The world no longer knows any boundaries. Travel advertisements give us the feeling the world is at our feet. It's possible to go anywhere, even the most bizarre places. The media, especially television create a world which seems to be a village. Our knowledge of this world and the events that happen in it is surprisingly specific. At times we know more about things hap- pening on the other side of the world than at our neighbors'. In contrast to this we see a world where more and more boundaries are being set. The richer parts, like Europe and the U.S.A. close themselves off from the rest of the inhabitants of the world. Also, the consciousness of many people is narrowing, which finds expression in nationalistic movements. In this world of various faces the Autonomous Center tries to find its way. From the viewpoint that the world should indeed be seen as a whole. A world with inhabitants who should have the same rights and protection everywhere. Inhabitants who have enough to eat, can express their skills and creativity and have the power of decision over their lives and surroundings. The Autonomous Center does not believe in unbridled free market thinking and the belief that, if you just give these powers free play, everything will be O.K.. We consider the desirability of development to be of primary importance. To a certain extent a society can in fact be formed, even though the opposite is often claimed to be true. The possibility and desirability of change in society makes action necessary. And that is what we do. Active action in matters which we are for and against. We do this with various means: assistance for those who are victims, like refugees and illegal aliens, collecting information and doing research to point out abuses and the development of ideas for alternatives and action. Action can consist of organizing a campaign, a publicity offensive, a sit in or demonstration, etc.. Because you can't work on everything at the same time due to limited means and manpower, we have focused on a number of subjects: refugees/illegal aliens, the problem of democracy and racism/nationalism. This doesn't mean we're never busy with other subjects, but for the moment the emphasis is on these subjects.

Information and research

As said, our activities are concerned, among other things, with gathering information and acting on it. The sources of infor- mation are, besides the regular media and the authorities, also refugees and illegal aliens themselves. Aside from this there's lots of information within research collectives, other or- ganizations like ours, etc.. We try to send a different message. This is done by means of publications in the regular media, in the form of letters to the editor, as well as in the form of articles we publish ourselves such as a brochure about the refugee prison 'Grenshospitium' (border-detention center). We see it, among other things, as our job to change the negative public image of, for instance refugees, through facts, back-ground info, action and applying counter-pressure. In the course of time we've produced many publications and interviews in various daily newspapers, such as Trouw, Volkskrant, Algemeen Dagblad, NRC and some regional daily newspapers, as well as weekly magazines such as Hervormd Nederland, Vrij Nederland, de Groene Amsterdammer. We've given a fair number of interviews on various radio shows such as NOS-Binnenland, NOS-Weldenkende Mensen, VARA, VPRO-Argos and VPRO-Talkradio. We are also receiving more and more in- vitations to give lectures and take part in teach-ins. Besides writing/publishing we consider it of great importance to join activity/action with our information.

Actions

Actions in the form of picket-lines and sit-ins are carried out when we think it's useful to attract attention to something, for instance at the opening of the grenshospitium and the opening of the intake centers. For quite some time we've been active against different forms of registration which exclude groups of people from society. Examples of this are the VAS (alien registration system) and the WID (mandatory identification law) and the Linking Act which attempts to make access to welfare facilities impossible for illegal aliens and thus exclude them from society. Actions can attract attention to something but at the same time they make it possible to act and not look on passively. Actions often seem useless in a complex quickly changing world. This has a lot to do with society looking for a quick fix. Setting an example by taking action based on moral principles can very well be of importance in the long run. This can be especially impor- tant in a world where people are more and more being reduced to passive consumers.

Assistance

Thirdly, aside from information/research and political action, we help refugees who are turned into the streets by the authorities from a border prison, an intake center or a reception center. We provide initial temporary housing and guidance and together we look for potential perspective. We work together with lawyers and concerned organizations such as country committees, refugee groups or for example Amnesty International. We also visit refugees/illegal aliens who are detained, to help them with their request for asylum and their position as a prisoner.

Our activities can not be seen separately from those of others. We're participants in a number of umbrella groups of or- ganizations which are active in this area such as the Platform for migrants without residence permits. We helped start up SNIN (Solidarity Network for Illegal Immigrants in the Netherlands), and the Third Chamber, an initiative to join together interest groups around the themes migration, environment, welfare state and democracy.

Identity papers

The goal of the campaign 'stop identity requirements' is to block the law requiring identity papers (WID: Wet Identificatieplicht) and to make people aware of the far-reaching consequences of this law. The emphasis is on the resulting split in society between white and colored inhabitants of the Netherlands.

Means

Legal:
In consultation with conscientious objectors, lawyers and other specialists, it was decided to start a number of procedures and look for further possibilities. Legal action against an employer, against the tax service and against the state are being con- sidered. The purpose is, if possible, to test the WID on the basis of international treaties (for example the protection of privacy) and in any case to try to remove the penalty for employees (60% wage tax when refusing to identify). It's very likely there will also be a lawsuit brought by an employer against the tax service.

Support of conscientious objectors:
To carry on the procedures, which can take several years, money is needed. For the most part, it's a question of trial costs and expenses for the lawyers, but it can also involve support of conscientious objectors who have gotten into financial problems because of deduction from their salary. Other forms of support are to bring in contact with each other conscientious objectors from similar groups of profession, with comparable employers, conscientious objectors from the same region and even from the same business. Objectors are thus more able to make their presence felt and support each other practically. We try to keep sight of developments and news, which we regularly report on to conscientious objectors known to us. Beside this, we organize larger meetings with some regularity, where views are exchanged about the possibilities of taking legal action, and the broader framework in which laws like the WID and other measures should be seen.

Publicity:
As said, much attention is paid to informing conscientious objec- tors and keeping them posted. We also have contacts with the media, and through our mediation a number of conscientious objec- tors have been interviewed by the regional and national press. The NOS news has reported on the WID twice, on the basis of information we provided them. The paper 'Groene Amsterdammer', partly on the basis of our information, runs a weekly column about the weal and woe of conscientious objectors. Moreover an account of the state of affairs is given in our newsletter; at the end of May 1995 and in march 1996, special newsletters about the identity requirement, were published.

Discussion:
Most important in all our activities is that we want to start a discussion about solidarity with people without papers, about the separation legal/illegal and about the development that in society more and more supervision and registration by the government is taking place. We do this, for example by taking measures and laws like the WID in this broader framework. The idea behind this is, that the hidden exclusion mechanisms in our society have to become visible for anyone who wants to see them and that a fundamental discussion about these developments should be pursued.

Results after two years of campaigning:
First of all it can be said that the dicussion and concern about the increasing control and registration in Holland is growing. Next to this concern we were able to gain some terrain on the legal part of the campaign. After loosing the first procedure, in a second procedure we were able to overthrow part of the WID. The dutch government is now appealing in the High Court, but until the desicion of the High Court no copies of identity papers of employees have to remain in the administration of employers.

Investigation of the consequences of increasing registration

Within the framework of the increasing registration, we started an investigation into identity inspection, on the streets as well as by administrative, control by police officers, military police, 'Mobiel Toezicht Vreemdelingen' (Mobile Control Illegal Immigrants), as well as officials at counters with the authority to search for people. When the WID was passed there was much criticism of the racist effects of this law. Despite the fact that for control of aliens a universal identity requirement is now in force, the general expectation is that it will be especially enforced at places where a lot of foreigners and/or colored people meet. The guide-lines for enforcing the law re- quiring identity documents when checking aliens don't leave much room for doubt in this. At the same time as the introduction of the law requiring identity documents the number of officials charged with aliens control was greatly increased.

Also in the administrative field a lot of things are (almost imperceptibly) changing. In different parts of the country all foreigners have already been included in the Aliens Ad- ministration System. By means of a direct link to the registry office, officials will have to check foreigners on their residence status. The 'Linking Act', in which the right to col- lective facilities is linked to a residence status, takes effect in 1996 or 1997.

In both cases, during the checking of aliens as well as the administrative controls, we fear for a racist effect of the law requiring identity documents: control according to physical appearance. Because the law requiring identity documents (WID) has only been in effect for a short time now, and the admini- strative changes are now being implemented, we think it's a good time to start an investigation into the consequences of these laws. The goal of the investigation is to describe the consequen- ces for foreigners and aliens of the introduction of both laws.

After the conclusion of the investigation we published the results in a report which will be presented, among others, to the Second Chamber of Parliament. In the report we also analyzed the contents of the different laws and developments in the aliens policy. A follow-up is being prepared.

Solidarity Network for Illegal immigrants in the Netherlands (SNIN)

The Autonomous Center is one of the pace-makers of the SNIN. At present there are groups from Leeuwarden, Den Bosch, Heerlen, Eindhoven, The Hague, Amsterdam and Leiden involved.At the moment, efforts are being made to enlarge the network further.

The solidarity network does not consist of an organizational structure with a management group at the top, but of autonomous groups at the basis. Groups within the network acknowledge that it's useful to exchange information, have common sources of knowledge and support each other's actions. Also, making use of the network, national campaigns can be conducted. Thus, the SNIN is above all a communication network. The network consists of groups which are active in supporting illegal immigrants in whichever way (practically, through research, political action). We expect the groups to work mainly on the basis. The emphasis is on groups which want to stimulate and strengthen solidarity of legal people with the fate of illegal aliens, especially on a local level.

-The network consists of groups that offer direct help and under- take action to see to it that illegal aliens actually get basic facilities: medical facilities, housing, work, legal aid, etc..
-As well, the network wants to give groups the capacity to make their experiences visible and to translate them politically.
-Thirdly, the network wants to stimulate more people and or- ganizations to devote themselves actively to illegal aliens. To establish this aid, an appeal can be made on the knowledge and experiences of the groups within the network. When organizing aid for illegal aliens, it's important to make use of the experien- ces, knowledge and creativity of the illegal aliens themselves.

Taking part in the network and receiving tangible support from it, requires active participation of the groups. Each group has the addresses of other related groups. If an illegal alien from Limburg phones Amsterdam asking for medical aid, Amsterdam will refer him/her to a group in Limburg. If a group has important new information about a new development (in policy), this group will send it to all linked groups. If a group organizes an info evening and doesn't have enough knowledge, it will make an appeal to the others, etc..

Aid and Shelter

The increasing strictness of the aliens policy constantly creates new instruments to prove itself; it's a vicious circle. First, the border prison, then the application centers, the mobile control of aliens and enormous refugee prisons like the ones in Tilburg and the future detention center in combination with the Refugee Center in Ter Apel. Nevertheless the number of refugees and immigrants keeps increasing in a world of economic divisions in place of a world which is everybody's. To stop refugees who, from sheer necessity, will keep coming, is a useless, selfish and expensive business whereas money and effort are badly needed for support here and fighting of the root causes there. Government policy evades it's responsibilities. It produces people with no future, 'aliens', high percentages of people with no further legal recourse and new social outcasts. It's even possible that refugees won't even apply for asylum anymore, knowing they will be refused anyway.

Thus, many who seek protection come to organizations that think differently, including ours. Among others, we help refugees from the border prison, Refugee Centers and application centers, when they're put into the streets. Beside these 'outcasts' we also help other aliens/refugees. Trough mailing campaigns to houses and groups of residents we've expanded the list of addresses willing to help aliens and people who have no further legal recourse. This is gratifying, even more so because living expen- ses are taken care of by those groups and there's a modest payment for the refugee. Sometimes there's even extra money to cover unforeseen costs such as medical expenses. Good arran- gements are made between the three: house/refugee/Autonomous Center. We work together with the refugee and lawyer on his or her asylum case, which is often a not very hopeful search for possibilities. Sometimes we find some work for someone and there are agreements with a restaurant about providing free meals. The more domestic matters are arranged by the house and refugee whereby contacts with the new housemates bring new possibilities. We hope the network will expand furthermore in the future.

Activities against the detention of refugees and aliens

The refugee policy of the Netherlands and the European Union is organized round the terms "discouragement" and "exclusion". An instrument which is more and more used in the framework of this policy is the locking up of aliens and refugees. In whole of the European Union the number of prisons for these people keeps growing. The various national governments use the argument that the 'real' refugees have to be separated from the 'fake' refugees. The various governments claim these prisons deter people with the result that only the 'real' refugees come to the Netherlands and the European Union. But at a time when the number of conflicts and refugees in the world is growing, it's rather strange that the number of refugees in the Netherlands and the European Union is decreasing. The policy is called "successful", but more and more people are falling victim to it. The Autonomous Center is, since the opening of the border prison ('Gr- enshospitium') in the South-East of Amsterdam ( april, 1992), active against the locking up and exclusion of refugees and aliens. Internally, by means of a visitors group for resident refugees and aliens, as well as externally, by means of publications the Autonomous Center has made its criticism of the locking up of these people clear. The locking up of people whose only 'offence' was fleeing to the Netherlands, leads to great tension. In the "Construction of lies", a brochure about the border prison, the Autonomous Center describes the consequences of a policy of locking up and exclusion. After two years, visits to people in the border prison have been made almost impossible for the Autonomous Center, but we still follow the developments around this prison. In September 1994, the Willem II prison for aliens and refugees opened its doors in Tilburg. In 1994 the Autonomous Center supported a group called the 'Vuurdoop' in starting up a visitors group for people in the prison. This support consisted mainly of sharing experiences, giving advice about legal possibilities for the support of the people in the Willem II prison, support for demonstrations and actions and giving lectures and speeches. The Autonomous Center will continue to give this support in the coming years. The Autonomous Center gave comparable support to people of the Refugee Support Group Leeuwarden who have organized a visitors group for refugees and aliens locked up in prison in Leeuwarden. Close scrutiny of government policy has lead to ongoing talks that the Autonomous Center started in Groningen at the beginning of 1995 in which about ten organizations co-operate. These talks are actively concerned with the refugee/alien prison Ter Apel that will be opened. The Autonomous Center is an important stimulus for these talks and will, also in the coming years, be active concerning this prison. We published a house-to-house paper about the refugee/alien prison in Groningen, organised together with other groups an information evening, articles were written in regional newspapers and different talks with churchgroups. The campaign against the locking up of refugees and illegal aliens for the coming years will concentrate on information, continuing talks with groups which are active in the area of detention and support for these groups.
-Information in the form of a poster, a public brochure and leaflet for education material.
-Talks on a national as well as international level in which the human rights situation in the prisons for refugees/illegal aliens forms the most important topic.
-Support in the form of giving lectures and delivering speeches as well as attending meetings, answering question and guidance.

Computer Network and Data bank

Data bank
Our experience is that, especially with smaller initiatives in the area of refugees and illegal aliens, there's a lack of infor- mation. Also the requesting and processing of information takes a lot of time. Therefore it's of great importance that available information can be seen quickly by anyone. Also sharing each other's experiences is of importance in order to prevent duplica- tion of efforts. Developments where computer networks such as Internet are concerned to some extent can be of help here. We think therefore that it's important to prepare for these kind of developments and to profit by them. This can be done by preparing data banks ourselves and teaching groups how to work with these new instruments. The data bank should contain as complete infor- mation as possible which is of importance for people and groups that are active with refugees/illegal aliens. This can be chamber documents, policy documents, articles of the law, commentaries on these things, own experiences and publication, discussions and points of view of migration, increasing control, etc.. Secondly, there have to be references to good information which can be found elsewhere in the data bank. The data bank has to be 'fed' by organizations that are active in the field of refugees and illegal aliens. Also, articles can be sent in by others and end up in the data bank after a selection. The data bank is acces- sible for everyone. The conditions are that the data bank can be used very simple, because most groups are hardly in touch with and/or have knowledge of computers and how to use Internet. There has to be a brief manual about what kind of equipment you need and how to get information and a brief description of how the data bank works.

European
At the moment there's little communication between groups which help refugees/illegal aliens in Europe. At the same time of developing a data bank we want to contact refugee support group in a number of European countries to see if those countries also want to make use of Internet more actively. At the moment we have contacts with groups in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Germany and Switzerland that have reacted in a positive way to our initiative. For the development and design of a data bank/network we've been able to interest someone who has been active in this field for years.

Some other things

Newsletter and recruiting donors
Four times a year we publish a newsletter in which we give an account of our activities and results of our research. The newsletter which has a circulation of over a 1000 copies, is sent to all of our donors and contacts. When a new newsletter comes out we place ads. With the purpose of recruiting new donors.