Comision Internacional Autònoma

NEW BLOG // NUEVO BLOG

2010-03-16T12:28:00.001+01:00

We've changed our blog // Hemos cambiado de blog:
http://interunibcn.wordpress.com/

Links to posts from 2008-2009 academic year

2010-02-22T10:57:00.000+01:00

19th Feb: Occupied Student's Room

2010-02-22T10:12:00.005+01:00

Before and after!

A classroom has been liberated in the University of Barcelona's pedagogy campus. The following manifesto has been published by students:

Students have occupied and taken over the running of a classroom in order to teach in a space of learning liberated from the confines of the academic environment.

Various students here want to expose and criticise the state of our university. We're denouncing the imposition of the EHEA as the new mercantile model for education. Our obligation as students of pedagogy, social education, social work, teacher training, psychology and audiovisual communication is to fight in order to gain political and pedagogic processes which guarantee emancipation and self-organisation.

Confronted by institutional violence, the students at Mundet Campus have decided to modify the structure and function of the university by creating a place where students can create, generate and experience new educational methodologies. In this space the student community can exercise critical thought without the interference of the university system and its politics.

The fundamentals of the project are:
- Build up a new education model to aid social change and thus confront the current authoritarian model
- Bring social realities into the faculties
- Create a space in which students from different discliplines can meet
- Work towards a critical university open to its social context, rather than a corporate tool

More education (including the manifesto in its original Catalan) can be found here

Free University Activities: 12th - 18th November

2009-11-11T01:07:00.001+01:00

Activities in:

La Rimaia (Casanova 17)

La Teixidora (Marià Aguilló 35)

Barrilonia (Rambla del Raval)

La Rosa Negra (Roser 30, metro Paral.lel)

GLOBAL WEEK OF ACTION

Thursday 12
Fine Arts Faculty (UB)- Anti Repression Day. 1200-1800.

La Rimaia- Class: First aid. 1830.

Plaça Universitat- unitary demo "Stop Repressió"/"Sembrem Llibertat". organised by Grup Denùncia 18M. 19h

La Rosa Negra- Screening: Brazil (with food). 2000.

Friday 13

Rimaia- Class: First aid. 1830.
Rimaia- Institutional Revolutionary audiovisual. Session IV: Copyleft (with invited groups: Riot cinema collective, eXgae, Traxtore). 2100-2300.
Barrilonia- Party: 26th Anniversary of the Zapatista uprising. 2100-2300.

Saturday 14

Rimaia- Workshop. Co-ordinating syndicalised workers. 1200-2200.

Rimaia -Talk: An anarco-syndicalist response to the crisis. 1900.

Barrilonia- Supper with screening of Zapatista film "Corazon del tiempo". 2100.

Sunday 15
Barrilonia- Popular paella eat-in and play against political and domestic violence in Mexico. 1400.

Barrilonia- Workshop: Theatre for the oppressed. 1700-2000.

Barrilonia- Screening: "In this world" dir. Michale Winterbottom. 2000-2300.
Teixidora- Workshop: Bodily expression (held be Rebel'art). TIME UNKNOWN.

Monday 16

Barrilonia- Class: Life drawing. 1700-2000.

Rimaia- Class: Electricity. 1800.
Barrilonia- Assembly: Feminist group L’estisores (pro-choice). TIME UNKNOWN.
Biology faculty (UB)- Fundraiser and talk. TIME UNKNOWN.

Tuesday 17

La Rimaia- Class: Electricity. 1800-2000.

Wednesday 18
Ciutat de la Justicia- Protest rally (Denuncia18M). 1000.

La Rimaia- Class: Electricity. 1800-2000.

The library and tearoom in La Rimaia are open everyday from 1700-2100.

10th Nov: Anti-Repression Press Conference

2009-11-11T00:39:00.003+01:00

This is a translation of the communiqué read out in a press conference held today outside the central University of Barcelona building (site of the 18th March eviction last year). This forms part of a week of general activities to highlight the court cases that will be held on the 18th and 26th November for those charged on the 18th March.

The movement's lawyer, Jaume Assens

On the 20th November it will have been a year since the occupation of the "rectorat" (grand entrance) of the University of Barcelona. However, it's already been years since students have been organising in order to paralyse the European Higher Education Area and create a space of debate regarding its implementation and the function of universities in society. A stronge and persistent students movement was formed as a response to an imposed market-orientated education reform. From the rectorat of the UB the conflict was visualised to society the movement gained strength. Students, in seeing that they wouldn't be given a voice, had decided to speak without permission.

During that time academic authorities, politicians and the commercial media practised an information-based counter-offensive taking two forms: on the one hand, they pettily badmouthed the student movement and discredited their arguments with cooked up information, on the other hand, they upped their attempts to sell the reforms. The UB tried for a PR victory, with the constant use of the word "dialogue", and a clean "police-free campus" image (painting itself as an exception amongst the other universities) to the point where members of the management claimed that "the day the police step foot in this university I'll resign".

On the 18th March this hypocrisy was made obvious to everyone.

The UB's good image, and the endangerment of "academic normality", which in reality don't amount to anything, were the arguments used by university president Dídac Ramírez for letting riot squads into the building. The repression that we lived through on the 18th March started inside the rectorat, without warning, in a violent eviction confronted with the students' passive resistence. During the morning, at midday and at night police brigades charged on protesters, journalists and passers-by brutally and indiscriminately.

The actions of the repressing forces ended with 6 detentions and hundreds injured, many of whom were hit in legally prohibited parts of their body (the head, the hands, etc.). Today there are more than 58 people charged.

It remains very clear that, behind the armed police officers who chased, harassed, threatened and humiliated so many people, there was a well defined repressive strategy being put in place by academic and political authorities. No kind of responsibility has been assumed for what happened that day, or for the effects that are still suffered to this day. Rather, in many cases the actions were justified by the authorities, who went so far as to call for harsher repression. The only action undertaken was to sack Rafael Olmos, then head of the police, only to later reinstate him a little later.

We must also take this opportunity to denounce the manipulation of information in the media over the following days, in which the number of injured police officers given was at one point greater than that of injured protesters.

Faced with the impunity which shields those responsible, it was necessary to gather the testimonies and documents to make a collective denunciation. We have united more than a hundred people to denounce the abuses committed.

We have decided to use a legal route to make the denunciation. On the 18th September a dispute against the police force was presented through the legal system, although we still don't know if this has been accepted or rejected. The fact that the police brigades didn't carry identification on their uniforms, makes this route difficult, but we hope it will go some way to save the events from being forgotten. Therefore we are making the dispute public today.

We are here to say that we haven't forgotten and we will continue to fight, even despite the political and mediatic silence, we won't just stand by. We are here to denounce and dismantle a judicial system thought out and orquestrated by those in power, a judicial system which is normalising repression against anyone who speaks out.

We demand to see those responsible brought to justice, not with words but with actions (resignations), In the Interior Department, in the police force, amongst the presidents of Catalan universities, in the "Innovation, Universities and Business" Department and in the Commission for Universities and Research.

We will rally against repression on the 12th at Plaça Universitat.

We will also rally at the courthouses on the days 18th and 26th in protest at the trials for those evicted and charged with public disorder.

Free Uni-What?

2009-11-06T14:10:00.003+01:00

As part of its renowned squat scene and history of educational struggle, Barcelona is home to many free universities.

These are usually in squatted social centres (abandoned buildings occupied to meet the needs of the neighbourhood) and hold a range of activities, from tranvestite theatre to debates on primitivism. The aim of the project is to create a revolutionary space of learning where the difference between teacher and student is blurred and the subject matter, duration of the class, entry requirements etc. are chosen in self-organised groups interested in social change rather than by antiquated power structures serving only the needs of the rich.

The universities aim to provide a space for anyone interested where they can sit and chat without the obligation to buy anything, "a free space for all".

Check the blog for upcoming free university events!

The Free Universities this week- Activities

2009-11-04T23:00:00.006+01:00

Activities in:

La Rimaia (Casanova 17)

La Teixidora (Marià Aguilló 35)

Barrilonia (Rambla del Raval)

La Rosa Negra (Roser 30, metro Paral.lel)

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) Cerdanyola Campus.

Thursday 5

UAB- Alternative party. 1400-late.

La Rimaia- Arts Workshop open. 1700-2000.

La Rimaia- Talk: Crisis and Anticapitalism. A vision from a Marxist perspective. 1730.

La Teixidora- Supper in support of Mexican prisoners. 2100-2200.

Friday 6

La Teixidora- Sexual bric-a-brac workshop. 1000-1400. ENROL BY EMAIL - lateixidora@gmail.com

La Teixidora- Politically Correct Abusers. 1800.

La Teixidora- Theatre piece about domestic violence. 1930-2230.

(La Teixidora will have food available)

Saturday 7

La Teixidora- Analizing gender on the internet with theatre techniques. 1000-1200.

La Rosa Negra- Bike Repair Workshop. 1630.

La Teixidora- Talk: Sexuality and HIV in the classroom. 1700.

La Teixidora- The history of the LGBT struggle. 1900.

Barrilonia- Anti-Repression fundraiser for 58i+ legal fees

La Teixidora- Big gay party. 2200-0300.

(La Teixidora will have food available)

Sunday 8

La Teixidora- Workshop: "Degenerate yourself" (held by the Barcelona Gay Collective). 1200.

La Teixidora- "Performative Subversions". 1700.

La Teixidora- Chat: "Tran-Intersex, the construction of an illness". 1900.

Monday 9 START OF THE GLOBAL WEEK OF ACTION

La Rimaia- Class: Electricity. 1800-2000.

La Teixidora- Theory Assembly. 1930.

Tuesday 10

UB (Rectorat) - 58i+ press conference. 1000.
UB (Psychology faculty) - 58i+ chat and fundraiser. 1300.
UB (Raval campus) - 58i+ chat and fundraiser. 1400.
La Rimaia- Class: Photography. 1800-2000.

La Rimaia- Class: Electricity. 1800-2000.

Wednesday 11

La Rimaia- Class: Electricity. 1800-2000.

La Rimaia- Social Centre Assembly. 2000.
UB (Medicine clinic) - 58i+ chat and fundraiser. 1900.

UB (Pedagogy hall Room 1o2, first floor) - 58i+ chat and fundraiser. 2000.

The library and tearoom in La Rimaia are open everyday from 1600-2100.

"La Rimaia"

2009-10-28T00:25:00.003+01:00

Since it was squatted last June, a lot has happened to number 17, Carrer Casanova. The building, having been abandoned for four years, has now been transformed into a social centre comprising of a Moroccan style tea room, a public library, a wifi access point, a cinema cum debating room and a host of classrooms where a range of subjects are taught for free.

The project is being developed with the aim of creating a free space in which knowledge can be shared and the problems of the city confronted by the neighbourhood

22nd May: Alternative University

2009-05-23T00:06:00.006+02:00

This week the University of Barcelona's Raval Campus has held an alternative university, the initials of which in Catalan spell ULL (which also means "look!").

ULL was set up as a student-organised university, "we decide what we want to learn and when". Furthermore, the creation of a space for thought in the university is a response to the creation of the EHEA (European Higher Education Area), that is to say: the submission of knowledge and learning to capitalist logic. The students "are taking the university onto the street and the street into the university".

The programme of events included:
- Chat-debates on the fragmentation of knowledge
- The showing of a documentary in construction about the student movement
- A stand-up lesson on mythology
- Chats about the student movements in France, Colombia, Mexico and Argentina
The week of events ended with a party to raise funds to pay the movement's legal fees.

Posters and graffiti all over campus publicised the event: on the programme the slogan reads "Close your eyes and look"

Raval campus has been recently redecorated by various student groups. This reads:
"In their democracy there are only 2 kinds of consensus:
The consensus of silence
and that of repression"
The poor person on the right is being fed timetables, punctuality, control and manipulation.

21st May: Professors and Admin. Personnel Protest

2009-05-22T00:15:00.003+02:00

Against the application of the Bologna Process, the entire university community is organising and acting. A rally of "PDI-PAS" (teaching and investigative personnel and administration and services personnel) took place today at 7.30pm outside the Catalan parliament.

Around 200 participants gathered outside the building to give a letter to the Catalan president, José Montilla. The letter asks Montilla to hold dialogue with PDI-PAS regarding the Bologna Process reforms to the university. The letter complains that the new laws have been introduced without discussion with those that will be effected and will lead to a university which creates "workers who are experts at silence, dependent, adecuate to the laws of the market". They also handed in ten petitions against the Bologna Process together with thousands of signatures procured from around Spain.

>>See the original of the letter on the website for the PDI-PAS assembly (in Catalan)<<

14th May: Occupation Ends in Vandalised Bank

2009-05-21T00:52:00.006+02:00

The on-campus bank which was decorated, whilst it was being cleaned

An occupation of the library in the Mundet campus of the University of Barcelona (which hosts the pedagogy, psychology and teacher-training departments) has taken place from Tuesday 12th May till Friday 15th May.

A group of 20 occupied the campus library as a continuation of the action held the previous week (and holding the same demands). The first night the students slept under the vigilance of 8 sub-contracted security guards. Attempts to hold dialogue with the vice-president over the three days proved fruitless, as she would only say, “this is a library, it closes at 8pm and therefore no one can stay here. No mattresses can enter, neither can you sleep, eat, smoke or drink.”

During the occupation the library was decorated and a branch of Santander bank inside the campus was vandalised with red paint and slogans criticising its presence in an educational institution. Following these events the students decided to leave to avoid recriminations.

"The chains of their legality will not stop the creation of a different social conscience"

"We are no-one.
We are alone and so alone with our dignity and our rage.
We have seen and heard.
Our voice is small on account of being the echo of this word, our sights are short for so much and such dignified rage. We are others, something else.
If this world has no place for us, then another world will have to be made.
We need to meet more, to get to know each other.
What's needed is that which is missing."

5th May: Mundet Redecoration

2009-05-21T00:38:00.007+02:00

News from the University of Barcelona's Mundet Campus:

A 30-person rally took place at the deacon's office on demanding (amongst other things):

A moratorium on the implementation of Bologna-style degrees in the next academic year
That the administration pay the legal fees of all those charged in the 18^th March occupation eviction, and the following confrontations with police
That the administration assume responsibility for the eviction of the student occupation and the consequent confrontations with police

This meeting resulting in two hours of sterile dialogue, following which the group left the office and redecorated their campus.

Pictures:

From a poem by Eduardo Galeano:

"Politicians speak but don't say anything
Voters vote but don't choose anything
The media disinforms
Centres of learning teach ignorance
Judges condemn victims
Soldiers are at war against their own countrymen
The police don't fight crimes, because they're too busy committing them
Bankruptcies are socialised, profits are privatised
Money is freer than people
People are at the service of things"

A translated quote from "Know Your Rights" by the clash:
"You have the right to free speech / As long as your not dumb enough to actually try it"
and the slogan of the 26th March demonstration, "Bologna is being imposed with beatings"

The slogan of the anti-repression campaign "58 and more besides"

18th May: "58 and more besides"

2009-05-18T16:16:00.010+02:00

Today we can confirm that the 53 people evicted from the student occupation have been charged with “desobediència a l'autoritat” (breach of the peace) for resisting eviction. The figure of 53 can be added to that of the 5 people detained and more than 200 injured by police violence on the day of the eviction. "58 i +" (58 and more besides).

Therefore, the Barcelona Student Movement has acted today against the person they hold responsible, the university president Dídac Ramírez, who ordered the eviction to take place.

Marking the two month anniversary of the eviction (and another “18-M”) a group from the Barcelona Student Movement entered the historical building and tried to enter the president's office in order to discuss his actions with him. Unfortunately, the rector locked himself in his office, refusing to face up to the bruised, charged and indignant consequences of his shameful action. Therefore the group posted a mural of photos from 18^th March outside of his door.

Some of the images posted outside

"Didi"'s door

Following this action, most of the group left the building and created a giant mural spelling out “58 i +” on the pavement outside. Meanwhile, other members hung explicative banners from the building's windows with chains. Also visible was the same logo graffitied in red on the road, the result of an action the night before that ended in more police charges. The students then remained outside, leafletting students and passers-by.

One of the two posters hung from the building:
"1 imposition +
3 demands +
0 dialogue =
58 and more besides... Moratorium now!"

The mural outside the front doors

Graffiti on the road outside, the slogan reads:
"We disobey their authority, on the street and in the university"

18th May: Students charged - PRESS RELEASE

2009-05-18T01:37:00.008+02:00

RADICAL MINORITY TO BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE

Today, 18^th May 2009, the nation breathes a sigh of relief as we exclusively report that the clandestine terror cell active in the vestibule of the University of Barcelona will finally be brought to justice.

The cell, active over a period of four months, was quickly ratted out by student insiders who notified the authorities of its presence following the suspicious appearance of furniture, beds and a kitchen in the building. In the name of public safety, the dangerous criminals, armed to the teeth with shoes and stale BREAD, were escorted out of the building in the early hours of 18^th March. However, the 53 suspects evaded capture because the police officers present were “tired and hadn't had breakfast yet”.

<<video of bungled capture attempt>>

The 6 cell members detained that day were later released in some confusion resulting from cream cheese, the chief of police´s wife and a nose-flute. A vigourous police search hasn't taken place because Barça were playing but sources have urged the public to be vigilant- “They were holding books, so evidently some of them are Maoists” confirmed a police insider.

Maoists

Caught in its first few months, university insiders claim that the student occupation was at first difficult to find because of all the tents put up in the University of Barcelona's historic building. Following the discovery of 50 or so students sleeping there, a crack team of underpaid, sub-contracted security guards was deployed to monitor suspicious activity.

One of the guards searching for evidence of occupants

“We were told to watch out for cocaine labs, kidnappings and human trafficking as these are often sources of funding for terrorists” reveals Juan Ángel Maria Dolores de la Santa Cruz Romero, one of the guards, “Much like Bin Laden, they constantly evaded us by going to lessons and sleeping.”

Kidnappings

Luckily, the cunning wrong-doers couldn't evade the eyes and ears of authority for long, and their terrifying plan was soon made all too clear.

In a secret meeting held in the middle of the vestibule, the criminals admitted that they were demanding moratoriums on the university reform, the re-installation of expelled students and DEBATE with the governing body over the reform. Determined to tackle these reckless young hooligans face to face, the fearless university president, Dídac Ramírez PERSONALLY asked his secretary to call the police to remove them.

Students huddled “like witches”

It is with pleasure that we inform you that these delinquents have been officially charged and will be taken to trial as soon as they finish building the new court house, find out where each of the 53 is hiding and find a room big enough in which to judge that many people. The charges vary from “breach of the peace” to “you've really breached the peace now” depending on whether students talked too much or got tortured particularly badly. Therefore these miscreants have surely been stopped in their evil tracks by the fear of a possible jail sentence or fine sometime in October if the police haven't lost the paperwork.

People and businessmen of Catalonia, you must unite - despite the enormous differences in your salaries – to send out a clear NO to these terrorists!

NO we will NOT be terrorised into funding education for everyone.

NO we will CONTINUE to prioritise the profits of companies over the pithy importance of learning.

NO we will NOT treat the dreamers, thinkers and workers in our universities like dignified human beings.

Let your voices be heard, the university is at the service of the markets! We will not give in to their vicious banner hangings, threatening peaceful occupations and snide leafletting. We will stand up and confront their terrifying demonstrations face to face (that is, the half-covered faces of our riot police).

The modernisation of the university is in our hands*!

* This article takes no responsibility for the university being completely out of your hands

The People's Voice

Our opinion poll clearly shows that the majority of those questioned* believe the criminals should be kept in prison “forever” to stop them from asking for anything else.

What should happen to the extremists?

They should go to prison forever - 90%

I'm confused - 10%

* Our shareholders

1st May: Alternative Demonstration

2009-05-01T23:40:00.004+02:00

Members of the Barcelona student movement formed part of an alternative May Day demonstration which unified anti-capitalist activists against the current crisis.

Unlike the main demonstration, which is protagonised by the unions and ends in front of parliament, the alternative march took a route through the working class Raval neighbourhood and ended in Rambla del Raval (at its centre). As well as students, the block was composed of unemployed workers, squatters, immigrants and other militant anti-capitalist organisations. There were approximately 5,000 demonstrators.

The march started in Plaça Universitat with a performance of a television-headed preacher calling a heard of zombies (also dressed as nurses, construction workers, prostitutes, etc.) to worship money (in the form of a giant cardboard Euro and the effigy of a business man). At the end of the march the Euro and the effigy were burnt in front of the ostentatious Barceló Raval Hotel, which presides, with armoured windows, as a symbol of ruling class arrogance in the poor neighbourhood.

The march begins to arrive in Rambla del Raval, the Barceló Hotel can be seen on the left

Slogans such as “Against the Capitalist crisis, class war!” and “It's going to end! Social peace is going to end!” were shouted. Although there were no altercations with police, a number of banks and hotels on route were vandalised with smashed windows and “RAGE” painted on them.

29th April: Students Occupy Education Ministry

2009-04-30T14:01:00.006+02:00

Following a demonstration through the city, students took direct action against the education ministry. At 2pm a group of college students entered the government building, passing by the security measures in the entrance. They arrived at the 5^th floor, home of the of the education minister, Ernest Maragall, and demanded to see him, but he was unavailable for comment. They then hung a banner reading “Colleges against mercantilisation and for the public”

Students hold an assembly in the offices

At 3pm some students tried to enter with food for their companions. Upon being denied entrance they linked up and ran at the line of police, trying to force their way in. The police response was to charge, beating the students with truncheons. At 3.45pm a group of riot police arrived at the scene to proceed with an eviction. Once the riot police were in the building, the press were not allowed to enter (this is common practice in evictions and ensures police impunity for the torture that often occurs inside and off camera). The students were identified and taken outside, to be met with cheers from the assembled crowd.

Police handling the minors

The action took place at the same time that unionised teachers from all over the Catalan territories rallied outside council buildings and the education consortium.

As well as protesting against the entrance of police into their colleges last week, these actions are in opposition to the Catalan Education Law (LEC), a brief description of which can be read here.

28th April: Occupations and Demonstration

2009-04-28T23:07:00.004+02:00

Today a demonstration was held to demand moratoriums in the subjects that will be affected by the Bologna Process in the next academic year. In preparation, students held a series of occupations in the city.

Video of the actions in Santander Bank and the ERC headquarters

A series of occupations took place in Barcelona today with these demands:

1. Moratoriums in all the subjects that have been adapted to the EHEA in order to open up a debate process regarding the reforms.

2. The resignation of Josep Huguet, minister for Innovation, Universities and Business, because of his desire to privatise the university system.

3. Amnesty for all the students who have been expelled, disciplined, fined or charged.

The university students – supported by college students and mobilised unemployed people – occupied the headquarters of Banco Santander (the largest bank in Europe), the headquarters of ERC and PSC (Catalan Republican Left and Catalan Socialist Party, ruling parties in Catalonia) and the University Commission. These direct actions were in solidarity with everyone who is being exploited and ripped off by the government's new “bail-out” package for the banks, which will give even more money to the rich from the pockets of the poor.

The Santander occupation began at 11am, when a first group of 30 people entered the unsuspecting bank, shouting slogans such as: “Not banks, nor companies! Get out of our libraries!” and “Like this! Don't take one step back! Against Bologna: Direct action!”. Once inside, they hung a banner in the vestibule reading “You colonise our education; we occupy your headquarters”. The squatters then sat down and held a class with a lecturer who was present. The lecture was about how job precarity, enforced by the extreme capitalism we are currently suffering, turns the worker into a slave. The occupants invited the bank employees to sit and enjoy the lecture as well, but they were reluctant, probably because of their short-term contracts.

The class was followed by a group discussion and a second group arrived, taking over from those who had to go to work. A group also gathered outside the door to the building, hanging banners across the building and dealing with the media.

Inside posters were made from the bank's propaganda and the entire bank (including a show-car) was covered in the movement's stickers. One girl, dressed up as a corpse, laid down in front of the car with a sign declaring that the invasion of private interests into the higher education system kills the formation of critical thought. There was some excitement when a group of girls wanted to use the bank toilet but were stopped by security guards and cashiers, a group of people forced the door open and the squatters were able to use the toilets for the rest of their stay. This situation showed clearly that, although the banks and other capitalist institutions value money more than people, the power to challenge them is in our hands.

The bank closed at 2pm, and the occupiers were told by police officers that they were committing an offense by remaining. However, there was no eviction and the students decided to stay until the 6pm demonstration, at which point they left of their own accord.

Another group of students, together with some 20 transport workers, tried to occupy the PSC (Catalan Socialist Party, one of the ruling parties) headquarters at 12pm. They were stopped from entering by the building's defenses and the swift arrival of the police. Outside, manifestos were read by the workers and students, communicating their problems with the Catalan government. Later, the police tried to charge one student with breach of the peace, on the grounds that she was responsible for the action. In the face of this, those rallied outside the building started to pass around the megaphone, each person claiming that they were the one guilty of organising the activity and therefore preventing the charge. The event was ended after an hour as the transport workers had to go to work.

At the headquarters of the ERC (Catalan Republican Party, another of the ruling parties), a group managed to enter an inner courtyard and later, by fighting with the security guards, the front door. Once at the entrance, a group of five chained themselves to the building and the others circulated information about the action to the public. The students planned to continue this situation until the time came to join the demonstration, but were interrupted by a police eviction. Once outside the building, the thirty or so occupants made a mini-demonstration through Barcelona towards the other protesters, blocking roads with a banner as they went.

The demonstration was attended by 300 people. As usual, the police presence was totally out of proportion, 17 riot vans followed the march and 5 more were waiting by the road leading to the government buildings. At best, this was a pointless display of force, trying to intimidate a movement that has already shown that it cannot be stopped by repressive state brutality.

The protest ended outside the University Commission in the centre of the city. A group of students, who had chained themselves inside the building as part of an occupation, came out voluntarily to cheers from the crowd and a communiqué was read denouncing the privatisation process.

25th April: College Occupations

2009-04-25T13:09:00.004+02:00

In addition to actions held by current university students regarding the implementation of the Bologna Process in Catalonia, groups of college students, those facing a future crippled by the privatising reforms, are mobilising. This week, a campaign of college occupations is occurring in the Catalan territories, organised by student assemblies.

On Monday 20^th April Around 100 students from four colleges in Sabadell (near Barcelona) passed the night in l'Escola Industrial college in the centre of the city. They slept in the patio because the headteacher wouldn't let them in the building, and thus avoided eviction. The occupation was organised with different events scheduled over its three day duration. The purpose of the action was to make the teaching institution an informative space, since information regarding the educational reforms is being blocked from those affected.

The Menéndez y Pelayo college was occupied on the night of 22^nd April. They were evicted on Thursday 23^rd April at around 9pm, having resisted for an hour but later leaving after threats of expulsion. The police beat the students inside, partially protected by nightfall, as passers-by heckled at the repressive forces to stop. Between 20 and 30 students were evicted.

On Friday 24^th April the Ramon Berenguer IV college (Barcelona) was occupied at midday by around 30 students planning to hold a series of activities in the liberated space. The police were called almost immediately and a rally was held outside the building with students, parents and members of the community. Those inside decided to continue with their planned events. An eviction process started but was halted at 1am on Saturday morning following an agreement made between the headteacher and the students, who left at 6pm on Saturday. It's notable that throughout the occupation, the students were met with the support and solidarity of community members, to the extent that they woke up on Saturday morning to hot chocolate and biscuits brought to them by neighbours.

As well as fighting against the implementation of the Bologna Process, colleges are fighting against the new LEC (Catalan Education Law) and LOE (Organic Education Law). These laws will detract from schools' autonomy (obliging them to source funds from businesses), discriminate against immigrant students, give the head-teacher (now chosen by an administrative body) new powers and create an external ranking agency which will value – rather than the acquirement of knowledge – foreign language capacity, IT skills and student behaviour as a basis for funding. This funding system will harm schools in poorer areas creating an educational divide between the rich and the poor. These reforms are clear examples of social control tactics used to keep the poor “in their place”.

A student strike is being called for the 29^th April.

Reunió per anar a Louvain

2009-04-17T18:31:00.000+02:00

Aquest Diumenge 19 d'Abril a les 20:00 fem reunió de tota la gent que vol anar a la contra-cimera de Louvain. Serà al centre social Èxit (C/Sant Martí 11, aprop de la Rambla del Raval, http://exit-bcn.blogspot.com/)
.

Tota la gent que vulgui anar: en autocar (portar 95 Euros perquè necessitem reservar l'autocar ja), en avió, en cotxe, en autostop, gent que vulgui anar en cotxe però que no tingui cotxe, gent amb cotxe però que no tingui suficient gent per omplir-lo, gent que encara no ho te clar i vol aclarir alguns dubtes...

Parlarem sobre la cimera, el transport (totes les opcions) i l'allotjament (que serà gratuït!). És importantissim que tothom es vingui!! Si algú vol anar a Louvain però no pot atendre la reunió que perfavor ens envii un email abans del diumenge.

Si encara no sabeu que passa a Louvain: http://www.louvain2009.com/spip.php?article62&lang=fr

30th March: Tomàs Sayés Ends Hunger Strike

2009-04-15T15:12:00.004+02:00

After 35 days on hunger strike Tomàs Sayés, a 25 year old student at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, has ended his hunger strike following his hospitalisation on 29^th March 2009. Doctors said that he'd been taken in just in time, as his kidneys were on the point of suffering serious damage. As well as having very low sugar levels, Tomàs weighed just 49.5kg (7.8 stone). On the day of his admission, 100 students held a demonstration at his campus calling for the resignation of Anna Ripoll (the rector of his university). The protesters were prevented from entering the university building by security guards and smashed a glass door.

As Tomàs' condition slowly improves, we should take this opportunity to reflect on how the institutions have, in their desire to implement a privatising reform on a public service, risked a human life through their refusal to concede to his demands. The institutions refuse to hold a debate with the students, the very agents affected by the plans. Furthermore, they have tried to silence critical voices by calling in the police, expelling students and attempting to manipulate the mass media. The last point is illustrated by the distinct lack of commercial media coverage given to the hunger strike.

18th March: Police Responses to the Charges made on Protesters

2009-04-15T02:29:00.005+02:00

The Mossos d'Esquadra (“Squad Lads”) are the Autonomous Catalan Police Force. Their actions on the 18^th March included hitting journalists whilst wearing no identification numbers and sending a 10 year old to hospital. This isn't isolated, articles are often published recording beatings in custody, illegal detentions, etc. The riot police are particularly hated.

Following the events of the 18^th March, the question arises: how do the mossos themselves view the events? Are they only following orders or do they actually derive enjoyment from their jobs? Do they know what the protesters are demonstrating about? Do they care? The answers to these questions can be sought on “foropolicial”, an internet forum for police officers. Below are some of our favourite quotes.

Following links to videos of the police charging on students sitting in the road holding books, the following comments were made by officers on the internet forum:

“Impeccable police action, it was about time and get well soon to our colleagues. A police officer and ex-student.”

“Today at 8pm there's another demonstration in the same 'Plaza Universidad', this morning 900 students demonstrated, this evening it could really kick off, best wishes and to the BRIMO [Mobile Brigade] workmates: go for them!!!!!” (from the moderator of the forum)

“I hope that they go back to give those bastards what they deserve. Come on Dragones!!!” [a riot police division]

“Those who refer to themselves as “students” (allegedly) instead of “manifest social parasites” have too much free time to try and do bad things and, due to their large numbers and perseverance, achieve it.

A great future awaits Spain with these idlers' projects with fascist-minded absurd demands. P.S.: Give a thrashing to these friendly citizens with infinite rights and zero obligations.”

“For my part I don't see many students, but a lot of layabouts.”

“The chases on the road are great, the students they chased after must have already been marked out.”

“... Congratulations to our colleagues in the BRIMO...It seems to me that there was a lot of scum, camouflaged as students”.

[Ironically, this contributor has the signature: “Better to keep your mouth shut and look like an idiot than open it and demonstrate that you really are one.”]

“If you don't want to get bruised, stay at home. I was at home and I didn't get hit at all...”

“They complain because they got hit on the legs (such as established in the police criteria for causing as little damage as possible) ... therefore, my good mossos, you already know what to do: HARD AND AT THE HEAD!!!”

“A great thrashing given by our colleagues... Right on time for the mossos.”

“Take a firm hand against this gang of parasites.”

[This one's signed: “Bring back Don Pelayo”... Pelayo is the mythical Spanish hero who started the “reconquest” of the Iberian Peninsula after the ruling Germanic tribes had been forced into the Northern mountains by North African armies and Muslim civilisation].

“They hit the journalist on the legs, how did he appear with a burst eye????? I'm sure he's from the Republican Red channel and that he hit himself with a broken bottle, the stupid idiot hahahahahahaha”

[Referring to a video of a journalist who has been hit in the head and has blood running down his face (see 0.40)]

“It was about time that they taught the entire gang of scum, layabouts, pseudo-squatters and varied rabble, that if they want to protest they have to conform to the law.”

“Ah, and the charge, it's not one of the hardest I've seen, but sure, you've hit a journalist, and a 10 year-old boy, I'd like to know what the fuck he was doing in a protest.”

Referring to the students attacking a line of mossos with the poles of their flags on Wednesday night:

“In these protests the students form a minority. Really there are the same instigators as always, and they're not even from this country. Anarchists, squatters and layabouts from central Europe, who have found a land of milk and honey in Barcelona and Catalonia. What happened tonight is also police violence???? Who provoked it???? Where the fuck are the shotguns to blow them to pieces, why do the Dragones have to put up with being hit with sticks when we have long weapons???? We have to show these idiots what real police severity is for fuck's sake.”

“I propose that the strikes should be directed from the neck up and carried out by a wooden stick with a nail at the end... that really would be constitutional”

With an image of a chainsaw:

“I think with one of these we could finish up quicker...”

“Incidentally, does anyone want to explain to me what the Bologna Process is all about to explain why there are so many demonstrations all over the country?

MY FULLEST SUPPORT FOR THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE Mossos d'Esquadra, THE BARCELONA MOVEMENT OF THE FAR LEFT – SQUATTERS – SCUM - “UN-WASHED” IS MUCH MORE OF A PROBLEM THAN IN OTHER PARTS OF SPAIN...”

[He signs off:
“Brutal corporatism? For my part I say:

Long live Guantanamo”]

13th March: Student Eviction from Pompeu Fabra University

2009-04-15T01:46:00.007+02:00

At midday on 12^th April 2009 students occupied Pompeu Fabra University. They informed the university senate that the occupation was to end on Sunday. However, despite these assurances, the rector of Pompeu Fabra University, Joan Josep Moreso, called for police to evict students from the building at 10pm on Friday 13^th March 2009.

At this time the faculty is open to the public, therefore the library was full of people and students were still in class. Police surrounded the building and prevented people from leaving. They then began to violently evict the occupying students. They hit the floor with their batons and kicked over chairs in full view of the public. Some of the students left the premises voluntarily but 17 students remained behind. Approximately 200 students congregated at the entrance of the university to show their support for the remaining demonstrators.

At first, police dragged students out of the building via a side door but shortly after they started to remove them through the main entrance. A number of students were injured during the eviction, some of whom were attended to by medics. One of the students, a member of the Mundet campus (pedagogy faculty) assembly, has been detained at Les Corts police station. The reason for his detention is unknown.

The eviction follows the police eviction of students from the Poble Nou campus “Ca l'Aranyó” which occurred on the 13^th February 2009.

We are concerned that the presence of police inside public university buildings is becoming commonplace. The university rectors accuse us of imposing a minority will, however the results of the referendums clearly demonstrate that we represent a majority (1). Pompeu Fabra University ignored the results of the vote and instead has started taking disciplinary measures against students and violently silences all peaceful protests on campus.

The percentage in favour of paralysation in referendums held in the four public universities of Barcelona:

University of Barcelona – 93.1%

Autonomous University of Barcelona – 98.7%

Pompeu Fabra University – 88.7%

Politechnic University of Catalonia – 89.7%

18th March: Chronicle of the Night Time Rally Following the Eviction

2009-04-15T01:38:00.005+02:00

8,000 people take to the streets to show their solidarity with the evicted students.

Following, the eviction of students from the rectorate of the University of Barcelona, violent clashes erupted between police and students. More than 50 people were injured and 6 were detained (although released that day due to media pressure). That evening, 8,000 demonstrators attended a rally in support of the students. They demanded the resignation of the rector of the University of Barcelona (Dídac Ramírez), the resignation of Josep Huguet (Catalan Minister of Innovation, Universities and Businesses) and that university buildings be kept free of police.

Police prevented the rally from entering Plaça Sant Jaume where the Generalitat government is based (the political seat of those responsible for the actions of the police). Plaça Sant Jaume is the traditional end of protest routes, where pressure groups symbolically read out their manifestos in front of the government buildings, therefore it is considered a democratic right to enter this public space. Running battles between incensed demonstrators and police erupted. Demonstrators made barricades in the streets of the Born neighbourhood. More than 40 riot vans of police attended the scene, a clearly disproportionate number. Students, pedestrians, tourists, the elderly, families with children and journalists were trapped at the scene by the police presence on the thin medieval streets and the closure of the metro station.

The exact number of injured and detained during the night is unknown. However, we can confirm that amongst those injured by police include a journalist from TV3 (national television station), two from La Vanguardia newspaper and one from El Periódico newspaper, as well as a number of professors and Administrative and Service Personnel from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. A 10 year-old child was also hospitalised following police brutality. A spokesperson for the Mossos d'Esquadra expressed regret for the aggressions.

>> See Video <<

Despite the police violence, our struggle continues. The displays of solidarity from all over Europe continue to multiply. On the 19^th March (the following day) a European wide rally protesting against the implementation of a European Higher Education Area will take place. We continue to occupy the Faculty of Letters and Educational Sciences at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and that of Educational Sciences at the University of Barcelona.

18th March: Personal Testimony of the Eviction from the Historic Building University Occupation

2009-04-15T01:09:00.008+02:00

The Mossos (military-trained police) have published an edited video for the press which presents the eviction of 53 students from the University of Barcelona as a peaceful affair:

>> See Video

We know otherwise. Here follows a personal testimony of the events from a student who suffered it.

It was almost 5.30am and I was sleeping peacefully under my blankets when suddenly a shout woke me up- “Mossos, mossos!”. I was still in bed without really understanding what was happening, waiting for a signal that this was false alarm. “You've got two minutes! shouted a low voice at the end of the corridor and I quickly recognised the boots, the helmet, the truncheon and the echoing noise of large steps coming closer to me... I jumped out of bed to search for clothes to put on. “Leave your mobiles!” shouted the mossos, but the darkness and my nerves stopped me from doing anything but tremble. I could hear voices shouting that we had to get going. I grabbed my clothes and decided to leave before the warnings turned into whacks of truncheons.

I could see my friends sat on the stairs together watched over by dozens of Mossos. They looked defeated and resigned. But once we were all together, we decided to make a human chain by linking arms and sitting on the floor in order to peacefully resist removal. “Call the media! Warn our friends!” we whispered between our teeth and we tried to send messages for help.

“Whosoever leaves now by themselves won't have any problem. Those of you who resist will be arrested” shouted one of the Mossos. In that moment you could have cut the tension with a knife. One person decided to leave and the rest of us (approximately 52) prepared ourselves for the consequences. “Now whoever wants, will have to get up and take whatever personal objects that are impossible to live without. After that, anything left will become the property of the university” barked one of the Mossos. “I've got a computer here”said a friend who got to his feet but was stopped by a mosso, “you said we could get our things!” my friend replied. But we received no reply. Then the mossos started to grab him. He shouted “my computer!” but three more Mossos started hitting him and one pressed his knee into his face, pinning him to the ground. Everyone watched open-mouthed and shouted at them to stop. Today, that same friend has a fissured patella (knee bone) and multiple contusions, not to mention a plaster cast over his leg.

A camera appeared. It had a strong white light which made it difficult for us to see and it recorded each of our faces. When the camera left, the mossos continued their work. They bent back our wrists until we could stand the pain no more and separated us from each other. They dragged some of my friends by the nostrils and the arms down the steps. I lost sight of my friends and heard their cries, my stomach turned. When the camera started filming, the mossos simply remained still and silent, waiting. But when we were being hit, the camera was nowhere to be seen. “Someone take photos!” we murmured.

A young man came up the stairs, he wore a hood and a scarf that covered his face so that you could only see his eyes. He was dressed for the street but he spoke with the “chiefs” and walked around the entire premises. Sincerely, that situation exceeded any conspiracy theory we'd been able to come up with during our nights in the rectorate.

Given the silent panic that had overcome us, someone decided to start cracking jokes as we tried to release our fear with nervous laughter. A way to escape from the situation which none of us had ever expected to experience.

The laughter couldn't last much longer as the sun started to rise outside and their methods became more and more brutal. They picked up a friend who resisted, he shouted incessantly but then his voice became a gargle, without fully believing it, we realised that the mossos were pressing into his neck, strangling him so that he would become separated from the group. He tried to speak but his words were suffocated. We could only hopelessly protest and swallow the laughter that previously cut through the tension.

People were dragged down the stairs. We became fewer and fewer. One of our most vocal friends, who we will call “Ricardo” tried to keep us calm by saying things like “nothing will happen to us”, “we mustn't do anything to put ourselves at more risk than we already are”, “the only thing to do now is resist”. He was left until last by the mossos. The mossos looked at him and spoke into each others' ears. We knew that things would not go well.

I could hear friends outside shouting slogans and they had warned us stealthily that all the press were outside. Good – I thought – at least the mossos won't have impunity. My turn eventually came. A hand came over my face to stop me from breathing. However, on realising that this technique was too visual the mosso put his fingers in my nose and mouth. I was in agony, shouting at them to release me. In a reflex action (and I say “reflex” because it was like this and it wouldn't shame me to recognise that it was otherwise, had it been intentional) I closed my mouth and bit his finger. But then I felt the hands of the mosso behind me encircle my neck and start to press harder and harder. I shouted so that my friends would realise what was happening, but nothing came out of my throat and the oxygen ran out. I was dragged by my arms and left out on the landing. I felt an overwhelming urge to vomit and the retching continued. A mosso stood over me and looked at me out of the corners of his eyes without moving and all I could think was this was one of the most degrading moments of my life. At that moment I realised that they would never understand that I was simply trying to peacefully demonstrate for something I believed in. Did they even know why they were there? Or what the protest was about... I had never harmed a hair on their heads, I didn't deserve what they doing to me. I realised that it was useless to try and defend myself as any action I took would be turned back on me three-fold. The only thing I could do was weather the storm.

The moment came when “Ricardo” came down and they placed him a metre away from me. My friend and I were dragged down but they held “Ricardo” by his arms with his head pressed into the ground. “Leave me be, please, I won't escape, you're hurting me” but they ignored his pleas. “Stop!” I cried, “Can't you see that you're not achieving anything? Stop!”. “Shut up!” - answered the mosso who had remained motionless, standing over me. “How are you going to shut me up? Leave him be and I'll shut up, really!”. At that moment, one of the mossos standing next to me hit me in the head. The force of the blow threw me against the wall.

When we saw the severity with which they were treating Ricardo, my friend and I, expecting the worst for ourselves, started to kick up a fuss so that he would be the first of us three to leave. They asked me “will you go down of your own accord, miss?” (I still ask myself what kind of person drags you down the stairs and then uses the polite form of “you”), “Do you think I can go down of my own accord after what you've done to me?” - I answered. Then they took me by my arms and t-shirt which pulled itself up over my head. But since it was a pyjama top it meant that I ended up completely naked from the waist up. Like this, I was dragged down the second part of the stairs, with about 20 mossos standing around me witnessing the scene. Only when they had dragged me down the stairs did someone cover me up. I don't know if it was what people call “shock” but, something happened to me that prevented me from standing up, I was completely immobile. I couldn't believe what was happening to me.

A hand took hold of me. I looked up to see my friend just staring at the floor with his eyes wide open. I suppose he hadn't managed to understand what was happening either. We were taken away one by one whilst we tried to explain to them that the occupation was for a reason and that they couldn't keep ignoring our cause. We had no choice but to make passive resistance. Whilst we waited, two mossos to my left were jesting in Spanish (the Mossos are the Catalan Autonomous police force) “Ha ha... you see that one, when we get him alone, he's going to get it!” and they laughed again. I was about to say something when my friend calmed me down “they're only trying to provoke us... don't take any notice of them”, so I nodded and turned my back on them so that I wouldn't see any more of their gestures or bragging.

When I was finally alone I silently wondered if it was worth trying to reason with them or let my rage loose now that there were no more friends to stop me. But, then the “chief” began to say something and we all looked in his direction. This caught me unawares. Taking advantage of the situation, the mosso behind me, the one who had been trying to provoke me, took advantage of the situation to catch me and kick my back to which I responded by screaming. The rest of the mossos who hadn't seen what had happened turned round, alarmed by my screams. They came over to me and put their hands over my face, to try and make my breathing difficult. They pressed down on my pressure points so as to cause maximum pain without leaving a mark. Then they took me to the front desk and took down my identification details. I tried to produce my documentation but my hands were shaking and I was crying; which made me feel really stupid. Then the “person” (a female police officer) who had spent the night behind the security desk in the university and knew nothing about what had just happened, looked at my I.D. and tried to console me: “Come on, don't cry...” as two mossos forced my wrists back. I answered “If you were in this situation, wouldn't you cry too?”. She looked down at the ground. I don't know if she did this through empathy or indifference, the point is that it mattered very little to me at that moment as the mossos started shouting for reinforcements to help drag me out. whilst I counted down till the moment my wrist would be definitely dislocated. In this way I left and the local newspaper reporters from “La Vanguardia” captured on film the moment I was removed from the building. This was to be the pubic portrayal starting a week of stress in which people talk of nothing else except the eviction.

When people condemn the act of “kicking us out” as a treason to dialogue and democracy, I ask ¨would their convictions be given more strength if they also knew how the police had treated us inside the building?¨. If now, like us, they couldn't hug their friends because they are covered in bruises. What if they too had been strangled, hit and dragged half-naked down some stairs. Where would this leave the “the Bologna Process” and “the fight for a public university”. Where would this leave Mr. Dídac Ramírez, Mr. Joan Josep Moreso, Mr. Lluís Ferrer and their attempts to eradicate the “anti-bolonya” movement.

And through all this, I am resigned to knowing that my word will never be worth more than that of a Mosso d'Esquadra.

Today Mr. Saura (Catalan Minister of the Interior, responsible for the actions of the Mossos d'Esquadra police force) admitted possible “errors” and I make a call now to question ourselves if maybe the aggression was a mistake when we talk from a repressive-logic point of view, and, if it’s not, the degree of violence is dependant on the strength with which the objective is desired. And I recognise a possible “excess” of forcefulness on behalf of his agents.

I ask why do they continue to carry guns? To kill their own citizens? And where is the red line which, according to Mr Ramirez, the students supposedly crossed? The official reason for our eviction being that we had crossed a red line of violence.

We, who are many, believe that another kind of education is possible, a true pedagogic revolution, a critical education which produces thinkers not just workers; where knowledge is not a tool to serve the interests of a minority corporate elite but a catalyst for social and personal revolution.

Finally, I implore you not to treat this personal account simply as a chronology of events but as a call to take a stand and become reconnected with each other and our world. There is a situation, it is important, and we need to take sides within it. Injustice has a name and address, and those responsible must be held accountable.

La semana de acción global y la contra-cumbre en Louvain

2009-04-03T17:15:00.015+02:00

La semana de acción global

La semana de acción global (20-29 de Abril) se basa en acciones descentralizadas llevadas a cabo por estudiantes en todo el mundo: (http://www.emancipating-education-for-all.org/content/semana-global-de-acci%C3%B3n-2009)

“Global flashmob”

El 22 de Abril grupos de varios paises hacen un "global flashmob" en sus ciudades, una manifestación que se hace corriendo y puede acabar, o no, con la ocupación de un espacio público.
Aquí se puede ver un video de ejemplo: http://www.emancipating-education-for-all.org/content/updated-day-united-action-during-global-week-action-09

La idea es que los grupos graben sus acciones y después se hará un video conjunto de todos los “flashmobs”. Pretende ser una acción original y visible del movimiento estudiantil internacional.

La contra-cumbre en Louvain

La contra-cumbre en Louvain (26-29 de Abril) coincide con la Cumbre Ministerial del Proceso de Bolonia. El objetivo es que gente de los diferentes movimientos estudiantiles de Europa se conozca, se fortalezcan las relaciones y las alianzas entre los movimientos y se muestre un rechazo unificado al Plan Bolonia.
La llamada a Louvain: http://www.louvain2009.com/spip.php?article62&lang=fr

También se intentará consensuar una declaración alternativa a la declaración de Bolonia que se puede empezar a discutir en este foro: http://www.emancipating-education-for-all.org/content/writing-alternative-bologna-declaration

Organización

Todo esto se está organizando a través de los foros y los chats internacionales organizados por la web: http://www.emancipating-education-for-all.org/

Desde Barcelona estamos organizando autocares, los grupos interesados nos pueden contactar por email lo antes posible.

An overview of the student struggle in Barcelona

2009-04-03T16:14:00.005+02:00

A brief overview of the student struggle in Barcelona

The aggression

Under the auspices of the “Bologna Process”, a plan to homogenise European higher education, the Spanish state is enforcing a university reform that is threatening the public nature of education. The most detrimental aspects of this reform include the raising of tuition fees, making it increasingly difficult for working-class students to access higher education and increasing student debt, as well as facilitating the entry of private capital to the university, which threatens to change the priorities of the university’s education and research programmes. The ultimate goal of the reform is to strengthen links between universities and the capitalist market, moulding students for a precarious and unequal job market and rolling back public control over the key institutions of our society.

The movement

The “anti-bologna” student movement is based around open, horizontal assemblies, organized in each of the universities' different academic departments. The assemblies coordinate with each other in Barcelona through the CAE (coordinator of student assemblies). This has allowed the movement to function autonomously, separate both from political parties and inactive student unions (bar one student union, the SEPC, which has been active in the struggle). This structure has allowed for the direct and individual participation of students and gives each assembly space to develop its own autonomy and spontaneity. Coordination between different assemblies is often laborious and slow due to this fierce commitment to bottom-up decision-making. It has nevertheless been successful in organising joint actions and demonstrations, as well as encouraging the exchange of information and experiences. Critically, the movement has found support among university teachers, researchers and admin workers who continue to feel frustrated by precarious temporary and flexible contracts and in addition, student activism has been welcomed by many of Barcelona’s more progressive professors.

At its core, the movement seeks to reclaim education as a fundamental right that should be accessible to everyone wishing to develop their social and intellectual capabilities, independently from capitalist market pressures to privatise and commodify knowledge. It reclaims the university as a space for critical thought, creativity and free scientific, cultural and political debate. Students demand referendums in every university proposing to paralyse the reform and begin a process of open public debate about what type of university we really want. It is important to note that the movement does not simply defend the old social-democratic model of a public university but seeks to further democratise and transform it from the “bottom-up”.

Thus far, protests have taken a variety of forms and have continued to intensify during this academic year. Examples include student strikes, unitary demonstrations and the coordinated blocking of the main roads of the city. Faculty buildings have been occupied, in some cases classes have been stopped as a way of increasing pressure on the universities, and in other instances the occupations have remained largely symbolic. A number of the faculty occupations have lasted days or weeks, whilst the occupation of the central historic building of the University of Barcelona (UB) lasted for over 4 months. The latter occupation has been one of the central coordinating spaces for the movement and has held numerous open assemblies, talks and workshops. It has also served as a dynamic space within which to link up with other social movements and has been used, on occasion, as an assembly space for public bus driver and car-plant worker strikers, amongst others. Recently, students have also attempted “Japanese-style” strikes, in which all night study sessions in the library have prevented university buildings from being able to close at their normal hours. In addition, one student has carried out a month-long hunger strike.

Occupation of the historic building of the UB

The institutional response

The response from university and public authorities has consisted of both of a refusal to acknowledge student demands, as well as the launching of a media campaign praising the Bologna reform and delegitimatising student activism as “marginal” and “radical”. In addition there have been several empty offers of dialogue and participation. Referendums were carried out in many universities and the “anti-bolonia” proposal won landslide victories, the results however were merely symbolic and had no real decision-making power. University and local government authorities also invited the movement to the negotiating table, in a bid to discuss cosmetic adaptations to the reform, in reality however these discussions offered no opportunity for in-depth debate.

Faced then with the persistence of the student protests, the penultimate step has been the escalation of police repression. The police have been directed to enter university premises, an event that had not occurred since the times of Franco’s fascist regime, and have forcefully evicted numerous student occupations. Student demonstrations in protest following the eviction of the historic building of the UB have been dispersed with the use of extreme police brutality, indiscriminate charges causing injuries to non-violent participants and even to members of the press. These events have brought renewed media coverage and encouragingly have not deterred the student body from persisting in strikes, occupations and demonstrations. 15,000 demonstrators took the streets in the most recent student march. Further repression seems a likely mode of retaliation.

Police repression during the protests against the eviction

The bigger picture

Resistance to the progressive privatisation and mercantilization of education has appeared to ignite action not only throughout Catalonia and Spain, but also all over Europe, particularly in Italy, Greece and France. Education reforms consolidated in the hey-day of neoliberal ideas and practices continue to make even less sense today, given that the neoliberal project for society is falling apart under its own weight. Without doubt, the control over education in a knowledge-based economy is strategically important and will thus continue to remain a highly contested space. It is up to students in particular to stand in the front line of this battleground and, together with other social movements, start to construct the society we want.

Manifesto read out during the demonstration on the 26th of March

2009-04-03T16:07:00.003+02:00

Video of the demonstration

Manifesto read outside the ERC headquarters in Barcelona during the demonstration against the Bologna Process on the 26th March 2009

Note: The ERC - “Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya” (the Catalan Republican Left) is a political party which forms part of the “triparty” government of Catalonia. It is the political party to which Josep Huguet, Catalan Minister for Innovation, University and Businesses, belongs.

“The authorities responsible for the current conflict in Catalan public universities are turning a political issue into a public order problem. The protesters here today hold Josep Huguet, the Minister of Innovation, Universities and Businesses, responsible for this approach. We feel that he has done absolutely nothing to open up a means of dialogue regarding the future of our public universities.

It is an institutional failure that has become evident and manifested itself through the decision to use police to silence rather than democratic and institutional means.

The Mossos d'Esquadra (the Autonomous Catalan police force) violently try to surpress the voices that speak out against a university reform that wants to subject the university to business interests. Our criticisms and proposals are censured and manipulated with the objective of making the crisis in the universities appear to be the concern of a minority.

Despite the repression that we face, the movement will continue to grow even if we face the truncheons of the police. We are ever more and more: teaching personnel, administrative and service personnel, students, secondary school unions and new social movements.

Because of this we demand that Mr. Huguet reconsiders his position and stops ignoring the current unrest within the university student community. The conflict persists and the only solution is the paralysation of the implementation of the EHEA (European Higher Education Area) and the initiation of a real and profound debate regarding the future of knowledge and the university of the 21st century.

We are all here together to construct a new quality public university model made with society for society.

Huguet is the responsible politician, either he shows his face or resigns!

Huguet resignation!

Student hospitalised following hunger strike

2009-04-03T16:03:00.004+02:00

Català

Communiqué from the Catalan Territories Students' Union (SEPC), part of the student movement based against the implementation of the Bologna Process in Barcelona.

29th March 2009: Student hospitalised following hunger strike

Tomàs Sayes, 25, a student of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, has been hospitalised as a result of his hunger strike which began on the 23rd February 2009. His decision to refuse food is an act of militant bravery and strength in the face of the Catalan universities' refusal to enter into dialogue with students concerning the Bolonia Process. The student movement against the implementation of the Bologna Process has three demands:
1. A moratorium on the application of the EHEA (European Higher Education Area)
2. The re-admission of the 6 students expelled from the UAB (Autonomous University of Barcelona) for their part in the occupation of faculties and involvement in forbidden protests. The expulsion of these students was carried out with a law created by the Francoist dictatorship in 1954.
3. Dialogue between the governing bodies implementing the university reforms and the students that will be affected by them.

Until these demands have been met, Tomàs will continue his hunger strike.

With this blunt and extreme action, Tomàs is trying to force the university institutions to iniciate a dialogue with the student community. Over the last few months, students have occupied university buildings in the Catalan Territories in order to force a dialogue. Once again, the response of the university institutions has been to ignore the student's requests. They try to dumb down the importance of Tomàs' action as well as trying to silence and censor any show of support people offer him.

Tomàs' university, the UAB, has never shown the slightest interest in the state of Tomàs' health and has allowed the hunger strike to continue to the point of putting the life of our striker in grave peril with his resulting hospitalisation.

For this reason, we consider the following people directly responsible for the current critical state of Tomàs' health:
1. Anna Ripoll (Rector of the UAB)
2. Ester Crespo (Head of Communication, UAB)
3. Santiago Guerrero (Vice-Rector, UAB)
4. Blanca Palmada (University Comissioner, UAB)
5. Josep Huguet (Catalan Minister for Innovation, Universities and Companies)
6. The entire senate team of the UAB.

We, the Catalan Territories Students' Union (SEPC), call on the authorities to reconsider their intransigent and authoritarian position. We believe that the entire student movement can legitimately use any means necessary in order to force dialogue.

More information can be found at:
http://vagadefamperlauniversitatpublica.wordpress.com/

24th March: Status of Student Occupations

2009-04-03T15:57:00.004+02:00

On 24th March 2009, 30 students occupied the Law faculty and 50 students occupied the humanities faculties in “Raval” (both campuses of the University of Barcelona), a further 40 students occupied the Autonomous University of Barcelona's Education faculty.

You can consult their respective demands by visiting their blog sites at:
UB Law Faculty
UB Raval
UAB Education

At the same time, the 'Japanese-Style strike' in Pompeu Fabra University continues! This strike consists of students occupying the library to study for as long as possible and refusing to leave. The library would normally close at 1.30am. [1]

As well as those faculties already occupied, three other faculties will also be occupied. These are: Mundet (pedagogy), Geology and Fine Arts (all faculties of the University of Barcelona). The following communiqué has arrived from our friends in Fine Arts:
“From the Assembly of the UB Fine Arts faculty, we communicate that tonight the students have closed themselves in the faculty to demand the faculty's deaconship to publicly make their position clear regarding the eviction and brutal police charges on students last Wednesday 18th March. At the same time, we demand the resignation of Dídac Ramírez, current rector of the UB, since we consider that he has refused to engage in dialogue with the student body. We also demand the resignation of all the politicians responsible for the repression of students mobilised against the Bologna Process and a purge of the Autonomous Police Force (the Mossos d'Esquadra). Yours sincerely, Fine Arts Assembly.”

[1] . A 'Japanese-Style strike' is a tactic used by Japanese workers who work overtime and overproductively in order to flood the market with commodities and decrease the profits of their company. Around 30 students have been carrying out this action since 15th March. The student blog can be seen here:

http://assembleaupf.wordpress.com/2009/03/25/vaga-japonesa-capitol-8-2/

Eviction of students from the University of Barcelona

2009-04-03T15:51:00.004+02:00

Riot police today violently evicted 53 students from the University of Barcelona. The students had been peacefully occupying the university for the past 4 months as part of a protest against the implementation of the Bologna Process (a series of educational reforms).

At approximately 5.30am on the 18thMarch 2009, 40 “Mossos d’Esquadra” (autonomous Catalan police force) entered the historic building of the UB's rectorate. The eviction was carried out with no forewarning. Police dragged students from their beds and out into the road. They filmed all those who were in the building and took down the identification details of the occupying students. The gratuitous violence which occured inside the building was not filmed and no press were present inside, consequently the police have claimed to have acted “peacefully” and released their heavily edited footage to the media.

Once all the students were outside of the building, teachers, administrative staff and the media began to arrive. Police blocked entrances to the university and then charged into students who had peacefully sat down outside the university, occupying part of Gran Via. a main road which runs outside. The charge was ruthless and unprovoked. Police arrested 6 students and injured 20, some of which had to be attended to by paramedics. The nature of the police charge suggests they already had certain students marked out for detention.

In addition, security guards, who worked at the university, took it upon themselves to identify and detain students who started to walk to the Raval faculties (home of philosophy and the humanities, a different campus of the same university).

Prior to the eviction, students had called a referendum to vote on the Bologna Process in order to force a dialogue with the unwilling rectorate. 93.1 percent of the participating students voted against the process. Shamefully, the results of the vote were completely ignored by the university, making it clear that any attempt to achieve dialogue using institutional means is null and void. Instead the university senate called in police to silence the students. As democratic avenues of dissent are being closed down, it leaves no option but for students, teaching staff and the people of Barcelona to take to the streets to voice their concerns. In doing so, they will face a government campaign of intimidation, manipulation and violent repression.

The fact that the referendum was ignored and police called in to silence demonstrators is a sudden and shocking reminder of the repressive tactics used during the Francoist dictatorship. Police had not been authorized to enter the UB's historic building since the dictator's death. For a country relatively new to democracy, this signals a disturbing return to the repressive, fascist control of the citizens of Barcelona.

In the last few hours, the Coordinadora d’Assemblees d’Estudiants (Student Assembly Co-ordinator, CAE) has called for the immediate resignation of the rector of the UB, Dídac Ramírez, the president of the ACUP (The Catalan Association of Public Universities), Josep Joan Moreso (also rector of Pompeu Fabra University), Josep Huguet (Catalan Innovation, Universities and Companies Minister) and Joan Saura (Catalan Interior Minister, responsable for police actions).

La importancia de ir a Louvain [Bélgica]

2009-04-01T11:39:00.001+02:00

Compañeros:

De un tiempo a esta parte se nos ha tildado a todos aquellos que creemos en una democracia real y participativa de antisistema. Los partidos políticos siguen sin prestarnos atención asegurando que somos una minoría (muchas veces nos adjetivizan de "radical") por tener criterio propio y capacidad factible de discusión.

¿Toleraremos sus paternalismos? ¿Permitiremos que sigan silenciándonos la voz a favor de los propios intereses económicos? ¿Dejaremos, una vez más, que una panda de políticos desoyan los requerimientos del pueblo?

Tengamos claro que ni Zapatero, ni Garmendia ni sus correspondientes delegaciones en cada una de las comunidades autónomas van a mover un sólo dedo, van a firmar una sola declaración a favor de la paralización del Proceso de Bolonia. Porque no les interesa, hay demasiados billetes y neoliberalismo progresista en juego como para permitir que nuestra voz tan plural y tan única a la vez, sea escuchada por quienes debieran haberlo hecho desde un principio: la UE.

Aprendamos de nuestros errores y tengamos la capacidad de vislumbrar la ubicación exacta de la herida que hemos abierto, aprendamos, también, de las que nos abrieron los cuerpos policiales por intentar hablar. Claro queda que su diálogo es una falacia unilateral, que sólo admiten el monólogo engullecerebros sobre las bondades del proceso.

¿Otra vez España quedará a la cola de las vanguardias europeas? ¿Debemos permitirlo?

Por ello, por la voz común que dice NO al Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior, por todos los años que llevamos en lucha y que se nos ha intentado abatir, por nosotros y nuestros familiares que vivirán dicha aplicación olvidando para siempre qué es el espíritu crítico, en definitiva: porque no queremos más miseria cultural.

Motivos no nos faltan, sin embargo, tenemos que unirnos: establecer un frente común hacia la libertad de expresión.

Esta libertad tiene un nombre y una fecha: Louvain 28-29 de Abril (Encuentro Europeo de Ministros de Educación).

Aunque estemos cansados, no decaigamos, ya que de nuestras cenizas no nacerá un ave fénix sino otro esclavo de este sistema mal llamado socialista que chupa la esperanza y la buena voluntad del pueblo a favor de ciertas cuentas corrientes.

La memoria hoy es más que imprescindible: si los políticos se excusan argumentando que es un proceso dictaminado por la UE (recordemos que no tiene competencias en educación), nos vamos a la UE a que nos escuchen. Y no somos los únicos: franceses, italianos, daneses, suecos, ingleses... Prácticamente todos los países europeos que están sufriendo en su propia piel este proceso de mercantilización han sido acallados ya a base de represión (no olvidemos Grecia o Génova), ya partiendo del silencio popular dirigido por los medios de comunicación de los respectivos países, siempre al servicio del Estado.

Louvain no es una metáfora, es una realidad tangible hacia la cual debemos todos orientarnos, sin pereza, sin miedo y con la cabeza bien alta puesto que si no somos nosotros ¿quién lo hará?. Nadie.

¡Nos vemos en Bélgica!

Manifestación 26-III / 20.00

2009-03-25T13:26:00.002+01:00

Solidaridad desde Argentina [En Clave Roja]

2009-03-25T13:21:00.002+01:00

Documento mandado desde Argentina por la agrupación En Clave Roja solidarizándose con los hechos del 18M

Abajo la represión

Viva la lucha de los estudiantes contra el plan bolonia

Desde la Agrupación En Clave ROJA de Argentina nos solidarizamos con los estudiantes que luchan contra el Plan Bolonia, en particular con los estudiantes que estaban encerrados en el Rectorado de la Universidad de Barcelona desde el mes de Noviembre.

Repudiamos enérgicamente la represión policial y el desalojo. Y apoyamos su exigencia a la libertad de todos los detenidos, el retiro de la policía de la universidad, y la dimisión de Saura y todos los responsables políticos de la represión. Así como también, la reincorporación de los seis estudiantes expulsados de la UAB.

La lucha contra el Plan Bolonia es la lucha contra un plan que sólo busca la privatización, elitización y mercantilización de la universidad. Los empresarios buscan formarnos como productos del mercado, moldeados según sus intereses para reproducir sus ganancias. Y es algo que sufrimos día a día los jóvenes, estudiantes y trabajadores latinoamericanos por parte de las empresas capitalistas e imperialistas.
En diferentes países del mundo el movimiento estudiantil comienza a levantarse no solo en defensa de la educación pública y el conocimiento, sino para que "la crisis la paguen los capitalistas".
Desde América Latina, los últimos meses hemos visto como la juventud griega se rebeló contra los planes antipopulares del gobierno de Karamanlis. Hemos visto como los estudiantes franceses se rebelaron contra los planes de Sarkozy y se solidarizan con la huelga de las Antillas. Hemos visto como los estudiantes de España, Alemania, Italia y toda Europa se rebelan y organizan contra el plan Bolonia.
Los capitalistas no quieren pagar la crisis que ellos causaron. Pero el movimiento estudiantil no está solo. También los trabajadores, como los de la Nissan de Barcelona o la Ford de Valencia sufren las cosecuencias de esta crisis, por lo que juntos vuestra lucha será más fuerte.
Saludamos al próximo encuentro Anti-Bolonia que se celebrará este fin de semana en Burgos. La organización democrática tiene que ser una base fuerte de la lucha del movimiento estudiantil para enfrentar al Plan Bolonia.
Desde En Clave ROJA luchamos por construir un movimiento estudiantil autoorganizado democráticamente, anticapitalista y antiimperialista, y que retomando las banderas del Mayo francés y el Cordobazo argentino se una junto a la clase obrera y los explotados del mundo, para enfrentar a los gobiernos y las patronales y para que la crisis la paguen los capitalistas.
Desde Argentina adherimos a esta gran lucha y decimos:
¡Viva la lucha contra el Plan Bolonia!
¡La represión no pasará! ¡Dimisión de Saura y todos los responsables!
¡El Plan Bolonia no pasará!
¡Que la crisis la paguen los capitalistas!
En Clave ROJA (PTS e independientes)
www.enclaveroja.org.ar
enclaveroja@enclaveroja.org.ar

los Mossos desalojan el rectorado UB!!!! concentracion a las 12:00 pl. Univestitat!!

2009-03-18T09:43:00.003+01:00

Avui de bon matí al volt de les sis del matí, els mossos d'esquadra han desallotjat a les companyes i companys que es trobaven al rectorat de la UB, ocupado fins d'hoy por 118 dies.
El rector de la UB, que ahir mateix ens deia en persona "jo no desallotjaré el rectorat", ara mateix ha dit en declaracions per la radio (RAC 1) que degut a que ahir es van donar comportaments violents a la Facultat de Geografia i Història (UB Raval), ha decidit tirar pel dret i acabar amb la "violència" i per tant amb l'ocupació del Rectorat (???).

Tota la gent que es trobava concentrada davant del rectorat per protestat pel desallotjament del rectorat, tot just ara i per directe per la televisió (Els matins de TV3), han patit una càrrega policial i pel què es veu hi han 4 ferits i 17 detinguts.

Convocatòria a les 11:30!

Feu correr la noticia del dessallotgament.

Per una Universitat digne i amb futur. Mobilització i consciència
Digues NO A BOLONYA!

Concentracion a las 11:30 a pl. Universitat!!!!!!!!
Veneis todo el mundo!!!

Comunicat Assemblea PAS i PDI - Universitats Catalanes

2009-03-15T13:18:00.002+01:00

Castellano

L’Assemblea de PAS i PDI - Universitats Catalanes reunits el 14 de març comunica:

1) El seu desacord amb el desallotjament dels estudiants a la UPF impedint així les assemblees democràtiques de debat sobre el plà Bolonya que tenien previstes per aquest cap de setmana. Novament el rectorat d’aquesta universitat ha utilitzat mètodes violents i desproporcionats davant la resistència pacífica dels i les estudiants. Aquesta acció es suma al conjunt de mesures repressives que s’han anat adoptant a diferents universitats que lluny de resoldre el conflicte l’incrementa.

2) La demanda ferma a les autoritats institucionals de la UAB per a que trenquin el seu silenci i l’immobilisme i obrin les vies de diàleg necessàries que facilitin la fi de la vaga de fam de l’estudiant Tomàs Sayes.

3) Ens comprometem a iniciar un procés democràtic i participatiu de construcció d’alternatives de reforma de la universitat pública. Per tal de possibilitar-les és imprescindible congelar totes les mesures que s’estan implantant dintre de l’EEES. Una via per a fer-ho dins la legalitat vigent és aplicar una moratòria en l’aplicació dels nous graus.

Per a donar forma a aquest procés imprescindible de debat i construcció del futur de la universitat pública, l’Assemblea de PAS i PDI - Universitats Catalanes enunciarà en les properes setmanes les accions concretes que emprendrà.

Crónica de la Manifestación del 12 de Marzo en Barcelona

2009-03-14T12:39:00.007+01:00

Fot.:David Datzira

English

[Estamos buscando la manera de traducirlo a otros idiomas, disculpad las molestias]

Hoy, 12 de Marzo de 2009, con un sol radiante sobre nuestras cabezas hemos llevado a cabo otra manifestación multitudinaria; cerca de 15.000 personas según la CAE - Coordinadora d'Assemblees d'Estudiants, o 6.000 según los datos oficiales que ya han devaluado los medios de comunicación usuales (como por ejemplo el periódico "Avui").
Se formaron distintos grupos entre las once y las doce de la mañana que fueron convergiendo a medida que transcurría la manifestación. Cabe destacar el grupo que partió de la UB-Raval con música y pancartas reforzadas. Al llegar a Plaza Universidad ya les esperaban casi todas las asambleas para empezar a movilizarse. El bullicio era enorme, una multitud de pancartas y banderas tapaba el sol radiante y la tensión iba in crescendo a medida que llegabanlos grupos. Aunque debería haber empezado la marcha a las 12.00h porque se estaba esperando la cola de la manifestación, ha partido media hora más tarde. En la Plaza Universidad a las once de la mañana había 12 furgones de Mossos d'Esquadra (la policía catalana), cada uno de los cuales puede albergar hasta 8 antidisturbios listxs para actuar en cuanto la orden sea dada. Una hora después dieciocho lecheras controlaban los accesos a la plaza y se cuadra ante cualquier manifestante, además de un helicóptero que estuvo siguiendo a los manifestantes del Raval hasta el mismo acceso de la plaza.
La manifestación empezó a moverse y bajamos la calle Pelayo hacia el centro de la ciudad: las Ramblas y Plaza Catalunya, un recorrido habitual de manifestación. Huelga decir que en la calle Pelayo hubo algún que otro altercado con ciertas sedes de periódicos cuyas oficinas se establecen ahí, comprensible, por otro lado, si tenemos en cuenta que dichos medios de comunicación han tergiversado, manipulado y tratado de "niños" a todo el movimiento estudiantil; no una ni dos veces, sino día tras día. Llegamos al núcleo comercial de la ciudad: Portal de l'Àngel, y nos detuvimos. Hubo un pequeño problema con la gente que por ahí paseaba, nada preocupante, y se volvió a la marcha. Era la 1.30, el sol seguía asando todas y cada uno de los cuerpos que gritaban consignas tipo: "Contra el capital, guerra social!", "Fora empreses de la universitat!", "Pla Bolonya, ni de conya!", "Bolonya privatitza, l'Estat ho autoritza!", con el inmenso calor había dos opciones: o desnudez total o cubiertos para no pasar tanto bochorno y contener el sudor.
Posteriormente descendimos hacia Urquinaona, ya habiendo sobrepasado las siete lecheras de mossos que nos habían estado esperando y también "decoramos" la fachada de El Corte Inglés con símbolos más que explícitos y alguna que otra gamberrada urbana de las que empiezan a ser habituales entre los grupos de aquí. Un poquito más allá, subió un grupo improvisado de gente a colgar un cartel: treparon por dentro del andamio, controlando en cada rellano y cortaron la lona verde que cubría la estructura con una navaja. En pocos minutos estaba el rostro de Tomàs ondeando al viento, rojo, negro y amarillo contra el cielo clareado del día y una ovación como una ola infinita de alegría.
Los medios de comunicación, como siempre, estaban presentes unidos a sus ojos acristalados para captar la instantánea de un día que no va a ser olvidado tan fácilmente porque ahora, 48 horas después, estamos soportando los efectos de una guerra fría, de desgaste absoluto. Todo tiene sus repercusiones.
Bajaron rápidamente los compañeros del andamio eventualmente ocupado y volvieron a permanecer en el anonimato de la multitud que barría las calles gritando indignada, sin poder contener toda la rabia por el trato que hemos merecido hasta el día de hoy. Una marea humana descendió por la avenida hasta llegar a Arc de Triomf (hacia la 13.40h) en donde se congregó justo a la entrada del arco porque más allá había un corro de prensa esperando verlos cruzar el emblemático monumento.

Según los medios "Desenes d'estudiants"

Fot. David Datzira
Dicho y hecho, agitando consignas y pancartas lograron traspasar el susodicho y en un instante la pancarta principal era una punta de lanza que arremetía con gritos de victoria hacia el corro de supuestos informadores. Es necesario remarcar otra vez el desprestigio general que nos han publicitado los medios de comunicación de nuestro país (y nuestra nación).
Ya pasado el ataque adrenalínico empezamos a caminar por los alrededores del Parc de la Ciutadella, sin pasar por los jardines lógicamente (es un habitual punto de encuentro conflictivo entre las autoridades y los manifestantes), además la cabecera tuvo que reducir el paso para que la cola llegara, como había ido ocurriendo: en los laterales de la avenida se situaron lecheras de mossos d'esquadra, en todo el tramo contamos unas 10. La tensión iba in crescento porque quedaba claro en dónde iba a terminar la concentración: en la facultad Pompeu Fabra, el mismo lugar en el que hace un mes exacto desalojaron violentamente y establecieron una comisaría improvisada en la recepción de la facultad. Sería necesario remarcar que el edificio está directamente relacionado con MediaPro,

[Los actos convocados en la Pompeu han sido trasladados al Rectorado UB]
Fotografía: Archivo Especial Bolonya

el rector J.J. Moreso avisó directamente a los policías igual que hizo en su momento el rector Lluís Ferrer de la UAB. La historia se repite, por lo visto su diálogo es unilateral y en vez de palabras usan las porras.

A las dos de la tarde llegamos en masa a la Pompeu Fabra (Ca l'Aranyó) y entramos tranquilamente al patio cercado por vallas, no hubo ningún acto remarcable; se dobló la pancarta acolchada y se puso en un lateral. La gente entró tranquilamente a la facultad dirigiéndose hacia un patio cerrado del recinto central con todo el material a cuestas. Una vez en el interior se asamblearon según facultades uniéndose en círculo para debatir qué y cómo llevar a cabo la noche allí. En un instante, hacia las 15.00 de la tarde, los compañeros de la Comisión de Comunicación estaban empezando a leer los manifestos y comunicados, aunque no se oyeran perfectamente debido a la acústica del recinto, lograron sentar los puntos básicos por los cuales se había congregado la concentración: la criminalización de los hechos de la UPF de hace un mes, los de la UAB (con su consiguiente exigencia de readmisión de los estudiantes expulsados), la moratoria de dos años y, por supuesto: el debate público y abierto sobre qué tipo de universidad pública se está implementando con el Plan de Bolonia.

Fot.: David Datzira

Mientras, en el Rectorado de la UB los hechos no estaban mucho mejor: empezó una "guerra fría" con los directivos del centro (Equipo del Claustro de la UB) por los espacios. El Rector Dídac Ramírez ordenó cerrar la facultad de Geografía e Historia (UB-Raval), impidendio entrar también a los docentes que necesitaban recoger sus pertenencias personales, en los extremos de la calle de la facultad se posicionaron furgonas de policía. Por si fuera poco clausuraron espacios fundamentales como el acceso al baño o la cocina del vestíbulo del edificio central durante dos horas de tensión durante los que las personas que habitualmente estudian en la universidad tenían que salir por los edificios secundarios (Facultad de Filología y Matemáticas); menos los que se habían quedado dentro del recinto, ellos no pudieron salir en ningún momento, la tensión había llegado al rectorado. Los estudiantes pensaban que el rector Moreso enviaría esa misma noche a los mossos a desalojar la UPF, pero no fue así porque la expulsión de los ocupantes se ha producido esta última noche. No obstante la angustia fue evidente durante toda la madrugada, las llamadas de "vienen los mossos" se repetían sin cesar de un lado a otro, hasta llegó a cundir el pánico por si en vez de expulsar la nueva ocupación se dirigían los antidisturbios al Rectorado.
A las 00.30 se convocó una rueda de prensa para poner los puntos sobre las íes y aclarar cualquier malentendido que pudiera habido haber para con los medios de comunicación. Se leyó el comunicado y posteriormente distribuyeron los espacios para reubicar a todos los estudiantes que pasarían la noche ahí.
La manifestación había concluido con leves alborotos habituales si se comprende la indignación de los estudiantes: han sido tratados como una minoría no representativa, por más que su sistema sea asambleario y de consenso parece ser que la democracia de la que tanto alardean los políticos no puede ser reconocida más allá de sus despachos de oro.

Demà!! participa al enterrament!

2009-01-29T19:03:00.000+01:00

LLAMAMIENTO A CREAR COMISIONES INTERNACIONALES

2009-01-02T05:33:00.001+01:00

POR LA INSURGENCIA DE UNA NUEVA INTELIGENCIA!

A tod@s l@s estudiantes que estéis interesad@s en la construcción de una red internacional de pensamiento y de lucha, os comunicamos que se ha constituido la comisión internacional a partir de una asamblea del Rectorado Okupado de la Universidad de Barcelona en apoyo a todos los movimientos estudiantiles locales y globales que están luchando contra la política neoliberal sobrestatal. Esta asamblea nació como insurgencia espontánea y compartida de reunirnos con los movimientos estudiantiles del mundo. Somos una estructura horizontal que quiere desarrollar una nueva inteligencia compartida y libre, tenemos como finalidad los siguientes objetivos:

• Comprender las diferentes realidades de lucha autogestionada que l@s estudiantes están realizando en los distintos países influidos por el fascismo y el individualismo de la política neoliberal (parte de ella apunta directamente, pasando por bruselas, a la nueva perspectiva de educación y de vida que a todos nos toca).
• Comprender los puntos en común que cada movimiento tiene para extraer una crítica y una alternativa compartida.
• mpezar a construir una red de contactos internacional para lanzar la constitución de una internacional estudiantil centrada en el intercambio de informaciones y en la coordinación de acciones conjuntas.

Se invita a la gente que esté interesada en este tema a ponerse en contacto con nosotr@s a través de nuestra dirección de correo electrónico, para colaborar directamente en las asambleas que se convocan o para proporcionar materiales o contactos con personas de otros movimientos estudiantiles europeos y de fuera de europa. Este documento no pretende representar a nadie sino que parte de nuestra voluntad de construir otras comisiones internacionales para una comunicacion mas rápida entre nosostr@s, por la elaboración de una critica unida y la coordinación de acciones conjuntas a nivel europeo.

POR LA INSURGENCIA DE UNA NUEVA INTELIGENCIA!
DIFUNDE COPIA Y COMPARTE!

comisioninternacional@gmail.com

AUFRUF ZUR BILDUNG INTERNATIONALER KOMMISIONEN

2009-01-02T05:31:00.001+01:00

Für den Aufstand einer neuen Intelligenz

Wir möchten alle Studenten, die daran interessiert sind, eine internationales Netz des Denkens und des Widerstandes aufzubauen, darüber informieren, dass wir eine internationale Kommission aus dem Zusammenschluss mehrere besetzter Häuser, gegen den Bologna-Prozess an der Universität von Barcelona, gegründet haben. Diese Versammlung stellt den Versuch dar, die notwendige Kommunikation zwischen den Studentenbewegungen der verschiedenen europäischen Länder in Gang zu bringen. Ziel ist die Gründung einer Unterstützungsbasis für die Studentenbewegungen in Europa und der Welt, gegen die prekären Lebensverhältnisse, die der Neoliberalismus für unsere Zukunft bereithält, und gegen die Vermarktung der Bildung auf lokaler und globaler Ebene. Wir sind nicht-hierarchisch und unabhängig von politischen Parteien und Syndikaten organisiert. Unsere Ziele sind:

- Die unterschiedlichen Wirklichkeiten des autonomen und selbst organisierten Widerstandes der Studenten in Europa in ihrer Verschiedenheit zu erfassen und zu teilen.
- Eine gemeinsames Fundament zwischen den verschiedenen Bewegungen zu finden, um auf diesem, eine kollektiv-geteilte und alternative Kritik entwickeln und formulieren zu können.
- Eine Netz aus europäischen und internationalen Kontakten zu formieren, dass dazu dient eigene Erfahrungen auszutauschen und gemeinsame Aktionen zu planen.

Wir laden alle Menschen, die an einer freien und selbst organisierten Kultur interessiert sind, ein, unser internationales Netzwerk mit uns, über email-Kontakt, weiter zu entwickeln. Darüber hinaus würde wir es begrüßen, wenn ihr eure eigenen internationalen Gruppen organisiert, damit wir eine Vernetzung zwischen den verschiedenen Gruppen, zur Nutzung schneller und effizienter Kommunikationsmethoden, etablieren können.

In den vergangenen Wochen und Monaten leisteten die Studentenbewegungen in Griechenland, Italien und Spanien Widerstand in Form von Demonstrationen und Besetzungen. Da diese Bewegungen national begrenzt keinen Erfolg haben können, ist eine europäisch Koordination und Kooperation notwendig.
Für den Aufstand einer neuen Intelligenz!
Berlin, 30-12-2008

comisioninternacional@gmail.com

CRIDA A CREAR COMISIONS INTERNACIONALS

2009-01-02T05:28:00.002+01:00

PER LA INSURGÈNCIA D'UNA NOVA INTEL•LIGÈNCIA!

A tot@s els estudiants que esteu interessats/des en la construcció de una xarxa internacional de pensament i de lluita, us comuniquem que s'ha constituit la comissió internacioal a partir d'una assemblea del Rectorat Okupat de la Universitat de Barcelona en recolzament a tots els moviments estudiantils locals i globals que estan lluitant contra la política neoliberal. Aquesta assemblea va néixer com insurgència espontània i compartida pel fet de reunir-se amb amb tots els moviments estudiantils europeus i globals. Som una estructura horitzontal que vol desarrollar una nova intel•ligència compartida i lliure, que tenim com a finalitat els següents objectius:

• Comprendre les diferents realitats de la lluita autogestionada que les estudiantes estan realitzant en els diferents països influits pel feixisme i l'individualisme de la política neoliberal (part d'aquesta apunta directament, passant per brusel•les, a la nova perspectiva d'educiació i de vida que a tots ens toca).
• Comprendre els punts en comú que cada moviment té per a extreure una critica i una alternativa compartida.
• Començar a construïr una xarxa de contactes internacional per a llançar la constitució d'una internacional estudiantil centrada en l'intercanvi d'informaciones i en la coordinació d'accions conjuntes.

S'invita a la gent que estigui interessada en aquest tema a posar-se en contacte amb nosaltres a través de la nostre direcció de correu electrònic, per a col•laborar directament a les assemblees que convoquen o per a proporcionar materials o contactes amb persones d'altres moviments estudiantils europeus i de fora d'europa. Aquest document no pretén representar a ningú sinó que part de la nostre voluntat de construir altres comisions internacionasl per a una comunicació més rapida entre nosaltres, per la el•laboració d'una critica unida i la coordinació d'accions conjuntes a nivell europeu.

PER LA INSURGÈNCIA D'UNA NOVA INTEL•LIGÈNCIA!

DIFÓN, COPIA I COMPARTEIX!

comisioninternacional@gmail.com

2009-01-02T05:21:00.000+01:00

CRIDA A CREAR COMISIONS INTERNACIONALS

PER LA INSURGÈNCIA D'UNA NOVA INTEL•LIGÈNCIA!

A tot@s els estudiants que esteu interessats/des en la construcció de una xarxa internacional de pensament i de lluita, us comuniquem que s'ha constituit la comissió internacioal a partir d'una assemblea del Rectorat Okupat de la Universitat de Barcelona en recolzament a tots els moviments estudiantils locals i globals que estan lluitant contra la política neoliberal europea. Aquesta assemblea va néixer com insurgència espontània i compartida pel fet de reunir-se amb amb moviments estudiantils europeus. Som una estructura horitzontal que vol desarrollar una nova intel•ligència compartida i lliure, que tenim com a finalitat els següents objectius:
• Comprendre les diferents realitats de la lluita autogestionada que les estudiantes estan realitzant en els diferents països influits pel feixisme i l'individualisme de la política neoliberal (part d'aquesta apunta directament, passant per brusel•les, a la nova perspectiva d'educiació i de vida que a tots ens toca).
• Comprendre els punts en comú que cada moviment té per a extreure una critica i una alternativa compartida.
• Començar a construïr una xarxa de contactes internacional per a llançar la constitució d'una internacional estudiantil centrada en l'intercanvi d'informaciones i en la coordinació d'accions conjuntes.
S'invita a la gent que estigui interessada en aquest tema a posar-se en contacte amb nosaltres a través de la nostre direcció de correu electrònic, per a col•laborar directament a les assemblees que convoquen o per a proporcionar materials o contactes amb persones d'altres moviments estudiantils europeus i de fora d'europa. Aquest document no pretén representar a ningú sinó que part de la nostre voluntat de construir altres comisions internacionasl per a una comunicació més rapida entre nosaltres, per la el•laboració d'una critica unida i la coordinació d'accions conjuntes a nivell europeu.

PER LA INSURGÈNCIA D'UNA NOVA INTEL•LIGÈNCIA!

DIFÓN, COPIA I COMPARTEIX!

CALL TO FORM INTERNATIONAL COMMISSIONS

2009-01-02T05:18:00.002+01:00

FOR THE INSURGENCE OF A NEW INTELLIGENCE!

For all those students interested in building an international network of thought and resistance, we would like to inform you that we have constituted an International Commission from an assembly of a squatted building against the Bolonia process in the University of Barcelona. The assembly was created from the need to communicate with other student movements. We aim to be a base of support for the European and world wide student movement against our precarious existence that neo-liberalism imposes on our future, and the mercantilization of education locally and globally. We are organized with no hierarchies and are independent from political parties and syndicates. Our objectives are:

- To share and understand the different realities of autonomous and self-managed resistance that students are carrying out across Europe.

- To find the common ground between each movement and attempt to develop a shared critique and alternative.

- To start creating a network of European and International contacts so as to create a Student International centered on the exchange of experiences and the coordination of joint actions.

We invite all those who care for a free and self-organized culture and want to develop this international network with us to contact us via e-mail. We would also prompt you to start developing your own international workgroup so that we can start to establish links between groups and quick effective methods of communication.

In the past few months and weeks the student movements in Spain, Italy and Greece have revolted with demonstrations and occupations, but we cannot do it alone, we must coordinate with each other and with the rest of Europe.

For the insurgence of a new intelligence!

comisioninternacional@gmail.com