Date: Wed, 19 Mar 1997 16:59:01 +1000
Subject: Albania in the news


Here's an interesting post from a-infos-d, which Robert was happy to have
crossposted here . . .

Steve

_________

Subject: Re: Albania in the news
From: I-AFD/IFA - A-Infos Germany <i-afd_1-AT-anarch.free.de>
Reply-To: <a-infos-d-AT-tao.ca>
Date: 17 Mar 1997 22:25:00 +0200

Hi Stefan!

Just some quick comments. First, to avoid any misunderstandings: I am
myself unsure about the real character of the uprising and am indeed
convinced that it is impossible to judge from the news reports that have
been coming in. What seems clear is that there are obviously many
diverging interests and diverging groups in this conflict (the Berisha-
government trying hard to keep its reign, the parliamentary opposition
trying to take the reign but without any real influence on the rebels
(both calling for military intervention), different fractions of rebels
with unclear aims, some of which have been building structures of social
self-organisation and last not least people who will undoubtedly try to
make the best of the situation and grab what they can). It was also clear
last week that in several "rebel"-towns in the south institutions of real
self-organisations have emerged, though there have been contradictory
reports about a possible emerging leadership and/or a military command.
While by the end of last week, reports on these self-organising, basic-
democratic structures had grown quite numerous it has become very quiet
about these things since then.

I think we should continue to watch the situation closely and critically
(especially since the "free" western media is controlled by (diverging)
interest too) and - above all - try to make contacts with people in
Albania who might be able to pass on more concrete information. I would be
happy about any hints regarding this.

> I'm answering from germany where we may have a slightly different news
> coverage of this event. My informations are only from the established
> media sources where this issue is the major head line at the moment. I
> think they are not too wrong.

I have been following the established german media (tv, local newspaper,
Welt and Frankfurter Rundschau) as well as two more or less leftist
publications (taz and jw) quite closely during the last two weeks on this
subject and can only say that all that is *really* obvious from their
reports is the fact that they are confused, that there have been many
contradictions if you look at the news closely enough and that some hints
as to possible leadership, nature, aims etc. of the rebellion have often
been reported once once shortly and then never again. Considering this, I
can not agree to any statement on wether the media is "right" or "wrong"
since the reports are contradictory and unclear in themselves - I can only
say: Either they don t know, or they won t tell ...

> In germany they often use the notion `anarchy and chaos' - what IMHO
> is a contradiction in terms... However, since chaos seems to be
> reality IMHO it can't be an anarchist rebellion. And from what I know
> about albania I didn't believe that anyway.

While as anarchists I think all of us on this list agree that "anarchy and
chaos" are two contradicting terms, from what was said in the news both
Gregs opinion (anarchy might the right phrase but not in the way the press
means it) and your opinion (chaos is the right phrase) could be right.
However, I think you are wrong to already come to final conclusions.
You seem to be ignoring the forms of social self-organisation constructed
in some of the rebel town during the last week, where even german TV-news-
reports spoke of "basis-democracy", a system of "council democracy",
showed mass assemblies discussing on matters of organisation spoke of
meetings of delegates etc. How do you explain this, if its just plain
chaos and (as you say below) the rebels are led by criminals?

> Moreover I heard that the town where the rebellion started has lots of
> criminals which started the whole thing at first. Actually I think
> that the word `criminal' is used correctly here.

Actually that sounds a lot like western press commentators trying to build
ressentiments. Do you really think that thousands of people would have
participated if it was just a question of criminals plundering? Could it
be you are forgetting that the uprising developed slowly from social
protest and demonstrations? It radicalised when the police confronted the
demonstors with brute force. There were violent clashes of demonstrators
and polcie in several towns before the uprising broke out. Vlora was one
of these towns where the demonstrators were especially strong and started
off the rebellion by sending the police and army forces to hell and
arsoning two government buildings. It was a mass action and not one
organised by criminals. Please substantiate this point.

> > Clearly, if the people of Albania succeed, they will set an example for
> > all countries liberated from Communism only to be held down with
> > neoliberal policies.
>
> That's true. The news say that the people in albania have been made
> enormous promises of wealth and they are now very angry that these
> promises are obviously lies - what IMHO they are indeed.

Could it be you are contradicting yourself here? You said before that the
uprising had caused chaos and was started off by criminals: chaos +
criminals = an example for all countries? Please substantiate this point
also.

> > Anyway, I think it very important that we quickly discover what is
> > happening, and get to work on this.
>
> I added my Pfennig ;-) .

me too ;-))
but I think to find out what is happening we need to do more than just
follow the establish media and discuss amongst each oter but rather get
going ourselves to find new news-channels, build contacts and try to learn
what has happened. Even if it turns out that the situation is stabilising,
the govenrment will be put back in power, the rebels will find a new
leadership or whatever, the question remains: How did those self-organised
structures come about (did they just spontaneously develop or could there
be other reasons that they emerged in several towns almost at the same
time?) ... We might learn some interetsing things from this.

anarchist greetings,
Robert
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