OBSTAJAMO! - Koper potrebuje UPInde

(eng below)

Po primopredaji, do katere je prišlo v torek, 6. junija, novi lastnik  Valter Krmac ni izgubljal časa. Delavci so že pričeli z gradbenimi deli, ki otežujejo dostop do prostorov Ustvarjalne platforme.
Valter Krmac je novi delni lastnik kompleksa Inde, direktor podjetja KMK Box in predsednik stranke Oljka – stranka Slovenske Istre, tj. stranke, ki ima v svojem programu zapisano naslednjo misel: “Oljka se zavzema za preobrazbo politike, vse do trenutka, ko občani in državljani, ki želimo aktivno oblikovati svoje okolje, ne bomo več zapostavljeni, omejeni s strani politikov in njihove elite, izvoljene prav z našimi glasovi.” Omenjeni gospod sedaj pravi, da UPInde “ne obstaja” in da “je to par ljudi, ki si je prilastilo pravico, da zdaj hara po objektih”.
Kaj drugega počne Ustvarjalna platforma Inde, kot da aktivno sooblikuje svoje okolje? In kaj drugega počne Krmac, kot da zapostavlja občane in državljane s svojo ignoranco in aroganco?
Objekt je kupil vedoč, da ga ima v uporabi še cela skupina ljudi, ki večplastno deluje v dobrobit lokalnega okolja, in ne zgolj za lastno korist, torej je NEDOPUSTNO, da se obnaša kot da UPI ne obstaja! Spomnimo na preko 450 umetniških, socialno angažiranih, izobraževalnih, glasbenih in športnih dogodkov v obdobju dveh let.
U.P. INDE s svojim obstojem dokazuje, tako kot mnogi sorodni projekti širom sveta, da je vsakdanjik mogoče živeti drugače kot nam to vsiljujejo različne avtoritete. Tekmovalnost se trudimo zamenjati z vzajemno pomočjo, ljubosumje z razumevanjem, izkoriščevalsko logiko neoliberalnega in kapitalističnega ustroja s samoorganiziranostjo, odtujenost z izgradnjo skupnosti. Veliko smo naredili in veliko je še za poskusiti. Če se nam ne bi bilo treba ukvarjati še z nadležnimi silami kapitala kot so DUTB in trenutnim novim lastnikom prostorov, bi si drznili iti še naprej v preoblikovanju našega vsakdanjika. Čeprav se od začetka zavedamo prekarnosti našega prostornega obstoja, gradimo in si drznemo delovati kot da bomo tu še na mnoga leta in sami sebe dojemamo resno. Pripravili smo poročilo o preteklem delu, ki bo v kratkem dostopno na naši spletni strani. Z njim želimo za sabo pustiti dokumentirano sled tudi za tiste, ki bi v prihodnosti želeli poskusiti kaj podobnega, sled kontinuitete v ustvarjanju razpok.
U.P. Inde na noben način ni formalizirana skupnost. Organizacija dogodkov in soodločanje tako temeljita na odgovornosti posameznika in njegovem osebnem vložku ter prostovoljstvu. Vsak vložek, bodisi fizično ali katerokoli drugo delo je »poplačano« z edinim kapitalom, ki je za to skupnost sprejemljiv, to je simbolni kapital. Za vsak dogodek je potrebno zagotoviti ljudi, ki bodo prostor pripravili, poskrbeli za tehnično izvedbo dogodka, ekipo in nastopajoče oskrbeli s hrano, obiskovalce pričakali na vratih, pomagali pri strežbi, pripeljali vodo (pitno vodo namreč dovažamo v Inde dnevno), pripeljali gorivo (oskrba elektrike poteka s pomočjo agregata), pa ljudi, ki skrbijo za medijsko podobo in izdelavo promocijskega materiala, tiste, ki pozimi poskrbijo za ogrevanje na drva, in še bi lahko naštevali. Ko pogledamo število izpeljanih dogodkov,  vidimo da smo v preteklem obdobju v ta prostor vložili ogromno energije in da vsekakor obstajamo. V Inde zahaja veliko število obiskovalcev, obstoj takega prostora je pomemben za celotno regijo, ki ne more biti podrejena osebnim načrtom posameznika podjetnika.
Odkar je leta 2004 podjetje Inde prenehalo z obratovanjem, je objekt tovarne propadal, kar je vplivalo tudi na njegovo okolico. Njegovi nekdanji lastniki in upravitelji namreč niso poskrbeli za primerno vzdrževanje. Desetletna degradacija se je delno prekinila s prihodom posameznikov, ki smo se nato povezali v skupnost – Ustvarjalna platforma Inde. Kasneje se je lastništvo prestavilo na DUTB. Tudi v tem obdobju se stanje z oskrbo celotnega objekta ni izboljšalo. Slaba banka se je po nekaj neuspelih poskusih prodaje odločila, da bo objekt očistila nevarnih odpadkov, kar je bila prva pozitivna stvar, ki se je v tem času zgodila. Čiščenje smo v UPI z veseljem sprejeli in podprli, kasneje pa ugotovili, da izvajalci niso poskrbeli za strokovnost in varnost pri izvedbi del. Opozoriti želimo na to, da se v vseh teh letih ob propadanju objekta zanj nihče ni zmenil, da smo podporniki zbrani z vseh vetrov, na lastno pest, brez zunanjih finančnih moči prostor očistili, opremili, zavarovali in vzdrževali.
Ob novici o prodaji objekta smo si, glede na vsa naša prizadevanja in delovanja v javnem interesu, želeli transparentnega in konstruktivnega dialoga z novima lastnikoma, ki pa se je žal sprevrgel v lažne obljube in zanikanja doslej doseženega in ustvarjenega. Omenjena kupca sta ob prvih obiskih posesti sicer pristopila do posameznih podpornikov UPI, opozorila o svojih namerah odkupa in celo dajala vtis, da se zavedata pomena takega prostora za lokalno okolje. To sta nakazovala z obljubami o sodelovanju in nadomestnem prostoru, vendar po zadnjih izjavah sodeč, te obljube ne veljajo več. Vabila na skupščino ne preklicujemo, še vedno si z novima lastnikoma želimo dialoga.

Pozivamo k solidarnosti vse, ki veste in čutite, da U.P. Inde ni le motnja v sistemu, temveč kreativna razpoka v tej naši, v temeljih nepravični družb in kot tako jo je potrebno braniti z vsemi močmi!

---ENG---

After the official handover on the 6th of June the new owner, Valter Krmac, wasted little time as his workers began the construction works which hinder the access to the spaces used by UPI.
Valter Krmac, the new part owner of the Inde complex is CEO of KMK Box and the head of the Oljka political party – the party of the Slovenian Istria. The same party states the following in its manifesto: »Oljka strives to transform politics up the point when us citizens and countrymen who have the willingness to actively shape our surroundings will no longer be neglected and limited by the politicians elected by our very own votes«. The same man now claims that UPInde »does not exist« and that it is »just a bunch of people who have claimed the right to run rampant in the abandoned buildings«.
What does UPInde do if not actively shape its surroundings? And what does Krmac do but neglect the citizens and countrymen with his ignorance and arrogance?
He bought the building knowing that it is used by people who work selflessly on different levels to benefit the local community thus making it INADMISSIBLE for him to act as if UPI does not exist! Let us not forget over 450 artistic, socially motivated, educational, musical and sports events in the span of two years.
U.P. INDE and similar projects across the globe are proof that our everyday lives can be lived differently from what various authorities might dictate. We strive to substitute competition with reciprocity, jealousy with understanding, neo-liberal capitalist exploitation with self-organization and alienation by building communities. We have accomplished a lot but there is more for us to try. We would dare to venture further If only we did not have to deal with the annoying forces of capital such as DUTB and the current owner of the complex. Despite knowing the precarious nature of our spatial existence we keep building and working as if we will be staying here for many years. We have compiled a report on our past work which will be made available on our web site. The report serves as a documented trail to follow for those who will try similar ventures in the future, a trail of continuity in making cracks in the established order.
U.P. Inde is in no way a formalised community – event organisation and joint decision making are based on the individual's responsibility and her personal effort. Every effort, physical or otherwise is compensated with the only form of capital recognised by this community – symbolic capital. Each event requires people that prepare the venue, take care of the technical part, prepare food for the staff and the artists, greet visitors at the entrance, supply water (drinking water needs to be delivered daily) and fuel (electricity is supplied by a generator) and let us not forget the people who take care of the PR, the people who keep the hall warm in winter etc. After looking at the sheer number of events that took place in Inde in the past it is obvious that a great amount of energy was expended and that we most certainly exist. Inde attracts a great deal of visitors which makes it important for the entire region, a region that should not cater to personal goals of a single CEO.
Since the dissolution of the company Inde in 2004 the factory grounds began decaying which affected the nearby surroundings. The former owners and managers did little in the way of maintenance. A decade of degradation was partially interrupted by the arrival of individuals who came to be known as UPInde. Afterwards the factory grounds came to be property of DUTB or »bad bank« which did little to change the overall condition of the buildings. After several unsuccessful attempts to sell the factory DUTB decided to clear the grounds of hazardous materials which was the first step in the right direction.  The cleaning works were applauded and supported by UPInde until finding out that the contractors did not ensure proper safety for the workers. We want to point out that all these years the factory was decaying with the responsible people turning a blind eye and that we, people from all sorts of backgrounds, cleaned, furnished, secured and maintained a part of the grounds without any external financial support.
After hearing of the sale of the factory and given all our efforts we wished for a clear and constructive dialogue with the new owners. Sadly it turns out that instead we have to deal with false promises and denial of deeds accomplished. While first visiting the property the new owners did approach individual UPI supporters and claimed to recognize the value of such a venue for the local community. This was backed up by their promises of cooperation and spatial alternatives but judging by their recent statements any such promises are now void. We do not rescind the invitation to one of our assemblies, we still wish for a dialogue with the new owners.

We appeal to everyone that recognize and feel that U.P. Inde is more than a glitch in the system, but a crack in our fundamentally unjust society that needs to be defended with all our collective might!