report from polish bordercamp from generator x

Mon, 9 Jul 2001 10am
Here is a quick rough report of Saturday 7th July, our first day of action at the camp:

Police intimidation and counterstrategies

"We left in the truck at 4.30 in the afternoon and
drove to Krinky (6 Km away) with some Polish people from the camp. The
rest of the camp was following in small groups in a few cars and on
foot. The aim was to pick up provisions; make presentations about border
issues to the local people and finally to hold a "happening" in the town
centre.
As we parked on a grass verge outside the village shop a white
border police Land Rover pulled up carrying four border police in army
uniform ready to control us. Passports; addresses and names of parents;
as well as places of birth were dutifully recorded in the little black
book. Another Landy passed. All seemed calm as we did our shopping.
There were about 50 of us outside the shop and maybe another 50 punks in
the park opposite. 10 or so police vans with riot gear and a couple of
cars; two water cannon trucks and an armoured truck sped around the
roundabout where we were sitting with their lights flashing and sirens;
then they did it again. Riot police entered the park and started to
attack the punks there with batons and tear gas; three were arrested and
another few injured; one needing stitches. The police drove past again a
couple of times and then there was a face off with the police filming
people and looking menacing.
We played some music from the truck to try and calm things a bit and the police backed
off a little and some people danced. The locals looked on bemused and a little scared
of the police. It began to rain; the police moved off apart from two vans. Speeches
were made about the police intimidation; then a little more music before
it was time for the happening in the park.

About 200 people from the camp and 200 local people gathered. A symbolic game of volleyball was
played with red tape for a net and a football; a cabbage and a fake head
as projectiles that went to and fro between the borders and the players
and the crowd. There were several cabbages in people's faces. There was
much cheering and laughing as the cabbages disintegrated. The atmosphere
had really lifted from the earlier police intimidation. The red tape was
pulled apart and they announced "this might seem like a game but we must
work to end borders". In amongst the rain showers there were more
speeches and discussions about borders and minority groups. People spoke
from Poland; Byelorussia and polish tartar minorities. There was no pa
or loud speakers so the people had to sit around in a tight circle to
hear. This continued for maybe 1.5 hours with the police parading every
half an hour. We went home; as it got dark."

It is good here. Very busy. Generator X being used thoroughly - at last we
start to really work!
We don't have v. easy access to email. bummer. love an squidgy stuff,
s'laters s+c.