Ex-Yugoslav Journalists win International Award

With its satirical and pornographic covers and its investigative journalism, Feral Tribune have brought on the wrath of the Croatian president Franjo Tudjman, whose party HDZ has a near monopoly of newspapers, radio and television. Just now, there are over 600 ongoing judicial proceedings against journalists in Croatia, said Ivancic. The secret police have established dossiers about journalists, and the regime denounces dissidents as enemies and traitors. Recently, the European Council published a rapport accusing Croatia of continuing to curb the freedom of the press and the rights of minorities.
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Veran Matic stated that Sebian president Slobodan Milosevic ten years ago promised the Serbians a Swedish standard of living, Swedish socialism, and Swedish internationalism. What they got instead was third world standard of living, Chinese communism, pan-Slavic nationalism, and isolationism.

In Bosnia, Dani have also gotten into trouble for their investigative journalism, and for publishing stories about atrocities against Serbians committed during the Bosnin war. Their office have been visited by mafia-types who have threatened the lives of staff members.

December 98: All copies of the latest issue of the weekly magazine Monitor that were to be sold in Serbia, were confiscated by Serbian authorities. Monitor is published in Montenegro, the only other republic in what is left of the Yugoslav federation. This was the third time Monitor was confiscated. The Students at the philosophical faculty of the University of Belgrade defied the ban and distributed hundreds of copies of Monitor.

Source: The Swedish syndicalist paper Arbetaren

Reclaiming the Streets in Zagreb

We stated: "Life in the city is fast. It is overcrowded and separated into sleeping zones, amusement zones and working zones while inhabitants became consumers and producers. Streets and living space were built to satisfy this regime of life. We beleive that work, fun and art have to be integrated into life without any separations and therefore our living space has to be created to satisfy these needs. Because of that, our streets have to be alive. We want better public transport, cycling lines, pedestrian zones, and not cars and highways!

At 11 we have held a press conference at Cvjetni Square. After that there were 5 performances at different locations in the center of the city. Then a group of people went into action of wrapping up with yellow tape all cars that were parked to block sidewalks, green areas and crossings. (At some point this group was phisically attacked by some pissed car owners.) The whole action was concluded with an 8 hour party at French Republic Square. There was music, dancing, performances, instalations, playing...

16.5. was a succes.

organized by: ATTACK - autonomous culture factory participants: green action zagreb, dj. ilko, dj. ivan, dj. tomo, space lilly, bez ambalaze, u.b.i., ..., bijesne gliste, gole i veseli, la vie en rose, darac, graffity people,

All together around 300 people, many cops around us and a lot of attention from the media.

-marko vukovic

ATTACK - who, what, why, when, where?

First, around 20 of them showed up at the meeting point for the regular critical mass bike ride and managed to break the gathering with beating up one person. Afterwards they proceeeded to attack premises and 10 of them managed to get in. At the time, only two people were at the factory and they were beaten up by the skins. They also smashed one chair, table and an ashtray and then left... We were expecting another attack to happen later during the day but it didn't happen.

This wasn't an organized action by the skinheads, but a part of the whole day orgy connected to a handball game between Zagreb and Barcelona.

To ask for more info: attack@zamir-zg.ztn.apc.org

About Attack/Autonomous Cultural Factory

Some time now on civil/NGO scene in Zagreb there is a great need for open social space, where different initiatives and actions(exibitions, performances, discussions...) could take place.Alternative political and artistic scene for years have not the independent and specific place to work and present itself to wider public. Especially young people today don't have a chance to express their creativity, to get informed and educated about civic activism.It is crucial to offer such a possibility now in the post-war situation, with increased street and domestic violence, crime, drug abuse, and general low level of political tolerance and democracy.
Autonomous Cultural Factory - Attack is oriented towards multicultural and trans-national exchange and cooperation, and with it's activities can contribute to democratization and opening of Croatian society. Attack is supported by 20 different civic groups (women, peace, human rights, ecological, artistic...) and in this way foresters the networking of the existing NGO scene. Our actions and activities were covered by major media (all daily newspapers, HTV - national TV, OTV - independent TV, several radio stations...), which helps in bringing civic values to wider population.

Short history

Initiative has started around political pop mega.zin Arkzin in September 1997. In very short time many groups and individuals get involved, and financially supported the project by becoming the members. First public action was flee-market, held on October25th. With this initial money we started to search for the space to rent. In the meantime we used the Antiwar Campaign office for our weekly meetings. Very soon the e-mail mailing list was created on Zamir BBS. In order to keep public attention, we organized weekly street performances (in cooperation with several alternative theater groups). First issue of Attack newsletter was published in the end of November. More and more people from different Croatian towns are calling and offering support and benefit actions. Our plan is to develop a broad network of similar initiatives all over Croatia and to support (financially and by offering programs)similar centers in other towns.
The action group is formed, 40-50 people are regularly taking part on the meetings - and we decided to start with the workshops for the group building and nonviolent actions (in cooperation with Volunteers' Centre and Peace Studies), and we had 5 workshops already.
In the end of November we have found the space in former Factory of computing machines (TRS) in the center of Zagreb, but the owner of the building canceled the signing of the contract, after reading the (very positive) article in the newspaper in which the journalist mentioned as supporters of Attack, among other 20 groups, one lesbian and one anarchist. (This was first big obstruction we've faced and which showed us where possible problems in future can appear: prejudices about minority groups and values systems). Next day we held the peaceful demonstrations in front of the building. Ten days later, in cooperation with women and human rights groups (B.a.b.e. - women's human rights group, Contra - lesbian SOS line, Electra - women's art center, Group for direct protection of human rights, Amnesty International...), on 10thDecember (International human rights day), we organized whole day event Right to be different.
During December we were invited to organize Attack-week in student club on University for philosophy. Group of young people from Donji Miholjac organized benefit concert for Attack in the end of December.
Inspired by recent street violence between skinheads and punks, we started the series of talks and workshops about urban violence, and with the preparation of the team, which will held different actions(one of the planned activities are talks on nonviolence with pupils in high schools). Since the end of January Attack has one hour weekly program on Radio Student. Second issue of Attack newsletter also appeared(again designed and supported by Arkzin).
Beside all this activities, people involved in Attack are more and more getting involved in ongoing projects of existing NGO's (like Iskorak u sutra, Miramida plus, Green action...).
As you can see, Attack has in very short time attracted a lot of young people (not engaged before), successfully created a lot of events and activities, showed a high awareness about self-organizing and media self-presentation. All this has been done with out almost any external financial support. Among the people involved, there is a high level of motivation and serious approach to the project. It shows that Attack became huge School of activism and has a great potential to influence social improvements.

Plans

After 4 months of searching - we have finally found the space and signed the contract (it's part of the Toys factory close to the town center). Now we can start with some of the planned and wished programs (info-shop, exhibitions, round tables, lectures, workshops,promotions, video- events...). While waiting on substantial financial support, we plan to organize different benefit actions in order to collect necessary equipment, furniture and money. We'll continue with all established activities (newsletter, radio program, street performances, workshops...). The registration of Attack as separate NGO is in process.

Attack newsletter

As a part of our activities around ATTACK we have started a monthly newsletter. The newsletter editorial board is formed and meets regularly in Arkzin office. Two issues have been published so far (both in 5.000 copies, second on increased number of pages).Beside posting it to the members, we distribute it mostly during our street actions.
The aim of the newsletter is to inform wider public as well as the members of Attack, about all events, activities and discussions held on our weekly meetings and internal e-mail list. Reactions of the public were extremely positive and it shows that producing of newsletter is very good way of keeping the public attention on the project and attracting new members (which is essential for the future of Attack). Beside that, participation in the production of the newsletter is very good way to educate young people about journalism and using of new technologies.
We plan to continue with producing it on monthly basis. Beside the information about Attack activities, interviews with people involved, theoretical discussions connected with our activities and goals, announcing the monthly program, we'll try to include more and more information about whole alternative scene. So, we hope that after few months, we'll be able to produce commercial product, which can be sold. The planned preparation period for commercial production is 6months, during which we have to find financial support for basic expenses, which includes pre-print and printing costs.

Eco-Anarchists in Slovenia opens Info-Shop

The reading room/infoshop we planned to open for so long is now finally open! We had a small opening party as well (on 28th of January)! A cooperation between Skrati (Elves), an eco-anarchist group and the KAPA Association, the reading room/infoshop is located in Metelkova, a developing social and cultural centre in Ljubljana. For those of you visiting, Metelkova centre is 500m east of the central train/bus station in Ljubljana and the reading room/infoshop is in Lovci (Hunters) building - the official address is Masarykova 24. We would recommend, though, that you inquire about opening time before your arrival.

The reading room is a place where people can get in touch with the abundance of radical, revolutionary, libertarian and humanitarian thought in the form of books, comics, fanzines and magazines. We also organize regular video showings plus we plan to include lectures, debates, presentations and other events as well. We only started, so give us some time, eh? We are trying to form a space which will be able to bring together people and groups interested or involved with radical social change. We would like to provide a forum for the dissemination of DIY/independent creativity, to establish an info-point which would serve as a real contact resource for people using our reading room, but also a place where one could get thought provoking, intelligent, and hopefully inspiring material of any kind that is often very hard to get in mainstream/"established" institutions.

With the help of many generous individuals, groups, distribution/mail order services and publishers we have managed to secure many magazines, journals, pamphlets, and books on radical social theory and critique, permaculture, forest gardening, anarchism, feminism, human and animal rights, social ecology, class issues and struggle, racial and native issues, lesbian and gay studies, bioregionalism, liberation struggles, biotechnology and genetic engineering, civil unrest, vegetarianism/veganism, libertarian thought, communes and intentional communities, open/multiple relationships, political propaganda, appropriate technology, third world issues, critical communication science, direct action, countercultures, ecological projects, engaged art, animal liberation (front), political prisoners, squatting...

We still need your help, though: if you can afford to send us material (publications of any kind, audio, video, etc.), put us on your mailing list, give us a subscription, or even donate money, please do! We are eternally grateful to anybody who has done so so far and will be to anybody who will do it in the future.

If you require any additional information or would just like to write, don't hesitate to get in touch.

Thank you very much in advance!

Contact:
Skrati c/o Retina
Metelkova ulica 6
1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia
e-mail: skrati@kud-fp.si

PLEASE, FORWARD THIS MESSAGE, PUT IT IN YOUR PUBLICATION, TELL OTHERS ABOUT THE PROJECT, ETC. THANKS!

SKRATI (eng. ELVES) - BASIC INFO:

Contact: Skrati Retina Metelkova ulica 6 1000 Ljubljana Slovenia
skrati@kud-fp.si