Another squated social centre evicted

international | anti-capitalism | press release

Wednesday June 20, 2007 17:29

by Kraker - friends of villa squattus dei

and solidarity action in Dublin

On the morning of Monday 18th of June. The squatted autonomous social centre Villa squattus dei in Leuven Belgium was evicted.
The Eviction came without warning, giving the squatters no chance to remove their belongings.
Thankfully as the squat had only been used as a social centre for the last few months and not as living space, no one was inside, and no arrests were made.
The contents of the house were emptied into a skip.

On the morning of Monday 18th of June. The squatted autonomous social centre Villa squattus dei in Leuven Belgium was evicted.
The Eviction came without warning, giving the squatters no chance to remove their belongings.
Thankfully as the squat had only been used as a social centre for the last few months and not as living space, no one was inside, and no arrests were made.
The contents of the house were emptied into a skip.
The Squat was declared "Illegal" 6 months ago after almost seven years since the occupation.

Villa squattus dei has functioned as a creative/ political space. With art exhibitions, peoples kitchen, information, (direct) actions, free shop
punk and folk concerts and festivals, workshops and debates.
The squatters aimed and succeeded at creating a space against consumerism and capitalist values.

The building is owned by The church of Opus dei. Known as "the most controversial force in the catholic church", and are a right wing catholic cult.
Opus dei was founded in Spain in1928 by Roman Catholic priest Josemaria Escriva, who supported the government of Francisco Franco in Fascist Spain, and expressed sympathy for Adolf Hitler. Claiming that "Hitler couldn't have killed six million [Jews] it couldn't have been more than four million."

The Villa squattus dei building was left empty for years, as Opus dei wanted to build a huge "palace like" building on the site of the now ex squat. The plans were refused by the city council as the building would not fit into the medieval city of Leuven. Hence the building was subsequently squatted for almost seven years.

On the morning of 20th of June Ely University centre, 10 Hume street, Dublin. Was attacked with paint bomb.
The centre provides accommodation for Male members of Opus dei, attending University in Dublin.
This solidarity action is for the movement of Leuven to know that they are not alone in their struggle.
The evictions of more and more social centres across Europe will not go unchallenged. The attempts of these governments to destroy autonomous, ant capitalist centres goes on, but so does squatting!
Kraken gaat door!!!!