Amsterdam: gegen Monarchie

die genmeldeten 50-60 festnahmen entsprechen sind etwas hoch gegriffen. laut pressemeldungen hat es bis zum ende der feierlichkeiten ca. 15 festnahmen vor allem wegen ´beleidigung des koenigshauses´ der wegen des beleidigens von bullen gegeben. ausserdem ist der vermeintliche farbbeutelwerfer festgenommen worden. am spaeten nachmittag hat es dann am rande einer soli demo zum polizeipaesidium noch eine klein anzahl festnahmen (sichelich nicht mehr als 10) gegeben.

das wissen wir nicht. wir waren nicht da. die bürgerlichen medien übernehmen oft erst die zahlen der polizei. wenn da einige 1000 auf der straße waren, sind 50 verhaftungen nicht mal viel.

Holland cannot deal with corporate feudalism without the old one still being intact. The Dutch monarchy is still the formal head of state and even plays an active role in the proces of the formation of new coalition governments.

I live in the center of Amsterdam. Two or three men were arrested during the "white square" demonstration. One was arrested for throwing a wheat-bag, resulting in white stain on the golden royal carrier which was mostly wiped off quickly. He can get 2-4 years imprisoment, allthough I doubt it will stand in a Dutch court (to be continued, however). After the incident, a few protestors marched to the police station. Two or three more were arrested there. All except the wheat-sac thrower have been released. The highest ever number of riot-police were present in amsterdam. Mostly squatting headquarters "Vrankrijk" (.org), which you all should visit, was surrounded.

50.000 people were screened prior to the event, 18000 actively stored in a database. All homeless people were broomed off the streets to shelters. Camera´s and snipers were placed on an undisclosed but grat number of buildings. 6000 police officers were present. The 1966 wedding of the current queen and her coronation in 1980 were severely overshadowed by riots. Images of smokebombs and noise went around the world. This HAD to be prevented this time.

This event cost an estimate 15 Millon Euro, more than EURO 2000, an event that lasted two weeks in Belgium and Holland.

Prior to the wedding certain phrases were prohibited, such as "death to ..." and "... is a fascist" Punk band Brezjnev of ignored this and stated to an audience of more royalists than antis that "all fucking royals must be shot". No police intervention followed, allthough the atmosphere that day was of very low tolerance towards protestors.

The wedding was done in very large locations, such as the monumental "Beurs van Berlage, resulting in many "gift" chairs being available to the political establishment.

Please don´t rely on Amsterdam, Berlin or whatever to be a haven for free thought or leftism and an excuse not to take part in direct action. Last weekend showed the teeth of the powers that be and how little resistance there actually is.

Still, in my observation a few days after the wedding the hangover came many the "fans". Forums saw a big shift in support and more "tradionally dutch" criticism rose. There might be hope for the coronarion...god save the queen and...