Casa Arkillos 10 was occupied in 2010. It is a historic building owned by the City Hall of Vitoria-Gasteiz. He had been abandoned for years and during these 10 years many people who have given him their lives have been there. In it there have been very diverse people who militated in different agents: young people, feminists, ecologists, adolescents, members of the neighborhood agents, anarchists, as well as people who were not organized in groups. The house itself, besides housing, has been an open space: bicycle workshop, theatre, dinners or concerts, has been a space for meetings for many collectives during these 10 years.

This is how Arkillos arrived at the end of last October. Then, a technical architect came home and gave us a letter informing us that the City Hall has commissioned him to perform the ITE (Building Technical Inspection) of the building.

In general, Arkillos is fine, we have the report of an architect who says so. That is why, and because not passing the ITE can have negative consequences, such as fines or attempted invasion by the City Hall, we decided to do the ITE.

Aware of the risks involved in the implementation of the ITE, the City Hall evicted Talka in the midst of the lockdown and, under the pretext of a regulation of juvenile premises, forced the gaztetxe to be closed with a threat of fine until the pandemic measures were modified. That’s why, faced with the ITE, we decided to do an integral “sheet metal pint” session at home and leave it well ordered. It's a big house and, although the works weren't for that much, they were all stacked, and in addition, the architect squeezed us with the deadlines: we were going to do everything in two weeks, before his visit.

On 12 November we held an extraordinary meeting to plan the work. Four family members then put the proposal on the table: Erraki would help us with financial and human resources, in exchange for connecting the house with Erraki. According to these members, the house was weakened, unable to cope with these jobs, and Erraki was the only guarantee to do the work of the house and to have fun the ITE. They explained to us that the union with Erraki does not require all members of the house to be members of the socialist line, but that the union with Erraki has its obligations: Become a Personnel Control Center (LKG), be a discipline and subordination of Erraki and put banners and be present in the mobilizations of our Arkillos 10 LKG in case of suffering or being at risk another LKG.

It is true that Arkillos 10 was in a situation of vulnerability, we had six members at home (another two people were in the process of marching and another did not know what to do). On the other hand, it has to be said that of the six Members who were staying at home, four of us were very new and, in case of chance, there was no anger or conflict between us.

When they brought the proposal, the other two of us were surprised, we didn't expect it. We, on the occasion of the ITE, were working within the framework of the house, in contact until then with architects, lawyers and agents of the neighborhood, planning the work to be done. Furthermore, due to the need to carry out these work, there was no time to discuss the proposal to connect with Erraki, much less if it is a matter of giving the in-depth debate necessary to link us to a concrete political organisation.

We did not agree and set out to make an effort: Invite the people who have gone through Arkillos to participate in the Auzolans, among all, without being linked to either Erraki or anyone. As there was no agreement between us, we set a date for Sunday.

On Sunday we put on the table the answer that the call to the auzolan had: almost 40 people from a lot of collectives who have had contact with Arquillos: Zahaz Harro, Goian, solidarity with Basque political prisoners, internationalists, Talka, Errekaleor and Sumendi, Bizi, Bizikopon, Kutxi eta Txikitako okupak, Ernai, gaztetxeroak… and friends of our environment. Among them, people who have participated in numerous auzolans. Our proposal was that all those friends, plus those who could bring those on the line, all together, do the household chores.

However, the four line members maintained their proposal: Erraki would take care of the work, Arkillos would become a Controlled Personnel Center and connect with Erraki. These willing people, under these conditions, were welcome if they wanted to participate in the auzolan. The two colleagues who are not ildokos said that we did not agree with Arkillos joining Erraki, and that if we did, we would leave the house. After long deliberation, we did not agree and agreed on Tuesday to hold the final meeting. Line members would take the time to talk to each other and in their organization. The need to consult with a foreign agent asked us a question: Where did I leave the house assembly?

There will be no news on Tuesday. The four family members decided to join Arkillos Erraki. The other two colleagues have said that we were going to leave the house and we have done so.

Why? Well, we think it's simple. Erraki is a protection network for the Labor Control Centers designed by the socialist line, not a network of Gaztetxes and Occupational Centers of Euskal Herria. In addition, we did not agree with the ways of working the proposal (the time, the deadlines, the ways of making decisions, the lack of care among the neighbors,…)

Also, how did they come to us? In short, even if the excuse that we were put on the table on Thursday (within the deadlines of the work, we denied that Erraki could only guarantee the work, for the auzolan that we had 40 people outside Errakiz), the members of the line went ahead with their decision. We asked them what problems they all had to make auzolan together, the answer is that Erraki, as a network, can't come to work if they're not tied to the house. On the contrary, the house in relation to them, all of us, in relation to our diversity, should go to the Auzolan. Understood.

In short, a house that for 10 years has been very diverse from neighbors and collectives, in which, among other things, members of the line have carried out their meetings and other uses, has spent four days being a house that has joined Erraki. Imposed by most of a given moment, yes, not by consensus.

The values of self-management, assembly and auzolan are different.

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Rubén Sánchez,

Maite Aranalde,

5 former colleagues from Arkillos 10