The Write Stuff: Letters To Squall

Hot Dam

Squall 15, Summer 1997, pg. 58.

Dear Squall,

On the 16th-17th of June 1997, the ‘EuroTop’ is happening in Amsterdam. At this summit of European heads of state in the Dutch Bank in Amsterdam, work will be done on extending the creation of an economic power-bloc.

At the whim of the free market, social services will be privatised and wiped out. Inside the EU’s impenetrable structures, policy will be made behind closed doors. This tiny group of state leaders will hand over an all-encompassing power to Capital; at the same time throwing overboard all possibility for grassroots democratic alternatives. More and more state control - within, on and outside of Europe’s borders - is meant to ensure that this process all flows smoothly.

The government leaders have great plans for this EU-summit. They intend to conclude the ‘Treaty of Amsterdam’ (also known as 'Maastricht 2’). This treaty should agree upon, amongst other things, the scrapping of the right to veto in the council of ministers, and the implementation of new rules on foreign and defence policy for the courts and the police.

Amsterdam City Council sees the 'EuroTop’ as a blessing. Amsterdam gets the chance to clean up its Sodom and Gomorrah image of sex, drugs and slums and to present itself as a respectable, economically successful city of the world. To spoon-feed the heads of state this image and to ensure that the summit comes off smoothly, thousands of extra cops are being drafted into Amsterdam and large areas of the city are being turned into security zones. Within these security zones will be a strict compulsion to identity yourself, and the streets will be ‘cleaned up’ of homeless people, illegal foreigners and other 'undesirable elements’. A glimpse into the future perhaps?

Fortunately, there’s plenty of individuals and organisations who won’t take all this sitting down, who want to use the event to display their contempt and resistance. People from other countries who want to support this resistance will be very welcome. There’s already a number of actions and events prepared for the 'June Days’. These are being organised by a broad spectrum of individuals and groups. Each group is responsible for its own activities. Although these activities are being co-ordinated as much as possible, it was deliberately chosen not to have any central control. This way there’s room for all sorts of spontaneous initiatives.

During the June Days there will be a number of info-points around Amsterdam, where you can get an action calendar and other related info. It promises to be a long hot summer...

Between June 11th-17th days of action, demonstration, partying and discussion are planned in Amsterdam including: 14/6 Demo against unemployment, poverty and social deprivation; 13,15 & 16/6 Days of Chaos - a Dutch Stop The CIty; 15/6 Big Street Pary; 16/6 Gay & Lesbian Demo. For details contact:

Tegencontrole
postbus 3762
NL1001 AN Amsterdam