Date: Sat, 4 Apr 1998 20:54:14 -0800 (PST)
From: Tom Condit <tomcondit-AT-igc.apc.org>
Subject: M-NEWS: Squatters vs. Italian state


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 4 Apr 1998 13:20:59 GMT + 2:00
From: FRANCO BARCHIESI <029FRB-AT-cosmos.wits.ac.za>
Reply-To: aut-op-sy-AT-jefferson.village.Virginia.EDU
Subject: AUT: ITALY - Movement Update 03-04-1998


Dear comrades,

What follows is the translation of extracts of articles from the 
influential (moderate and FIAT-owned) Italian newspaper "La Stampa" 
on latest developments concerning the extremely serious situation 
determined by state repression of the antagonist, extra-
parliamentarian left in the Italian Northwest, particularly Turin. A 
mass demonstration will take place today 4 April in Turin, following 
the suicide in jail of an imprisoned comrade. Wide coverage, filled 
with malicious misrepresentations of the Movement's positions, has 
been given to the Turin events from all major newspapers and both 
public and private TV networks. An impressive mobilisation of support, 
involving also intellectuals and politicians, but especially left 
militants and activists, has taken place to underline the 
instrumental nature of state charges on the imprisoned comrades, 
and to find a non-repressive solution to the issue.

------- Forwarded Message (Translated) Follows -------
From: Cyber Joker <cyber.joker-AT-ecn.org>
Subject: Saturday 4 April 1998; articles from "La Stampa" 

Saturday 4 April 1998, articles from "La Stampa" (Turin)

Titles:
1) ""Squatter" Demonstration: Fear is the Latest Guest". 
"Today young people from the whole Italy and from abroad are expected 
to March in Turin. More than 1,000 police and Carabinieri troops 
mobilized. Veltroni [Italian deputy Prime minister, FB]: it was right 
to authorize the march. Right-wing opposition rejects govt.'s choice".

2) "Prodi [Italian Prime Minister, FB]: I'm Very Worried".

3) "Castellani [Turin's Mayor, FB]: "Yes to Dialogue, but It Takes 
Two""

4) "Senator Vertone [Right Wing opposition, FB] accuses: 
"Despicable Surrender of the State; It is Necessary to Restore Law and 
Order""

Extracts from articles:

1) From: "Squatter Demonstration, Fear is the Latest Guest":

TURIN- It might be the day of fear. The gathering is for 14:00 at the 
Balon Bridge, the fleamarket behind Palazzo Gate, the huge market 
square. And from that square, just in front of the City Hall and of 
the Supreme Court, in the heart of the town, the "squatters'" march 
will start, with thousands of young people coming from all over 
Italy. It is a march to demand the release of Maria Soledad Rosas and 
Silvano Pelissero, two members of the local "Social Centres" who have 
been arrested together with Edoardo Massari, who later committed 
suicide in jail. The police accused them of being connected with the 
"Grey Wolves" band, charged with armed attacks in the Susa Valley. 
The town is now under siege. Massive police and carabinieri 
reinforcements have been called during the night from all over the 
country. At least one thousand troops are estimated, mainly from 
Milan and Genoa. (...) The demonstrators will come from Treviso, 
Bologna, Rome, Naples, Forli', but also from France and Germany. From 
Milan, the activists from the "Leoncavallo" Social Centre will travel 
on three special coaches attached to a high-speed train. This caused 
outrage: Mario Borghezio, MP from the Northern League [Right-wing 
party explicitly racist and secessionist, FB] asked Transport 
Minister Burlando [Party of the Democratic Left, FB] about the 
reasons for this "special treatment". Hundreds of young people will 
also leave from Genoa at dawn, including militants from three 
Self-Managed Social Centres which count about one thousand militants. 
A strong delegation from the Social Centres of the North-East will be 
present as well, to testify "the necessity and the will to restart a 
relationship between citizens and institutions".
(...)
[commenting further clashes in Turin yesterday]: This is the countless 
provocation of these Anarchists. After days of urban guerrilla, 
windows broken by launches of stones, clashes with the police, 
teargassing and graffiti, the interruption of Dario Fo's theatrical 
performance, the Po Avenue blockade, and the disturbances at the 
Massimo Theatre during the performance by Harvey Keitel.


2) PRODI [Italian Prime Minister, FB]: "I am Very Worried"

ROME - The squatter phenomenon disturbs even the Prime Minister. "I 
am very worried about the Turin and Bologna disturbances", Romano 
Prodi said while he was in London for the Euro-Asian summit. In these 
development Prodi sees the expression of a "social malaise that 
cannot but concern the government".
[The government defends its decision to authorise the march] but, 
according to Senator Maria Grazia Siliquini from National Alliance 
[Neo-Fascist, FB]: "If Napolitano [Minister of the Interior, 
Democratic Left, FB] and the Police Commisioner of Turin are waiting 
for someone to die before stopping violence and acts of terrorism 
that are proliferating exponentially, they should say that, thereby 
assuming the full responsibility". (...) Then she asked to prevent 
the "Autonomists" from marching, accusing the Minister to 
"dangerously underestimate what is happening". Right Wing opposition 
in the Turin City Hall has not missed this opportunity to unleash 
another direct attack to the Castellani left-wing municipal 
administration which, in an interview to this paper, had suggested to 
start consultative forums that included the squatters, as it already 
happens in some Italian municipalities. According to councillor Costa 
[Right wing]: "The Mayor should stop with these weird dreams: 
the squatters should not be hired as consultants, they must be kicked 
out once and for all from their Social Centres, municipal 
properties that they have occupied for years".
(...)

(Extracts translated from postings on the Movimento List from European 
Counter Network/ Isole nella Rete)


=====================================================================
Franco Barchiesi
Sociology of Work Unit
Dept of Sociology
University of the Witwatersrand
Private Bag 3
PO Wits 2050
Johannesburg
South Africa
Tel. (++27 11) 716.3290
Fax  (++27 11) 716.3781
E-Mail 029frb-AT-cosmos.wits.ac.za
http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/~spoons/aut_html
http://pluto.mscc.huji.ac.il/~mshalev/direct.htm

Home:
98 6th Avenue
Melville 2092
Johannesburg
South Africa
Tel. (++27 11) 482.5011


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