activity in the trade unions and campaigns
for abortion rights and against the water charges.
A draft declaration was discussed, which was to be sent to all the
participating organisations for discussion. Essentially this would
commit the political organisations (not the unions) to further
discussion, translation of texts, further meetings in 1996 and 1997, and
a common protest at the G7 summit in Lyon next year. The WSM have
signed.
Clearly many questions arise: How broad should this project be/what is
the minimum political agreement required, what are the immediate
objectives of co-operation? What should be the relationship to the
revolutionary unions? The question of calling for the building of
specific anarchist-communist organisations in Spain and Sweden? How will
it be understood in the broader anarchist movement?
The bosses are well organised, we need to be better organised than them.
While there is much co-operation across borders by anarchists, and some
international bodies (like the syndicalist International Workers
Association), the Ruesta meeting was a long overdue event. It brought
together anarchists and libertarians who see themselves as coming from a
tradition whose points of reference include the Organisational Platform,
the Friends of Durruti, and the Manifesto of Libertarian Communism; the
current among anarchists known as âplatformismâ (which also needs a
better name!) Debate, discussion and joint work can only help us move
forward.
---
Ruesta (August 1995)
This international meeting of libertarians held in Ruesta allowed
anarchists, militants, sympathisers, libertarian socialists, libertarian
communists, anarcho-syndicalists and revolutionary syndicalists to
discuss our analyses of and methods of intervention in the social
movements (i.e. the struggles against unemployment, sexism, imperialism,
racism etc. and in the unions).
Discussions from different viewpoints also took place around
ex-Yugoslavia and the rebellion in Chiapas. The debates showed there was
a common wish to transform a world now dominated by many forms of
oppression (Capitalism, imperialism & sexism). They also revealed
differences in how we analyse and fight these oppressions.
Exploring these differences opens up a way for improving each groupâs
understanding. It gave each organisation a chance to reflect on its
practice and current position. The meeting was a small step forward in
the construction of a new international political culture, one based on
libertarian and revolutionary values. One also determined to bring
together the oppressed to strengthen future revolts and struggles to
create a new society.
This meeting is just a start. From it we drew up the following proposals
and commitments.
co-ordination and collectivise discussions and interventions.
Spanish (at least).
demonstration and meeting) in Lyon, France, in June 1996, as part of the
week of activity against the G7[1] summit.
solidarity actions with the Irish comrades in relation to the fight for
divorce and abortion rights. To intervene in the fight of 3^(rd) world
and immigrant women and to prepare a common initiative for March 8^(th),
1996.[2]
resumption of nuclear tests by the French government and against nuclear
tests in China.
1995 by parts of the Spanish union movement and unemployed associations.
at Ruesta but larger and with more ambitious objectives.
---
The Workers Solidarity Movement recognises the need for international
co-operation among anarchists and libertarian socialists. Capitalism is
an international system, organised on an international basis.
To combat it anarchists need international organisation. Such
organisation would require agreement on major issues such as the role of
anarchist organisations, activity within the trade unions and relations
with the anarcho-syndicalists, how to combat racism and fascism, the
type of struggle needed to advance the movement for womenâs freedom, how
to relate to anti-imperialist conflicts. It would also need an agreed
international strategy, the capability of fostering international debate
among anarchists, and the ability to give aid to weaker sections or to
those engaged in mass struggle.
In order to move towards the building of such an international
organisation we welcome co-operation, discussion and debate with other
anarchists and libertarians.
We place ourselves within the historic anarchist tradition. Anarchism
has identified the goal we desire: a classless society where production
is organised to satisfy needs and where people control their own lives
in a truly free society. We do not wish to go âbeyond anarchismâ, there
is no need. Anarchists have, of course, made mistakes but that is to be
expected. The point is to learn from those mistakes and avoid repeating
them, to grow and mature within the anarchist tradition.
It is in the interests of furthering debate and practical co-operation
between anarchists and libertarians that we sign the declaration of the
international libertarian conference, held at Ruesta in August 1995.
[1] Summit of the seven most powerful imperialist countries.
[2] International womenâs day.