Few things remind me of Sweden in Bulgarian politics. One of them is the repeated efforts from the government to get access to citizen's internet communication. I sometimes wonder if it's the government that rules the police, or the police that rules the government. From tomorrow on the Swedish music industry will start chasing people downloading material Torrent technologies. According to DN, the industry (N.B.The industry themselves, not the police!) will focus on people up- and downloading considerable amounts, but in the end it's chance who decides which IP adrss we find, Lars Gustafsson, head of the record producers organisation Ifpi is quoted.
The other thing is the word "Ombudsman"
The new Swedish legalislation is maybe not totalitarianism, maybe nothing more than a bad suggestion than democracy can change in the next elections, but Sweden used to have an image of being a country where Human Rights were untouchable. That's why the Swedish language gave one of its most bureaucratically boring sounding words to Bulgarian - "Ombudsman". (I imagine trade union meetings in teh early sixties, someone complaines that the coffeebought for the paus room is from ICA, not Konsum, whereas the Ombudsman takes notes and promise that also this complain will be heard in te corridors of power.)
Bulgaria also have a man, Gunno Gannev, appointed ombudsman. As I have understood, he has the right to propose laws etc. to the parliament,on a citizen's initiative.
In Bulgarian the picture of the ombudsman is a lot more inspiring than that, he, or she ( I guess also a woman can be ombudsMAN in Bulgarian, please tell me if this is wrong). The ombudsman is a more direct way for dialogue with the power, not contaminated by pre- post- and fullblown socialist corrupted bureaucracy. For example, he is very central in Zelenite's ideas, about how to increase the dialogue between the politicians and the citizens.
Gunno Gannev has stood up to his responsability, and expressed his opinion, that the proposed law giving the ministry of interior access to citizen's digital data, is contra-constitutiona.
Sources: Dnevnik, Bulgaria e Nasha
For those who are interested:
Except for the connotations, I can also see quite a big different between the Swedish and the Bulgarian ombudsman. I guess Swedish readers by now wonder what Gannev is ombudsman for.
The Swedish ombudsman is perceived as a man protecting the majority against the majority, that can be clumsy and forget that all men are created different but equal when they vote nd legislate the best society. Typical minority: children, disabled
The Bulgarian ombudsman is, on the contrary, defending the society. Actuallly I think "the nation" is more to the point in English, if e can imagine a nation without militant nationalism. He is their voice, safeguarding their interest against minorities that might infringe the rights of the society/people/nation. Typical minorty: mafiosi, oligarcic politicians
Am I right? What did I misunderstand? I would love to discuss this topic with Bulgarians :)
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
The case Martin Borilski
The 28th of April a protest is planned in front of the Supreme Court of Cassation in central Sofia. The protesters will ask for justice to be done in the case Martin Borilski. Martin was a Bulgarian law student, brutally killed in a mafia related murder in Paris 18 July 2000. French pointed out two culprits with the help of DNA, and handed over the case to Bulgarian justice.
Justice moved slow and did not reach a final decision before 22nd of January this year. Suprisingly for the french police, and many Bulgarians, the court decided to free both suspects.
Eventually a british court of appeal have decided to take up the case, looking at all documents again. The new trial is set to begin 29 April 2009.
Source: Bulgaria e nasha
Justice moved slow and did not reach a final decision before 22nd of January this year. Suprisingly for the french police, and many Bulgarians, the court decided to free both suspects.
Eventually a british court of appeal have decided to take up the case, looking at all documents again. The new trial is set to begin 29 April 2009.
Source: Bulgaria e nasha
Thursday, March 26, 2009
A break of principles
While it should not become a habit, no principle is better than that i can be broken for a higher cause. While my principle as a blogger is to avoid taking sides, I made an exception, and tried to help Bulgaria e Nasha to spread information about the political game around the internet surveillance legislation. I wrote a letter to a number of Swedish politicians, where I urged them to apporach their bulgarian colleagues and ask them about this question. Because I undertand the anger among bloggers. Because Swedish politicians are walkingdown the same road, and they should see their actions in a European perspective, at least those who boast their Europeaness. And because I think they should know and care more about Bulgaria and Southeastern Europe.
Oppet_Brev
So far Anna Karin Andersson from the Swedish green party has answered me. She will discuss the question with representants for Zelena Partija, (a Bulgarian party that is not the same as Zelenite, and not have the same direct connection to the protests), when she meet them at the European Green Party's congress in the weekend.
Oppet_Brev
So far Anna Karin Andersson from the Swedish green party has answered me. She will discuss the question with representants for Zelena Partija, (a Bulgarian party that is not the same as Zelenite, and not have the same direct connection to the protests), when she meet them at the European Green Party's congress in the weekend.
Surveillance actvists won time
Yesterday the parliament was scheduled to vote about the law concerning surveillance of digital data. The wording of the documented presented to the parliament was a slightly disguised version of the first proposal from the ministery of interior, that thus signalized that they need the parliament to sign, but ignore its opinion.
However, 10 MP's from SDS, DSB, and NDSV ( a party that sits in the government) managed to postpone the session to a later date.
The protesters thus earned some time to protest and rasie awareness about the issue. A campaign is led by Програма Достъп до Информация (Access to Information Programme) an NGO working to promote the right to information and initiate a public debate on human rights related issues. They are gathering signatures online for a public protest against the new legislation.
Source: Bulgaria e Nasha
However, 10 MP's from SDS, DSB, and NDSV ( a party that sits in the government) managed to postpone the session to a later date.
The protesters thus earned some time to protest and rasie awareness about the issue. A campaign is led by Програма Достъп до Информация (Access to Information Programme) an NGO working to promote the right to information and initiate a public debate on human rights related issues. They are gathering signatures online for a public protest against the new legislation.
Source: Bulgaria e Nasha
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Uncostitutional vote in the parliament tomorrow
Tomorrow the members of Bulgaria's parliament are again voting about a law that will give MVR (The ministry of Interior) increased access to citizens private data.
Bulgaria e nasha alarms that the vote is a parliamentary coup. The parliament rejected parts of the text. In stead of accepting the elected parliaments decisions two of the government parties BSP and DPS, in the ministry of transport and communication signed a text, that in now way respects the parliaments opinion, but gives MVR the rights they wanted in the first proposal. Thus the text goes through the parliamentary machinery without discussion. Or rather... it has been discussed, but the decision was made before the discussion.
Other parties, and the non parliamentary opposition calls for your attention: The vote tomorrow is illegal!
Bulgarian spekers will find detailed reports, including documents online on Bogomil Shopovs Blog.
Source: Bulgaria e nasha
Bulgaria e nasha alarms that the vote is a parliamentary coup. The parliament rejected parts of the text. In stead of accepting the elected parliaments decisions two of the government parties BSP and DPS, in the ministry of transport and communication signed a text, that in now way respects the parliaments opinion, but gives MVR the rights they wanted in the first proposal. Thus the text goes through the parliamentary machinery without discussion. Or rather... it has been discussed, but the decision was made before the discussion.
Other parties, and the non parliamentary opposition calls for your attention: The vote tomorrow is illegal!
Bulgarian spekers will find detailed reports, including documents online on Bogomil Shopovs Blog.
Source: Bulgaria e nasha
Friday, March 20, 2009
Surveillance is still an issue (Updated)
Bogomil Shopov reports that the game about allowing MVR, the ministery of interior, to monitor to communication between citizens online.
On his blog, Bogomil writes that the minister of MVR persisted that the increased possibilities to look into digital data are necessary. In a session the comission of transport has accepted the law acccording to a wording that deviates from the one the parliament handed over the comission.
The actual wording is actually closer to the proposal originally rejected. This counter-constitutional manouvre was carried out by the delegates from the socialists, and the turkish minority party. They used their majority in the commission to defy the parliamentary decision.
The issue here is thus not only the fact that some politicians want to give MVR the right to look into citizens' elevctronical data. It is also a break of rules for the democratic work. These politicians will is carried out against the parliament's decision. The president is also on the parliament's side.
In Bulgaria the parliament and the president are directly elected by the people, not the government or the commission of transport.
Source: Bulgaria e nasha , Great thanks to M for helping me correcting and updating
On his blog, Bogomil writes that the minister of MVR persisted that the increased possibilities to look into digital data are necessary. In a session the comission of transport has accepted the law acccording to a wording that deviates from the one the parliament handed over the comission.
The actual wording is actually closer to the proposal originally rejected. This counter-constitutional manouvre was carried out by the delegates from the socialists, and the turkish minority party. They used their majority in the commission to defy the parliamentary decision.
The issue here is thus not only the fact that some politicians want to give MVR the right to look into citizens' elevctronical data. It is also a break of rules for the democratic work. These politicians will is carried out against the parliament's decision. The president is also on the parliament's side.
In Bulgaria the parliament and the president are directly elected by the people, not the government or the commission of transport.
Picture is taken from M, indicating that the government parties BSP and DPS can't read
Source: Bulgaria e nasha , Great thanks to M for helping me correcting and updating
Thursday, March 19, 2009
European support for center right coalition
The central right opposition in Bulgaria is currently forming a coalition ahead of the elections. The liberals SDS and DSB have agreed to cooperate, a decision that is supported by leading circles on the European People's Party, the conservative/ christ democratic group in the EU parliament.
The information comes from Andreas von Belov, head of Konrad Adenauer foundation in Bulgaria. He welcomes a cetner right government that is founded on SDS, DSB and Bojko Borisov's GERB
(As a reference: Swedish members of the European People's Party are Moderaterna and Kristdemokraterna)
Source: Martin Dimitrov's blog
The information comes from Andreas von Belov, head of Konrad Adenauer foundation in Bulgaria. He welcomes a cetner right government that is founded on SDS, DSB and Bojko Borisov's GERB
(As a reference: Swedish members of the European People's Party are Moderaterna and Kristdemokraterna)
Source: Martin Dimitrov's blog
Bluelink prepares digital early warning program
Bluelink is an internet protal publishing and spreading information about ecological issues in Bulgaria.
They have now announced an upcoming early warning system. Crimes, let's say an ilegal building process, will be localized on an online map, and the information spread in text or visual format, to email adresses, mobile phones etc.
Source: For the nature
They have now announced an upcoming early warning system. Crimes, let's say an ilegal building process, will be localized on an online map, and the information spread in text or visual format, to email adresses, mobile phones etc.
Source: For the nature
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
What happens with director Zlatarov?
9th of march vice premier minister Miglena Plugcheva met with representants for the ecological protesters, demonstrating in support of the current directors of the national parks. After the meeting Migleva and the protesters were said to have agreed on a number of important issues, among them that there was no reason to fire the directors.
This meeting was to be followed up with a meeting including all stakeholders 19th of March in Bourgas. Today it appeared that Stefan Zlatarov, the director of the national park Strandja, is not at all invited to the meeting. This raises the suspicion plans are still active to fire him
For the nature has revealed that the resistance against Mr. Zlatarov comes from the local mayors, who have a number of complaints that For the nature finds ridiculous. For the nature also stresses that it is NOT the local mayors role to run the national parks. They see this as a feodalization, and a try to limit Bulgarian citizens political freedom.
Source: For the nature
This meeting was to be followed up with a meeting including all stakeholders 19th of March in Bourgas. Today it appeared that Stefan Zlatarov, the director of the national park Strandja, is not at all invited to the meeting. This raises the suspicion plans are still active to fire him
For the nature has revealed that the resistance against Mr. Zlatarov comes from the local mayors, who have a number of complaints that For the nature finds ridiculous. For the nature also stresses that it is NOT the local mayors role to run the national parks. They see this as a feodalization, and a try to limit Bulgarian citizens political freedom.
Source: For the nature
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Who profits from gold mining?
Zelenite, along with a number of partner NGO's invite to a press conference tomorrow. The subject is the environmentally dangerous gold mining projects in the Rodopi mountains.
In a press release, published by For the nature it says: (my translation) Fundamental question: WHY should the bulgarian leadership invest OUR MONEY in a risky installation, that will deal also with raw materials from other countries, leaving DANGEROUS LEFTOVERS in the nature for generations.
Source: For the nature
In a press release, published by For the nature it says: (my translation) Fundamental question: WHY should the bulgarian leadership invest OUR MONEY in a risky installation, that will deal also with raw materials from other countries, leaving DANGEROUS LEFTOVERS in the nature for generations.
Source: For the nature
Jailbirds clean the streets of Sofia
Update from yesterday: The streets are not cleaned like normally, but they are cleaned according to some less intensive schedule.
Waste disposal is not my main focus with this blog, but as far as I know now, and I advice anyone to read the commetns from readers on eralier posts, this is part of a bigger power struggle in Bulgarian society. It's clear that Bojko Borisov have many enemies with mor eor less hidden agendas.
Bojkos answer to the current situation is controversial, to say the least - prisoners clean the streets.
Sources: bTV, Darik News,
Waste disposal is not my main focus with this blog, but as far as I know now, and I advice anyone to read the commetns from readers on eralier posts, this is part of a bigger power struggle in Bulgarian society. It's clear that Bojko Borisov have many enemies with mor eor less hidden agendas.
Bojkos answer to the current situation is controversial, to say the least - prisoners clean the streets.
Sources: bTV, Darik News,
Monday, March 16, 2009
Garbage protests
As far as I have seen, waste disposal is working normally in Sofia again. But today 300 workers from the company that lost the contract with Sofia Municipality, protested in Sofia.
Unlike previous protests, this one was aimed at the municipality, and mayor Bojko Borisov, and according to Darik News all protesters were romas.
The ex-workers protest against the municipality's decision to end the contract, and say that they have been pleased with their emplyer, that payed out salaries in time.
The fact that all waste disposal workers in fact ARE roma indicates an ethnical dimension that is very clear in Bulgarian society, but has yet to be articulated in a political protest.
Unlike previous protests, this one was aimed at the municipality, and mayor Bojko Borisov, and according to Darik News all protesters were romas.
The ex-workers protest against the municipality's decision to end the contract, and say that they have been pleased with their emplyer, that payed out salaries in time.
The fact that all waste disposal workers in fact ARE roma indicates an ethnical dimension that is very clear in Bulgarian society, but has yet to be articulated in a political protest.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Environmentalists and dissidence
Today, the 14th of March two months have passed since the street protests in January. Much has happened since then, some of which I try to sum up in the paper below, It's my homage to activists around For the Nature. Enjoy!
Debate at the Red House
Yesterday a debate was held at the cultural institution Red House in Central Sofia. Under the headline "The Future - Private or Shared Space -"Y" utopian Visions on the Future, represantants from different students organizations, bloggers, ecologists met and discussed. The death of Stojan Baltov drew focus to the problems in Studentski Grad and for Bulgaria in general
Whereas everyone (see for example my post about the socialist youth organization's program here) speaking about Bulgaria, from liberals to fascists, agree on the problems -corruption and lack of citizens' influence, the way to adress them is under discussion. Or should be.
I arrived late to the meeting, and missed about half, but the part I could listen to was a very animated discussion about wether private ownership is part of the problem or of the solution. At the center of the discussion was the question of private universities.
At the meeting, with around 50 participants, there was a rather clear division between the left, centered around the organisation Priviz, and more liberal participants, like the blogger Deljan Delchev. Noone was pleased with the bulgarian post socialistic capitalsim. Priviz seemed to think - this is privatization, it is not wat we want. The liberals undertanding was rather - this might be privatization, but not free competition. Let's create a situation where entrepeneurs can compete and trigger each other to develop the best solutions, that will be good for everyone in the end.
How to take the step from protest against concrete grievances to politics, and if this was dangerous was a higlhy interesting question that the discussion leader Irina Nedeva initiated. Everyone claimed that they were not afraid of bein political, yet the protests we have seen so far have tried to keep a distance form political ideologies. My personal impression, is that no one wants the politics really, but it is forcing itself on the protesters as the protests become more lasting movements.
A teacher from Sofia University alsoasked the student organzations, to which degree they also fighted form groups that not only suffer financially but might be discriminated against on basis of etnicity or gender. Priviz has a good track record when it comes to raising feminist questions, they arranged the demonstrations in suppot of Kostadina Kuneva 8th of March, and everyone said that their struggle was not excluding anyone.
Whereas everyone (see for example my post about the socialist youth organization's program here) speaking about Bulgaria, from liberals to fascists, agree on the problems -corruption and lack of citizens' influence, the way to adress them is under discussion. Or should be.
I arrived late to the meeting, and missed about half, but the part I could listen to was a very animated discussion about wether private ownership is part of the problem or of the solution. At the center of the discussion was the question of private universities.
At the meeting, with around 50 participants, there was a rather clear division between the left, centered around the organisation Priviz, and more liberal participants, like the blogger Deljan Delchev. Noone was pleased with the bulgarian post socialistic capitalsim. Priviz seemed to think - this is privatization, it is not wat we want. The liberals undertanding was rather - this might be privatization, but not free competition. Let's create a situation where entrepeneurs can compete and trigger each other to develop the best solutions, that will be good for everyone in the end.
How to take the step from protest against concrete grievances to politics, and if this was dangerous was a higlhy interesting question that the discussion leader Irina Nedeva initiated. Everyone claimed that they were not afraid of bein political, yet the protests we have seen so far have tried to keep a distance form political ideologies. My personal impression, is that no one wants the politics really, but it is forcing itself on the protesters as the protests become more lasting movements.
A teacher from Sofia University alsoasked the student organzations, to which degree they also fighted form groups that not only suffer financially but might be discriminated against on basis of etnicity or gender. Priviz has a good track record when it comes to raising feminist questions, they arranged the demonstrations in suppot of Kostadina Kuneva 8th of March, and everyone said that their struggle was not excluding anyone.
Waste disposal
According to Darik News, only two women protested against the garbage debacle in front of Sofia today. They tried to put bags with garbage n front of the parliament, but were prevented by the police.
Regarding the situation I have seen both cleaned areas, and others like Sveta Troitsa where I live this weekend, that look like this:
Regarding the situation I have seen both cleaned areas, and others like Sveta Troitsa where I live this weekend, that look like this:
Friday, March 13, 2009
Econsensus
Seven minutes ago, 16.30, a round table discussion called ECOnsensum started in hotel Crystal Palace in Bulgaria. Invited are representants for the NGO sector as well as the business world. Topics for the discussion are:
What does ecological responsibility of business projects mean?
How do involvement in ecological campaign effect a company's reputation, sales etc.
Obstacles between the business and the NGO world
etc.
Speakers are invited from some of Bulgaria's more prominent commercial actors, like for example the major GSM operator Globul.
Source: For the nature
What does ecological responsibility of business projects mean?
How do involvement in ecological campaign effect a company's reputation, sales etc.
Obstacles between the business and the NGO world
etc.
Speakers are invited from some of Bulgaria's more prominent commercial actors, like for example the major GSM operator Globul.
Source: For the nature
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Garbage
The streets of Sofia are filled with garbage this week. Garbage has been a major issue between the Bulgarian socialist government and Bojko Borisov, the mayor of Sofia, for a long time. This is the last row in a conflict, where both sides claim that the other is responsible.
The entrepeneur responsible for cleaning Sofias, Novera, claims that the city of Sofia has not fulfilled its obligations regarding payments. The contract runs out 1st of April. Novera refuses to work since three days. According to Darik, the streets in front of the presidential palace are clean, though.
The municipality have appointed a working group, promising to solve the situation in two days.
The response from "Pisna Ni!" a news site close to the protesters is to call for civil disobedience in case the situation is not resolved in two days. The proposed action is to take garbage form the streets and put it in front of the parliament.
Citizens that think that Borisov is guilty, not the government, can put their garbage in front of his office in stead, Pisna Ni! says.
Source: Bulgaria e nasha
The entrepeneur responsible for cleaning Sofias, Novera, claims that the city of Sofia has not fulfilled its obligations regarding payments. The contract runs out 1st of April. Novera refuses to work since three days. According to Darik, the streets in front of the presidential palace are clean, though.
The municipality have appointed a working group, promising to solve the situation in two days.
The response from "Pisna Ni!" a news site close to the protesters is to call for civil disobedience in case the situation is not resolved in two days. The proposed action is to take garbage form the streets and put it in front of the parliament.
Citizens that think that Borisov is guilty, not the government, can put their garbage in front of his office in stead, Pisna Ni! says.
Source: Bulgaria e nasha
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The directors remain
Representants for non governmental organisations, among them For The Nature on 9th of March met with vice premier minister Meglena Plugcheva to discuss their demands regarding the Bulgarian national parks.
The meeting ended in understanding. The enviromentalists stressed their support for the current directors, and the assembled agreed that there was no reason to fire them.
They also agreed that any changes concerning the parks must be the result of a legal process, not acceptance of fait accompli and that a broad discussion is necessary about how to make the areas accessible for tourists.
Source: For the nature
The meeting ended in understanding. The enviromentalists stressed their support for the current directors, and the assembled agreed that there was no reason to fire them.
They also agreed that any changes concerning the parks must be the result of a legal process, not acceptance of fait accompli and that a broad discussion is necessary about how to make the areas accessible for tourists.
Source: For the nature
Monday, March 9, 2009
Solidarity with Kostadina Kuneva (Updated)
Yesterday, on the International Women's Day 8th of March, a demonstration was held in support of Kostadina Kuneva outside Sofia University.
Kuneva is a Bulgarian woman and the mother of a son with a heart disease. Along other expenses, her sons medical treatment requires more money than Kuneva, with a degree in history from Sofia University could find in Bulgaria. She therefore went to work as a cleaning lady in Greece.
In Greece she organized immigrant workes into trade unions to defend their rights against unlawful exploitation. The unlawful exploiters didn't like this and hired killers, that on the night of the 23rd of December attacked Kuneva in her home. The attack was in the bestialic cammora byzantine style. Kuneva was forced to drink acid, and acid was threwn in her face.
Kuneva was hospitalized, and was still in hospital in the end of February .
The demonstration was organised by the student's organisation Priviz, and has been covered by Vida Delcheva in her own blog, and on Bulgaria e nasha
(The picture is taken from Vida Delchevas blog)
Below is a report in English from AS (Anarchosaprotiva - AnarchoResistance.Anonymous for this report!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Interview with Aresistance
Introductionary note
Readers might be surprised why I choose to make interviews with groups not participating in the protests. I do this because I believe that readers with a western background like me easily will interpret the Bulgarian political landscape in familiar terms of left and right. Young people clashing with police in the streets is a long time hallmark of the militant left wing, and a close to yearly scene in cities like Berlin or Copenhagen.
Needless to say - this is not the case in Bulgaria. But to better understand this landscape, pretty far from Berlin or Copenhagen, I think it is necessary to also include the viewpoints from the non-participants.
Therefor I here publish an interview with an anarchist group called Aresistance, that did not take part in the protests. The original version of the interview in an email form in Bulgarian can be found here.
Interview
Q: Why did you not participate in the demonstrations 14 Jan 2009?
A: The answer can be found in the statement we published three days ahead of the demonstration. The shortest way to say it is: we don't want to participate in anything that hurts the cause we stand behind. Тhere were direct as indirect reasons. We had the information that this demonstration was not well prepared and that there would be provocations.
(I will make an English summary of the statement in the next post)
Q: Do you, as a political movement have any contacts with:
Q: Does it, according to you, have any significance at all who wins the elections 2009?
Q: What do you think about the protesters demands?
A: This prtoest was tactically confused from the very beginning, and with the lack of experience it was bound to fail. The demands were not, and are not, realistic. This turned into a classical populist protest, similar to the very system that they would like to reform.
Q: Many of the protesters ask for eurointegration. What's your understanding of Bulgarias role in the European Union? How can Europa help Bulgaria? How can Bulgaria help Europe?
A: Yes, you are right, this is a very prominent thesis among the ecologists - EU as a correctiv of the local power. They believe the pressure from the EU on Bulgarian politicians wil solve our problems. This is a complete dilusion. The idealization of the EU is one more myth. One forget to analyze, that a large part of the problems are conected to foreign investors, companies from the EU, and bhehind stand strong lobby groups and EU politicians. Bulgaria has a place in the EU only if the EU is built up on a democratic, transparent and free foundation. Currently this is not the case. Festung Europa serves only the elites!
Q: Which are the biggest problems in Bulgaria, according to you? (I don't know why I asked this twice ;) )
A: Theре is only one problem - the close relations between the mafia and the power. These are the same structures, thaty have haunted the whole life. The imitation of democratic proceedings, without any form of citizens' pressure and experience as a correctiv. The impossibility to organize serious, big unifications on social grounds , groups that protest and exist over time
Q: How do you propose to solve these problems?
A: Decentralisation and authonomy based on civic associations. The crushing of the party mafia and oligarchy. The creation of working alternatives to today's status quo.
Q: Which place do you see for internet, blogs and other new media in a democratic state?
A: On teh one hand this is a very powerful weapon, still out of control from the politicians. On teh otehr hand this comfortable anonymity works against, or rather substitutes for civil movements in the streets, in real life.
Please write a list of five things that is missing in Bulgaria, and five things of which Bulgaria has too much.
Missing
Solidarity
Counter culture
Democracy
Resistance
People
Too much of
Passivity
Consumerism
Stupidity
Chalga (Cheap brand of Bulgarian pop music)
Cops from DS (Darzhavna Sigurnost - the STASI of Communist Bulgaria)
(Great thanks to my special friend Annie for helping me with the interview :) )
Readers might be surprised why I choose to make interviews with groups not participating in the protests. I do this because I believe that readers with a western background like me easily will interpret the Bulgarian political landscape in familiar terms of left and right. Young people clashing with police in the streets is a long time hallmark of the militant left wing, and a close to yearly scene in cities like Berlin or Copenhagen.
Needless to say - this is not the case in Bulgaria. But to better understand this landscape, pretty far from Berlin or Copenhagen, I think it is necessary to also include the viewpoints from the non-participants.
Therefor I here publish an interview with an anarchist group called Aresistance, that did not take part in the protests. The original version of the interview in an email form in Bulgarian can be found here.
Interview
Q: Why did you not participate in the demonstrations 14 Jan 2009?
A: The answer can be found in the statement we published three days ahead of the demonstration. The shortest way to say it is: we don't want to participate in anything that hurts the cause we stand behind. Тhere were direct as indirect reasons. We had the information that this demonstration was not well prepared and that there would be provocations.
(I will make an English summary of the statement in the next post)
Q: Do you, as a political movement have any contacts with:
- The enviromentalists
- The protesting students
- Other organisations behind the protests ?
A: Yes, we have good, personal contacts with different people, and we know what is going on in these groups.
Q: Does it, according to you, have any significance at all who wins the elections 2009?
A: Of course there is, but this is not a question of new politicians and a new ethic in the political life - this is rather a tactical queston for the activists at a reshuffeling within the oligarchical lobby - if it the field will be opened for for the movements of civil organisations, or if the new government will adopt adopt a harder attitude towars all kinds of protests.
Q: Which are the biggest problems in Bulgaria, according to you?
Q: Which are the biggest problems in Bulgaria, according to you?
A: The oligarchic model and the lack of a civil opposition to these practices. The political apathy and the educational system, that produces politically litterate young people.
Q: What do you think about the protesters demands?
A: This prtoest was tactically confused from the very beginning, and with the lack of experience it was bound to fail. The demands were not, and are not, realistic. This turned into a classical populist protest, similar to the very system that they would like to reform.
Q: Many of the protesters ask for eurointegration. What's your understanding of Bulgarias role in the European Union? How can Europa help Bulgaria? How can Bulgaria help Europe?
A: Yes, you are right, this is a very prominent thesis among the ecologists - EU as a correctiv of the local power. They believe the pressure from the EU on Bulgarian politicians wil solve our problems. This is a complete dilusion. The idealization of the EU is one more myth. One forget to analyze, that a large part of the problems are conected to foreign investors, companies from the EU, and bhehind stand strong lobby groups and EU politicians. Bulgaria has a place in the EU only if the EU is built up on a democratic, transparent and free foundation. Currently this is not the case. Festung Europa serves only the elites!
Q: Which are the biggest problems in Bulgaria, according to you? (I don't know why I asked this twice ;) )
A: Theре is only one problem - the close relations between the mafia and the power. These are the same structures, thaty have haunted the whole life. The imitation of democratic proceedings, without any form of citizens' pressure and experience as a correctiv. The impossibility to organize serious, big unifications on social grounds , groups that protest and exist over time
Q: How do you propose to solve these problems?
A: Decentralisation and authonomy based on civic associations. The crushing of the party mafia and oligarchy. The creation of working alternatives to today's status quo.
Q: Which place do you see for internet, blogs and other new media in a democratic state?
A: On teh one hand this is a very powerful weapon, still out of control from the politicians. On teh otehr hand this comfortable anonymity works against, or rather substitutes for civil movements in the streets, in real life.
Missing
Solidarity
Counter culture
Democracy
Resistance
People
Passivity
Consumerism
Stupidity
Chalga (Cheap brand of Bulgarian pop music)
Cops from DS (Darzhavna Sigurnost - the STASI of Communist Bulgaria)
(Great thanks to my special friend Annie for helping me with the interview :) )
The government stays
The vote of no confidence failed, after long debates in the parliament, where prime minister Stanishev's 1,5 hour speech were compared to Fidel Castro.
Ataka - the extreme right wing party that left the parliament after the riots 14th of January, sent back their MP's for the session. Since all three parties in the government voted against the proposition the opposition had no chance. Their hope had been to convince the conservative NDSV o vote against their coalition partners.
Source: Dnevnik
Ataka - the extreme right wing party that left the parliament after the riots 14th of January, sent back their MP's for the session. Since all three parties in the government voted against the proposition the opposition had no chance. Their hope had been to convince the conservative NDSV o vote against their coalition partners.
Source: Dnevnik
Ecologial demonstration 4th of March
Tomorrow, 4th of march, the ecologist will gather in front of the ministerial council to demonstrate in defense of the Bulgarian national parks. The demonstration is following last weeks demonstrations, and the campaign will continue until protesters and government have found solution.
The protests were triggered by the governments decision to sack the current directors of the national parks, directors that have a very good reputation among the protesters. The protesters suspect that this was art of a political game, opening up the parks for exploitation from private interests.
Sourcs:For the nature news alert
The protests were triggered by the governments decision to sack the current directors of the national parks, directors that have a very good reputation among the protesters. The protesters suspect that this was art of a political game, opening up the parks for exploitation from private interests.
Sourcs:For the nature news alert
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Sofia: 08.03.09 Protest in solidarity with Kouneva
This morning there was a small action in solidarity with Kouneva - the woman migrant syndicalist, who had been brutally attacked by her
bosses with sulfur acid, because of her syndicalist activism. About 50
people gathered in front of Sofia University around 11.00 am. We
stayed there for about an hour carrying banners and chanting slogans.
At 12:00 we marched to the greek embassy. We stayed in front of the
embassy for about one more hour, where everyone had the chance to
share their feelings and thoughs on an open mic. 50 people is not that
few for the bulgarian context. In this highly conservative, individualistic and patriarchical society, any progressive event like
that is actually very promising. The bulgarian neo-fascists published attack threats on internet against the protest, but in the end they did not attempt any open provocation.
The action was organized by the leftist student group
"Priziv"(Call-out for Education). www.priziv.org
The slogans and the signs on the banners included ones such as
(roughly translated):
"Solidarity with Kostadina"
"Solidarity with the working women in their struggle"
"Solidarity amongst the people is our weapon against authority"
"Down with patriarchy"
"No to violence against women"
"Every day is 8th of March"
"8th of March is not a holiday, but a day for struggle"
"Emancipation, not exploitation"
The particular focus of the demo was to express solidarity with
Kouneva, but, as it is clear from the slogans, the aim was also to
solidarize with the worker's movement in Greece and the rest of the world, as well as to make a statement against the oppression of women and migrants in the world. Another main aim of the action is to make a step towards the de-commodification of 8th of March. In Bulgaria during state socialism the day was de-politicized and converted to a celebration of the liberation of women, assuming that it had already happened somehow and
somewhere in the past. That is not to completely dismiss certain level
of progress that had been achieved, as women were allowed within the
public sphere and were given certain rights compared to the previous regime. Nevertheless this was no way near to any real emancipation, as patriarchal relations continued to be normative.
Since 1989 (the fall of state socialism) capitalist society has
completely commodified the 8th of March as the already depoliticized
empty symbol of women's emancipation did not pose any constraint whatsoever to capitalist appropriation of the day as a formal occasion for giving women presents for the sole reason of capital accumulation.
The loss of meaning of 8th of March is the natural result of the
"emancipation" being given by the elites and not fought for by grassroots society. Therefore, we cannot rely on the authority to give us rights because when that happen, those rights are not stable and prone to self-destruction.
This action was part of a whole campaign: discussions and film screenings on the issue are being planned as well.
Pictures:
http://bulgaria.indymedia.org/article/34845
Short video from a news agency:
http://www.ekipnews.com/?v=8034