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[...] each year we realize the following campaigns: campaigns of Solidarity with Political Prisoners and with the peoples of the world, the anti-fascist march in Bogota, in April, and antifascist Red October. [...] we participate in numerous events organized throughout the year: industrial labor actions, to defend public education, for work, to counter Homophobia, racism, and discrimination, Steps for those displaced and exiled from our country, etc. [...] many skins, many fashions. [...] they are a product of capitalism and European fashions.
from www.ecoledelarue.com; translation from the French by ARA-LA
Can we have a little history of RASH Bogotá?
RASH Bogotá: Briefly, RASH Bogotá is born in 1997, originally exclusively urban. Skins of the communist era are behind it; their goal was to create a strong and organized movement to propose political and counter- cultural solutions. Initially, we did not do much; we put out a fanzine called RedZine, we ran a bar called Bar-Red and we prowled the city in search of Nazis. We were 10 at maximum. To animate RASH, we worked with anarchist political organizations and Communists, we were involved in demonstrations and we often tangled with the cops. RASH succeeded the old Resistencia Redskin of Bogotá, which was dissolved. We had a lot of stories of fights, confusing variety, some of us spent little stay in prison, we formed a theater that was thought to be quite entertaining. One day, we got sick, and we have decided to build a strong disciplined organization, respected by the city for both its political/ cultural activity and its direct actions.
Could you present your activity and define yourselves politically?
Currently we are working hard in our city and also internationally. Each time our finances allow us, we put out our fanzine Barricada Intemacionalista. We have already published three numbers and the fourth is expected soon. Our zine is called so because we are recalling the work of an early fanzine from RASH Paris, Barricata. Throughout the year we do different counter-cultural and political initiatives and social activities. We organize festivals: Fuck The RAC Fest, RASH Fest, Rock Radical Rojo and "Para Todos Todo" (All for Everyone) Festival. These events greatly contributed to strengthening the anti-Fascist movement in Bogota. There were musical groups who were close to us, and RASH could present their proposals and policies in a cultural milieu. In addition, each year we realize the following campaigns: campaigns of Solidarity with Political Prisoners and with the peoples of the world, the anti-fascist march in Bogota, in April, and antifascist Red October. And we participate in numerous events organized throughout the year: industrial labor actions, to defend public education, for work, to counter Homophobia, racism, and discrimination, Steps for those displaced and exiled from our country, etc. Similarly, we work with the Anti-Fascist Coordination of Bogota, which we were in at the origin, which is currently doing very good work. We also attached to the work of BafS (Brigada antifascisat) from Bogota. We develop a social work and politics in the city and across the country, registered at the national level RASH Colombia, and we are proud to belong to the United Confederation of RASH. We spend every day struggling for freedom, equality and solidarity of the peoples of the world.
You consider yourself a political group or more like a cultural group?
We are a political organization that carries out counter-cultural and revolutionary acts within the Colombian youth movement, seeking empowerment of people and their liberation from the yoke of the oppressor. We work with various political organizations that are red, anarchist, revolutionary and combative (the list is long) in the idea that we implement with each a little more in the social and political movement in Colombia.
What do you think of the situation in Venezuela and Chavez's politics?
Well, we're not married to anyone, any party - we are independent and autonomous. We have neither flag nor borders, but we perceive that the Bolivarian Revolution for Latin America revolves around what happens in Venezuela - a draft policy for our continent, it relies heavily on the participation of people power. That is why we support him in all matters relating to social work that we hope will be fruitful for the Venezuelan people. We support the Bolivarian Continental!
And policy changes in South America following the election of a socialist president?
All this must be analyzed under the microscope for each country, because the contexts are different. Brazil's is a Social Democrat regime who is inclined to the right and not revolutionary. In Argentina, the process that started since the crisis of the early 2000s has been stopped dead by reactionaries. In Bolivia, Evo Morales has faced off impressively with domestic ultra-rightists over his battle to give more power to the people, which was very hard - the clashes resulted in many fatalities. Peru is headed by a lackey of U.S. imperialism. Countries attempting to take a radical shift live through hard confrontations with internal capitalists doing everything in their power to perpetuate their interests. We lack sufficient unity among peoples and international solidarity so that our continent could take a left turn and advance towards freedom. In Colombia, we have a stronger dictatorship protected by continental alliance of narco-paramilitary-politicians headed by Uribe (a South American mercenary in the service of gringos).
What is your vision of Bolivar?
For us, Bolivar is a South American struggle that is reborn on this continent for the people to be able to advance. All Power to the People! It is necessary to t recover what is ours and to retain it because we have long been exploited, humiliated and massacred. It is necessary at the international level, that people show solidarity with his process and help us in different ways to achieve our aim. A new South America!
Can you tell us about the punk and skin scene in Colombia?
The punk scene is very ambiguous in Colombia. Politically, it was not clear, but there were exceptions, some claim a pugnacious punk and activist stance, and we work with them often. For the Colombian skin movement we can give you some numbers: 400 fake neo-Nazi skins, 300 ambiguous skins, 1000 anti-fa skins. In short, many skins, many fashions. Few true beliefs. Few concrete and real struggles. The only movement that continues to have a clear belief that is clean is RASH and some sections of SHARP Colombia. The balance is good but we must strengthen the ideological.
Are there any fascists and Nazis in Colombia, what is their address?
Yes, although it may seem contradictory, there are Fachos here! They have a strong rap. They say they fight for the race, when all are the product of miscegenation Continental. They say they fight for the white family, but are closer to the toxicological or gangster. Finally, they are a product of capitalism and European fashions. Young people with no sense of life or sense of belonging. Many come from the punk scene and are the product of ambiguity. They fight for nationalism, and "honor." Politically, they combine with ultraconservative parties who finance their damage, such as Cambio Radical ("Radical Change"), the Conservative Party and other Christian parties. The majority of them are children of poor families, very humble. This means their level of ignorance, which leads to being regarded as neoNazis. These morons are manipulated by many political groups into paramilitaries, which use them to defend their interests. Their speech is modeled on that of Uribe calling for democratic security (sic), killing insurgents, etc.. (With this speech, they have many followers.) In an ultra-fascist country there will always be sheep to be dominated by political groups.
I guess state repression against the revolutionary elements is strong in Colombia. Could you tell us about it?
The repression is very strong here, actually. Each day, youths, trade union leaders, teacher union members, representatives of the mothers, students, and activists disappear and nobody does anything. This paramilitaryfascist "State" continues to destroy the people to serve its interests and in a macabre manner dominate domestic policy under the threat of bullets. The state carries out large-scale massacres and dresses up the corpses of civilians to proclaim the execution of "terrorists."
www.rashbogota.org
Copyright Michael Novick Jan-Mar 2010