In recent years, we can observe a significant growth of the activities of the so-called "Revolutionary Confederation of Anarcho-syndicalists, Nestor Makhno" (RKAS) led by a teacher of Eastern martial arts, S.Sh, aka “Samurai”, from Donetsk (Ukraine). It was established in 1994 in the Ukraine as a group of young people interested in anarcho-syndicalism, but they refused to join the IWA. The RKAS changed its structure several times almost completely. Unchanged was only the leader himself, who became interested in martial arts and in the mid-2000s decided to rebuild their group on that basis. Several years ago, he expanded the RKAS activity at the international level, recruiting groups or individuals from some countries, who were instructed to create a new international organization with the same name "RKAS". But a little later, this project exploded (as it was expected): the foreign participants retired with scandal after confrontation with dictatorial manners inside.
Reading their Statutes (which the RKAS still prefers not to disseminate publicly), we can imagine an international anarchist ideological organization. But at the same time, the RKAS still calls itself "anarcho-syndicalist" (as Shevchenko did in the 1990s), seeking to create workers and students' unions under its authority and control (for example, in the Ukraine, the small "General Confederation of Labour of Anarcho-syndicalists", the student Union "Unity" and few co-operatives were formed - they all are purely mythical).
As an organization, the RKAS is built rigidly hierarchically. The Congress chooses a central Executive body - the Orgbureau (Organizational Bureau), which, in essence, concentrates all the power in its hands. The structure of the Orgbureau includes the Secretary General and his deputy, the international secretary, the editor of the central press organ (the newspaper "Anarchy"), the commander of the "party" militia - the "Black Guard", the finance director, the Head of Media Center of RKAS and the representative of “workers`” union created by RKAS. (http://anarhia.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=297179&sid=a00266d862e2e85ce8305ed996236eef#p297179)
Formally, the Orgbureau only advises and informs local sections, but in practice, its decisions and actions are not of technical but of administrative nature. It takes the most important political and tactical decisions, which are then simply approved by the congresses. Within different countries, the national secretariats are formed. In other words, we can observe an international structure, a new “anarchist” International.
Moreover, the presence of vertical structures is obvious. As stated at the conference of RKAS in 2011, the "it was decided to solve the questions about the division of responsibilities along the way, through horizontal and vertical connections within the organization" (http://rkas.org.ua/forum/viewtopic.php?p=37326&sid=ef302b9c0aa9aa0b47d533f1fbe0425f#p37326)
A new member joining the RKAS is seen as a pledge who has to take an oath. As was said at the conference in 2011, "after entering into RKAS, you take an oath in front of your comrades and they look at you". People leaving the organization is seen as "a deserter from the front of Anarchy" and as "traitor to his comrades” (http://rkas.org.ua/forum/viewtopic.php?p=37326&sid=ef302b9c0aa9aa0b47d533f1fbe0425f#p37326).
The inner life of the organization (at least in its center, in Donetsk) is very authoritarian. One of the former participants (who left to join the Nazis which were obviously very cloce to his initial orientation) testified: "The discipline in R.K.A.S., the Revolutionary Confederation of Anarcho-syndicalists, went beyond the limit. Or rather, it tended do go. Training three times a week, the general meeting one time a the week, in addition, of course, "routine work" of putting up flyers, propaganda in the plants, debates, etc. If you do everything which is your "revolutionary duty", there is only time left to sleep. Therefore, members of the organization didn't go to one event or another, trying to free some time for personal life. Later when reading a book about "Sectology" by Alexander Dvorkin, I often smiled: "In totalitarian sects, the adept does not have to stop and reflect on their actions. He is constantly surrounded by the attention of his "brothers and sisters", is loaded with numerous responsibilities ... "- yes, it was so. Plus, of course, the steady moral pressure: not to listen to this music group, because these musicians are “the Nazis”. (...) In general, the number of bans raises questions, because if we struggle for universal liberation, why do so many "no's"? The membership left much to be desired. The "wing" in Kharkov dreamed of terrorism in between drinking, answering to any objection that the revolution is not made in white gloves. People in Donetsk sought any kind of "Nazis" (there were only a couple in the city). In addition, the people joining were all young and fervent. Everybody thought that a revolutionary situation would mature in the next half year. And yet nothing happened, and could not (...) So people were leaving after being "in the ranks" for a while. And I also left" (http://donbassrus.livejournal.com/285983.html)
Another former RKAS member (now, a militant of the student union "Direct Action" in Kiev) was personally beaten by “Samurai”, the leader of the organization, for public disagreement with his opinion. Members of RKAS constantly threaten other anarchists with violence.
Although it is not officially written in the Statutes and Program of RKAS, its leaders often call their organization "platformist", based on the infamous "Platform" of Makhno and Arshinov of 1926. We remember that, according to this document (which the "platformists" attempted to impose on all anarchists), "the task of anarchists in the ranks of the revolutionary trade union movement can be made only when their work there will be very closely linked and aligned with that of anarchist organization outside the syndicate. In other words, we must join the revolutionary trade union movement as an organized force that is responsible for the work of the syndicates before the general anarchist organization and led by that organization".
According to one leader of the Russian section of RKAS using the pseudonym "Makhnovets", our "critics forget that RKAS is a PLATFORMIST organization that has existed some years already, and hence the old-timers have known each other a long time. If some critics would have known the principles of Platformism then there would be no questions" (http://anarhia.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=318885&sid=c2052ffcb7232b8fc010c5c9f6bc061f#p318885). Another member, who wrote on the Internet forum of RKAS, calls it “THE BEST Russian platformist organization” (http://rkas.org.ua/forum/viewtopic.php?p=37734&sid=8ca7f7397a04c4c9b4df21e897eafa25#p37734).
“Samurai”, the RKAS leader, openly calls his organization an “army”: “The organization is discipline, unity, a common strategy. Organization is a united force, an anarchist army, a shocking fist" (http://rkas.org.ua/forum/viewtopic.php?p=37325&sid=ef302b9c0aa9aa0b47d533f1fbe0425f#p37325)
He writes openly about his intention to take control of all the anarcho-syndicalist movement and all supporters of libertarian communism. On one of the anarchist Internet forums, he had said: "Comrade anarchists of the left side - syndicalists, communists and revolutionaries! Let's unite! A single organization! Enough to sit in the local groups, it divides forces! The RKAS, its documents and experiences are the most appropriate platform for unification. Join us. Time is running out! Do not disconnect but unite, unity is the force of anarchists. Enough speaking - act! The Program and Statutes of RKAS are a banner for unity, otherwise the creation of a mass organization is impossible!" (http://www.makhno.ru/forum/archive/index.php/t-33.html).
Note that the appetites of “Samurai” extend very widely. When information about the Congress of Mexican anarchists was placed on the Internet forum of RKAS, one of the members wrote: "It is a pity that this is not RKAS-Mexico". And “Samurai” said on that, supposedly in jest: “There will still be, comrade” (http://rkas.org.ua/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=3660&sid=44b8af7c72626616c49d072c7850f57e)
At the conference of RKAS in 2007, it was said: “We need an all-Ukrainian (and possibly also all-Russian and even infinite) single organization of left-wing revolutionary anarchists. We see RKAS as such organization, so all who agree with us and wants work shall join the RKAS (...)”(http://rkas.org.ua/forum/viewtopic.php?p=214&sid=cba4e4fe20bfd5f759425fb029cac55c#p214 )
Nevertheless, we can say that the RKAS is an international “platformist” anarcho-party only on one level - so to speak, on the middle level. On a "grassroots" level, it is ready to recruit into its ranks all comers, regardless of their positions, if they show interest and loyalty. So in RKAS are not only people who do not intend to make and cannot make any syndicalist activity, but even are direct opponents of libertarian communism. There are also “counterculturalists”, “insurrectionalists”, adherents of "anarcho-capitalism" and even nationalists in its ranks. For example, one member of RKAS loves going around in the T-shirt with the text “I`m Russian!”. These shirts are of Russian nationalists. On the question of whether it is approved by the RKAS leader “Samurai”, he answered in the affirmative.
It was very shocking to read a discussion between members of RKAS in Voronezh and neo-fascists on one Internet forum in the city of Voronezh about which of them is more effectively fighting against the existing government.
There is also a method of recruiting for RKAS like unscrupulous infiltration or “entrism” in a very Trotskyist style. Thus, in the 1990s, RKAS leaders allied themselves with the trade union officials from the reformist-bureaucratic "Independent Trade Union of Miners," recruiting them to RKAS and helping them in the propaganda. In the 2000s, RKAS leaders infiltrated the “Union of Anarchists of Ukraine” (SAU). This is a legal political party, which has a program of "anarcho"-capitalism (the free market) and participates in the legislative elections in Ukraine (http://www.sau.org/2006.html). Although RKAS says, its members are NOW out of the SAU, they continue cooperation on the local level (in the creation of student organizations etc. - http://www.sau.org/)
It would seem that this practice is contrary to the principle of "ideological unity", which the “platformists” proclaim. But at the beginning, all is well for RKAS, just to increase the involvement. Then they try to "discipline" newcomers with the help of the "Platformism" and of “summer camps” organized by RKAS, where physical training is carried out simultaneously with brainwashing.
The agenda of summer camps of RKAS includes not only compulsory spiritual meditation, political meetings and physical training, but also requires obedience to the leader: “All the campers strictly and rigorously adhere tothe order of camp and its rules, all regulations of the camp`s Direction (!!), from the moment of deciding to actually participate in the camp”. The principle of personality is virtually abolished in the camp (http://rkas.org.ua/node/334). Interestingly, the order and principles are virtually identical (litterally!) with the regulations and principles of the "Annual summer sports camp Wing Chun Kung Fu of the House of Eternal Spring”(http://www.wingchun.donetsk.ua/wingchunsection.html).
The head of the "School of the House of Eternal Spring" is “Samurai” himself. This is how he explains it:
“(...) The School of "the House of Eternal Spring" is not an anarchist project directly (...). However, it is closely related to the activities of RKAS. The school has three rooms where during the academic year to deal with a hundred people. (...) Our school of martial arts is a co-op at RKAS, and the members of RKAS earn money working in this co-op. And customers are paying money, and they are not anarchists (...) However the martial-arts-community has its own laws and its own logic of development of relations (...). The school of martial arts is created around the personality of the trainer-teacher, it is natural, and without this, it is impossible. But this is not power over the individual as such, because if you do not want to do, you can leave it. I simply can not imagine how you can argue with an instructor in the section of martial arts, and flaunt your egoism? You have come for knowledge - and to learn. If do not like it - don't study.
This is all the things from the Eastern tradition and philosophy that completely connected to all martial arts. The question is whether the trainer abuses tradition turning the section into a totalitarian sect, or he behaves with dignity and wisdom and is only the first among equals. (...) It does not mean that people must kiss hands of the trainer. It is not written. No? Really? But this means opening oneself fully and trusting, dissolving oneself in the process, because the transfer of knowledge comes from "heart to heart", you become a family to each other. And this is not a word (...). Moreover, among people who are engaged in the school, team spirit, the communitarian mentality and mutual aid are cultivated (read carefully the ethics of the school). And we're not just declaring it all, but also applying it in practice - celebrating holidays, taking care of those people who are ill or in trouble, keeping in touch with those who joined the army, or moved. It's not enough? In this epoch of atomization and general indifference, when all social relationships between people were destroyed, creation of a communal- family subculture is very much! In addition, the school trains the black guard of RKAS (free of course), the school provides staff for RKAS (i.e., the newspaper "Anarchy" is circulated and talks about ideological and social issues amongst non-anarchist people are conducted, but selectively, not by force”.
When asked on the forum how such a “teacher” will differ from the director or leading manager of a modern society, “Samurai” answered: “Do you think, there will be no teachers, directors or leading managers in an anarchist society? Just the vector of relations will change. Power over other people will be substituted by regulation of processes, and privileges will be replaced by a voluntary responsibility”
(http://anarhia.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=96673&sid=d1fa8368bee7f7a93619eb4555158bbc#p96673).
Finally, leaders of RKAS proclaim openly a “clan system” as one of its principles necessary to create their own "subculture". At the RKAS Congress of 2010, it was stated: “One of our main objectives is to create RKAS's own subculture of anarcho-syndicalism, based on the principles of brotherhood, unity and clanism” (http://anarhia.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=297179&sid=a00266d862e2e85ce8305ed996236eef#p297179).
The tactics chosen by RKAS, were and remain always extremely hypocritical. Its leaders have repeatedly promised something but doing something completely different. They assured us many times that they want to cooperate with our organization, but did so only in order to prevent any possible support by us for any initiatives in the organization of an IWA section in the Ukraine. Under the cover of beautiful words and promises, they have activized parallelist activities in Russia.
In summary, it appears that RKAS represents a structure of multilevel indoctrination, in essence, a kind of psychosect, which uses platformism as a cover, trying to seize control of the anarchist movement.
In addition, a paramilitary structure, the "Black Guard" is created under the RKAS. Its "fighters" obtain training in martial arts. Even creation of a uniform is planned. “Samurai” explained its tasks as follows:
"We generalize our experience so to speak," inside", at the seminars of the black guard and in training camps. Not everything goes as smoothly as we would like but the creation of self-defense force organization (something like a "party" militia) is a very important area of our organic development. Thus the black guard was conceived as a force (federation of territorial units in sections with a common leading staff) on the basis of ideology, the constant training of personal combat skills of fighters and teamwork (...) as well as a consist practoce in street conditions” (http://rkas.org.ua/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1860&sid=6afe73236bda95026a89b2e9c87a26b4&start=270#p37867). Officially, anybody can join the "guard", but they are obliged to obey the leadership of RKAS.
Note that RKAS openly spread videos of his "guard" on the Internet. It is unclear whether there is so much freedom and democracy in the Ukraine that paramilitary organizations can not be afraid ofreprisals, whether the authorities know that all this "guard" is just puff and a group of hooligans, or ... ?
How does the RKAS work in general? “Samurai” explains:
“The RKAS has invaluable experience of anarchist work which nobody else has. The specificity of RKAS is as follows:
1. The activities of the members of the organization and of its local groups have been streamlined and systematized. At the end of each week, general meetings are held, which are divided into a working part, an "anarchist school" and a training of the "black guard". On the working part, a strategy of work for the next week is elaborated, monthly and quarterly work is planned, membership duties are collected, talks with the newcomers are held, current issues are resolved, all members of the local organization report to the meeting about their activities, new tasks were distributed. This is followed by an "anarchist school", where educational lectures and seminars are organized and various training on practical activities are conducted. During the "School", emphasis is placed on engaging in the learning process of all - the lecturers and teachers and newcomers, making the "school" an authentic laboratory of self-education. In the end (or the next day, usually Saturday and Sunday) there are training of the "black guard", with obligatory participation of all healthy members of the local group. The training typically last two to three hours and included physical training, martial arts and group games. The objectives of such training were: education of team spirit, support of healthy vitality amongst members of the organization and training of self-defense groups to protect the organization. Absence in meetings and training must be strictly justified!!
2. (...) RKAS has always been an anarchist community, a large family of like-minded, ideological and militant clan of fighters in word and deed. (...) And none of those who have violated the principles and spirit of the organization went without punishment. All lazy, incorrigible windbags, cowards and the faint-hearted are ruthlessly expelled. Traitors are despised in public. Causing harm is punished. It is decided at a general meeting or by the arbitral tribunal”. (http://rkas.org.ua/forum/viewtopic.php?p=214&sid=cba4e4fe20bfd5f759425fb029cac55c#p214)
As you can see, it is the classical description of a psychosect.
And finally, a few words about the social program of the RKAS. In words, the organization strives to achieve anarchist communist society. However, the above mentioned statements of “Samurai” on the existence of directors and leading managers in an anarchist society are enough to put this aim into question. But there are other examples of highly ambiguous wording. For example, the so-called "Minimal program" of RKAS contains requirements to transfer industry "into the hands of labor collectives with ownership rights " and to reduce taxes on mid-size and small business. The demand to "return to society of what was brazenly seized by criminal business in the wake of theft of 1990s" suggests that, in terms of RKAS, enterprises in the Soviet Union belonged to "society", not to the state. (http://rkas.org.ua/forum/viewtopic.php?p=37327&sid=ef302b9c0aa9aa0b47d533f1fbe0425f#p37327)
The RKAS does not limit itself to creating parallel pseudo-anarcho-syndicalist groups in Russia, introducing confusion into the minds of people and discrediting anarcho-syndicalism as a practice and as an idea. It essentially aims to become a new kind of parallel pseudo-anarcho-syndicalist International!
The tactics chosen RKAS, has always been extremely hypocritical. Its leaders have repeatedly promised one thing but doing something entirely contrary. Only one thing is important: to amuse their ambitions and to impose their authority anarchist movement. They do this with all means. One conclusion: carefully, comrades!
P.S. Recently, RKAS strengthen nationalist and patriotic discurses in the statements. In this connection, the participation of its representatives on Kiev Congress of National-"Communists" and National-"Anarchists" in the summer of 2012 doesn`t can be considered as accidental.
Reading their Statutes (which the RKAS still prefers not to disseminate publicly), we can imagine an international anarchist ideological organization. But at the same time, the RKAS still calls itself "anarcho-syndicalist" (as Shevchenko did in the 1990s), seeking to create workers and students' unions under its authority and control (for example, in the Ukraine, the small "General Confederation of Labour of Anarcho-syndicalists", the student Union "Unity" and few co-operatives were formed - they all are purely mythical).
As an organization, the RKAS is built rigidly hierarchically. The Congress chooses a central Executive body - the Orgbureau (Organizational Bureau), which, in essence, concentrates all the power in its hands. The structure of the Orgbureau includes the Secretary General and his deputy, the international secretary, the editor of the central press organ (the newspaper "Anarchy"), the commander of the "party" militia - the "Black Guard", the finance director, the Head of Media Center of RKAS and the representative of “workers`” union created by RKAS. (http://anarhia.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=297179&sid=a00266d862e2e85ce8305ed996236eef#p297179)
Formally, the Orgbureau only advises and informs local sections, but in practice, its decisions and actions are not of technical but of administrative nature. It takes the most important political and tactical decisions, which are then simply approved by the congresses. Within different countries, the national secretariats are formed. In other words, we can observe an international structure, a new “anarchist” International.
Moreover, the presence of vertical structures is obvious. As stated at the conference of RKAS in 2011, the "it was decided to solve the questions about the division of responsibilities along the way, through horizontal and vertical connections within the organization" (http://rkas.org.ua/forum/viewtopic.php?p=37326&sid=ef302b9c0aa9aa0b47d533f1fbe0425f#p37326)
A new member joining the RKAS is seen as a pledge who has to take an oath. As was said at the conference in 2011, "after entering into RKAS, you take an oath in front of your comrades and they look at you". People leaving the organization is seen as "a deserter from the front of Anarchy" and as "traitor to his comrades” (http://rkas.org.ua/forum/viewtopic.php?p=37326&sid=ef302b9c0aa9aa0b47d533f1fbe0425f#p37326).
The inner life of the organization (at least in its center, in Donetsk) is very authoritarian. One of the former participants (who left to join the Nazis which were obviously very cloce to his initial orientation) testified: "The discipline in R.K.A.S., the Revolutionary Confederation of Anarcho-syndicalists, went beyond the limit. Or rather, it tended do go. Training three times a week, the general meeting one time a the week, in addition, of course, "routine work" of putting up flyers, propaganda in the plants, debates, etc. If you do everything which is your "revolutionary duty", there is only time left to sleep. Therefore, members of the organization didn't go to one event or another, trying to free some time for personal life. Later when reading a book about "Sectology" by Alexander Dvorkin, I often smiled: "In totalitarian sects, the adept does not have to stop and reflect on their actions. He is constantly surrounded by the attention of his "brothers and sisters", is loaded with numerous responsibilities ... "- yes, it was so. Plus, of course, the steady moral pressure: not to listen to this music group, because these musicians are “the Nazis”. (...) In general, the number of bans raises questions, because if we struggle for universal liberation, why do so many "no's"? The membership left much to be desired. The "wing" in Kharkov dreamed of terrorism in between drinking, answering to any objection that the revolution is not made in white gloves. People in Donetsk sought any kind of "Nazis" (there were only a couple in the city). In addition, the people joining were all young and fervent. Everybody thought that a revolutionary situation would mature in the next half year. And yet nothing happened, and could not (...) So people were leaving after being "in the ranks" for a while. And I also left" (http://donbassrus.livejournal.com/285983.html)
Another former RKAS member (now, a militant of the student union "Direct Action" in Kiev) was personally beaten by “Samurai”, the leader of the organization, for public disagreement with his opinion. Members of RKAS constantly threaten other anarchists with violence.
Although it is not officially written in the Statutes and Program of RKAS, its leaders often call their organization "platformist", based on the infamous "Platform" of Makhno and Arshinov of 1926. We remember that, according to this document (which the "platformists" attempted to impose on all anarchists), "the task of anarchists in the ranks of the revolutionary trade union movement can be made only when their work there will be very closely linked and aligned with that of anarchist organization outside the syndicate. In other words, we must join the revolutionary trade union movement as an organized force that is responsible for the work of the syndicates before the general anarchist organization and led by that organization".
According to one leader of the Russian section of RKAS using the pseudonym "Makhnovets", our "critics forget that RKAS is a PLATFORMIST organization that has existed some years already, and hence the old-timers have known each other a long time. If some critics would have known the principles of Platformism then there would be no questions" (http://anarhia.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=318885&sid=c2052ffcb7232b8fc010c5c9f6bc061f#p318885). Another member, who wrote on the Internet forum of RKAS, calls it “THE BEST Russian platformist organization” (http://rkas.org.ua/forum/viewtopic.php?p=37734&sid=8ca7f7397a04c4c9b4df21e897eafa25#p37734).
“Samurai”, the RKAS leader, openly calls his organization an “army”: “The organization is discipline, unity, a common strategy. Organization is a united force, an anarchist army, a shocking fist" (http://rkas.org.ua/forum/viewtopic.php?p=37325&sid=ef302b9c0aa9aa0b47d533f1fbe0425f#p37325)
He writes openly about his intention to take control of all the anarcho-syndicalist movement and all supporters of libertarian communism. On one of the anarchist Internet forums, he had said: "Comrade anarchists of the left side - syndicalists, communists and revolutionaries! Let's unite! A single organization! Enough to sit in the local groups, it divides forces! The RKAS, its documents and experiences are the most appropriate platform for unification. Join us. Time is running out! Do not disconnect but unite, unity is the force of anarchists. Enough speaking - act! The Program and Statutes of RKAS are a banner for unity, otherwise the creation of a mass organization is impossible!" (http://www.makhno.ru/forum/archive/index.php/t-33.html).
Note that the appetites of “Samurai” extend very widely. When information about the Congress of Mexican anarchists was placed on the Internet forum of RKAS, one of the members wrote: "It is a pity that this is not RKAS-Mexico". And “Samurai” said on that, supposedly in jest: “There will still be, comrade” (http://rkas.org.ua/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=3660&sid=44b8af7c72626616c49d072c7850f57e)
At the conference of RKAS in 2007, it was said: “We need an all-Ukrainian (and possibly also all-Russian and even infinite) single organization of left-wing revolutionary anarchists. We see RKAS as such organization, so all who agree with us and wants work shall join the RKAS (...)”(http://rkas.org.ua/forum/viewtopic.php?p=214&sid=cba4e4fe20bfd5f759425fb029cac55c#p214 )
Nevertheless, we can say that the RKAS is an international “platformist” anarcho-party only on one level - so to speak, on the middle level. On a "grassroots" level, it is ready to recruit into its ranks all comers, regardless of their positions, if they show interest and loyalty. So in RKAS are not only people who do not intend to make and cannot make any syndicalist activity, but even are direct opponents of libertarian communism. There are also “counterculturalists”, “insurrectionalists”, adherents of "anarcho-capitalism" and even nationalists in its ranks. For example, one member of RKAS loves going around in the T-shirt with the text “I`m Russian!”. These shirts are of Russian nationalists. On the question of whether it is approved by the RKAS leader “Samurai”, he answered in the affirmative.
It was very shocking to read a discussion between members of RKAS in Voronezh and neo-fascists on one Internet forum in the city of Voronezh about which of them is more effectively fighting against the existing government.
There is also a method of recruiting for RKAS like unscrupulous infiltration or “entrism” in a very Trotskyist style. Thus, in the 1990s, RKAS leaders allied themselves with the trade union officials from the reformist-bureaucratic "Independent Trade Union of Miners," recruiting them to RKAS and helping them in the propaganda. In the 2000s, RKAS leaders infiltrated the “Union of Anarchists of Ukraine” (SAU). This is a legal political party, which has a program of "anarcho"-capitalism (the free market) and participates in the legislative elections in Ukraine (http://www.sau.org/2006.html). Although RKAS says, its members are NOW out of the SAU, they continue cooperation on the local level (in the creation of student organizations etc. - http://www.sau.org/)
It would seem that this practice is contrary to the principle of "ideological unity", which the “platformists” proclaim. But at the beginning, all is well for RKAS, just to increase the involvement. Then they try to "discipline" newcomers with the help of the "Platformism" and of “summer camps” organized by RKAS, where physical training is carried out simultaneously with brainwashing.
The agenda of summer camps of RKAS includes not only compulsory spiritual meditation, political meetings and physical training, but also requires obedience to the leader: “All the campers strictly and rigorously adhere tothe order of camp and its rules, all regulations of the camp`s Direction (!!), from the moment of deciding to actually participate in the camp”. The principle of personality is virtually abolished in the camp (http://rkas.org.ua/node/334). Interestingly, the order and principles are virtually identical (litterally!) with the regulations and principles of the "Annual summer sports camp Wing Chun Kung Fu of the House of Eternal Spring”(http://www.wingchun.donetsk.ua/wingchunsection.html).
The head of the "School of the House of Eternal Spring" is “Samurai” himself. This is how he explains it:
“(...) The School of "the House of Eternal Spring" is not an anarchist project directly (...). However, it is closely related to the activities of RKAS. The school has three rooms where during the academic year to deal with a hundred people. (...) Our school of martial arts is a co-op at RKAS, and the members of RKAS earn money working in this co-op. And customers are paying money, and they are not anarchists (...) However the martial-arts-community has its own laws and its own logic of development of relations (...). The school of martial arts is created around the personality of the trainer-teacher, it is natural, and without this, it is impossible. But this is not power over the individual as such, because if you do not want to do, you can leave it. I simply can not imagine how you can argue with an instructor in the section of martial arts, and flaunt your egoism? You have come for knowledge - and to learn. If do not like it - don't study.
This is all the things from the Eastern tradition and philosophy that completely connected to all martial arts. The question is whether the trainer abuses tradition turning the section into a totalitarian sect, or he behaves with dignity and wisdom and is only the first among equals. (...) It does not mean that people must kiss hands of the trainer. It is not written. No? Really? But this means opening oneself fully and trusting, dissolving oneself in the process, because the transfer of knowledge comes from "heart to heart", you become a family to each other. And this is not a word (...). Moreover, among people who are engaged in the school, team spirit, the communitarian mentality and mutual aid are cultivated (read carefully the ethics of the school). And we're not just declaring it all, but also applying it in practice - celebrating holidays, taking care of those people who are ill or in trouble, keeping in touch with those who joined the army, or moved. It's not enough? In this epoch of atomization and general indifference, when all social relationships between people were destroyed, creation of a communal- family subculture is very much! In addition, the school trains the black guard of RKAS (free of course), the school provides staff for RKAS (i.e., the newspaper "Anarchy" is circulated and talks about ideological and social issues amongst non-anarchist people are conducted, but selectively, not by force”.
When asked on the forum how such a “teacher” will differ from the director or leading manager of a modern society, “Samurai” answered: “Do you think, there will be no teachers, directors or leading managers in an anarchist society? Just the vector of relations will change. Power over other people will be substituted by regulation of processes, and privileges will be replaced by a voluntary responsibility”
(http://anarhia.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=96673&sid=d1fa8368bee7f7a93619eb4555158bbc#p96673).
Finally, leaders of RKAS proclaim openly a “clan system” as one of its principles necessary to create their own "subculture". At the RKAS Congress of 2010, it was stated: “One of our main objectives is to create RKAS's own subculture of anarcho-syndicalism, based on the principles of brotherhood, unity and clanism” (http://anarhia.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=297179&sid=a00266d862e2e85ce8305ed996236eef#p297179).
The tactics chosen by RKAS, were and remain always extremely hypocritical. Its leaders have repeatedly promised something but doing something completely different. They assured us many times that they want to cooperate with our organization, but did so only in order to prevent any possible support by us for any initiatives in the organization of an IWA section in the Ukraine. Under the cover of beautiful words and promises, they have activized parallelist activities in Russia.
In summary, it appears that RKAS represents a structure of multilevel indoctrination, in essence, a kind of psychosect, which uses platformism as a cover, trying to seize control of the anarchist movement.
In addition, a paramilitary structure, the "Black Guard" is created under the RKAS. Its "fighters" obtain training in martial arts. Even creation of a uniform is planned. “Samurai” explained its tasks as follows:
"We generalize our experience so to speak," inside", at the seminars of the black guard and in training camps. Not everything goes as smoothly as we would like but the creation of self-defense force organization (something like a "party" militia) is a very important area of our organic development. Thus the black guard was conceived as a force (federation of territorial units in sections with a common leading staff) on the basis of ideology, the constant training of personal combat skills of fighters and teamwork (...) as well as a consist practoce in street conditions” (http://rkas.org.ua/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1860&sid=6afe73236bda95026a89b2e9c87a26b4&start=270#p37867). Officially, anybody can join the "guard", but they are obliged to obey the leadership of RKAS.
Note that RKAS openly spread videos of his "guard" on the Internet. It is unclear whether there is so much freedom and democracy in the Ukraine that paramilitary organizations can not be afraid ofreprisals, whether the authorities know that all this "guard" is just puff and a group of hooligans, or ... ?
How does the RKAS work in general? “Samurai” explains:
“The RKAS has invaluable experience of anarchist work which nobody else has. The specificity of RKAS is as follows:
1. The activities of the members of the organization and of its local groups have been streamlined and systematized. At the end of each week, general meetings are held, which are divided into a working part, an "anarchist school" and a training of the "black guard". On the working part, a strategy of work for the next week is elaborated, monthly and quarterly work is planned, membership duties are collected, talks with the newcomers are held, current issues are resolved, all members of the local organization report to the meeting about their activities, new tasks were distributed. This is followed by an "anarchist school", where educational lectures and seminars are organized and various training on practical activities are conducted. During the "School", emphasis is placed on engaging in the learning process of all - the lecturers and teachers and newcomers, making the "school" an authentic laboratory of self-education. In the end (or the next day, usually Saturday and Sunday) there are training of the "black guard", with obligatory participation of all healthy members of the local group. The training typically last two to three hours and included physical training, martial arts and group games. The objectives of such training were: education of team spirit, support of healthy vitality amongst members of the organization and training of self-defense groups to protect the organization. Absence in meetings and training must be strictly justified!!
2. (...) RKAS has always been an anarchist community, a large family of like-minded, ideological and militant clan of fighters in word and deed. (...) And none of those who have violated the principles and spirit of the organization went without punishment. All lazy, incorrigible windbags, cowards and the faint-hearted are ruthlessly expelled. Traitors are despised in public. Causing harm is punished. It is decided at a general meeting or by the arbitral tribunal”. (http://rkas.org.ua/forum/viewtopic.php?p=214&sid=cba4e4fe20bfd5f759425fb029cac55c#p214)
As you can see, it is the classical description of a psychosect.
And finally, a few words about the social program of the RKAS. In words, the organization strives to achieve anarchist communist society. However, the above mentioned statements of “Samurai” on the existence of directors and leading managers in an anarchist society are enough to put this aim into question. But there are other examples of highly ambiguous wording. For example, the so-called "Minimal program" of RKAS contains requirements to transfer industry "into the hands of labor collectives with ownership rights " and to reduce taxes on mid-size and small business. The demand to "return to society of what was brazenly seized by criminal business in the wake of theft of 1990s" suggests that, in terms of RKAS, enterprises in the Soviet Union belonged to "society", not to the state. (http://rkas.org.ua/forum/viewtopic.php?p=37327&sid=ef302b9c0aa9aa0b47d533f1fbe0425f#p37327)
The RKAS does not limit itself to creating parallel pseudo-anarcho-syndicalist groups in Russia, introducing confusion into the minds of people and discrediting anarcho-syndicalism as a practice and as an idea. It essentially aims to become a new kind of parallel pseudo-anarcho-syndicalist International!
The tactics chosen RKAS, has always been extremely hypocritical. Its leaders have repeatedly promised one thing but doing something entirely contrary. Only one thing is important: to amuse their ambitions and to impose their authority anarchist movement. They do this with all means. One conclusion: carefully, comrades!
P.S. Recently, RKAS strengthen nationalist and patriotic discurses in the statements. In this connection, the participation of its representatives on Kiev Congress of National-"Communists" and National-"Anarchists" in the summer of 2012 doesn`t can be considered as accidental.
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