No Tav: a militarized country and a false letter

Posted by Francesco Finucci on September 22, 2013 · 1 Comment 

On July 2013, for the first time prosecutors charged twelve protesters in Val di Susa with the charge of “terrorism”. The area – where the high speed line is being built – has been consequently heavily militarized. Now a letter from members of subversive cells invites the movement to organize for a “qualitative leap”. But heavy doubts remain on what’s really happening in Italy.

In May the 27^th of 2010, during a trial for terrorism, Claudio Latino red a letter – signed also by Vincenzo Sisi, Davide Bortolato and Alfredo Davanzo. Our times – they declared – need the armed struggle. Who are them? They’re members of the Political-military Communist Party, a subversive organization discovered in 2007. That is the reason for the charge of terrorism they’re facing. Ten days earlier, another cell called FAI (Informal Anarchic Federation) sent to journals a letter where was announced a new wave of fight against the State. On the other hand the Division for General and Special Investigations (DIGOS) was already active for intercepting links between terrorist cells and a socioeconomic situation becoming worse.

Anti-terrorism activity reactivated also because signals were evident. In May of 2012 the CEO of Ansaldo Nucleare, Roberto Adinolfi had been shot in the legs. A method attributable to one of the most famous terrorist cells of Italy‘s republican history: the Red Brigades (BR, Brigate Rosse). Rapidly the proof came: a letter where the Olga Cell of FAI vindicated the attack. This first element makes us realize that an increase in terrorist activity in Italy really exists. But the problem is more complicated. In May the 15^th of 2012, a week later than the attack, a document was given to prosecutors and superintendents in order to emphasize some sensitive targets: nuclear production, prisons and the TAV. Obviously, such a document was found by journals as Il Secolo XIX and published. A message? We don’t know, but it’s strange such a delicate document to be treated with so little discretion. Especially by thinking that an encounter was to be taken in Münich (Germany) among ministers of interior in order to speak about European terrorism.

We already know how the economic crisis is loosening the constraints of democracy all around Europe. It always happens. Consequently, the organs of the State involved in defending the pillars of democratic life are presumed to act this way. However, their hyperactivity doesn’t necessarily mean more protection. It didn’t in Greece, where police is supporting Golden Dawn. And Italy is not new to phenomena of militarization in order to assure control of population. In 2008 the government of Silvio Berlusconi decided to use 2500 military units side by side with the police, in order to assure security to citizens. A notable detail is that they were controlled by the Minister of Interior and not by the one of Defense. Consequently, they were controllable as an element of political pressure. Two instruments – defense of State and security of citizens – that should never be mixed. But they were, and often. Another case was reported by the docufilm Draquila, shot by Sabina Guzzanti in the city of L’Aquila after the earthquake of 2009. There, Berlusconi decided for a strict control, where citizen were not even allowed to speak with journalists, and in some cases to go out of camps without being questioned by soldiers. Even some drinks and public political debate were limited.

So, what happened in Val di Susa? It happened first of all the militarization of the area. A militarization started with something like 200 soldiers all around the construction of the new line, in order to reply to a growing antagonism brought on by citizens, organized groups and simple vandals. In growth are in fact attacks made up with fireworks and similar, but also clashes with police. In July – as reported – members of the social center Askatuna have been arrested with the really heavy charge of terrorism. They had attacked policemen throwing molotov, bengal lights, rockets and paper bombs with a mortar. The situation was so tense to provoke scenes like the one reported by the Italian journal Il Fatto Quotidiano:

“The other day, I was going for a walk in woods, from Giaglione to Chiomonte. I was looking for mushrooms with little hallucinogenic properties, amanite muscarie. Personal use. Abruptly, a policeman in riot gear appears from behind a tree. I jolted. “Uh, what a fear, agent…” He said to me imperiously: “Documents!” “With all respect, sir, I don’t have with me my identity card, but – if you want – I can come back to my car and take them”. “Show me the content of your bag”. I opened the side pocket. “Ah, a weapon!” he affirmed, proud. “A modest Swiss box-cutter, agent. I need it to clean my mushrooms”. He observed me, really seriously […]. “Which mushrooms?” “Amanita muscaria”. I opened my bag, showing them […]. He was perplexed.“Follow me”. “But…”. “Follow me”. I adapted.I was picked up on a patrol wagon. There were other dangerous criminals. One of them, contrite, admitted he had with himself knife and fork; to make a picnic, he added. The other one was taken having a pollen mask, he said. Another, with a stone. He had glasses. He stuttered: “I’m a minerals seeker”. Another, surely dangerous, you can bet: he had dreadlocks. Absolutely anarcho-insurrectionist, I went on thinking. He was caught with the ax in one hand and a wheelbarrow full of firewood”.

This could be the exact definition of the therm “psychosis”, but who’s the guilty? Not only policemen and military. And the confirm is in the latest event linked with the TAV, a letter signed by Alfredo Davanzo and Vincenzo Sisi, where protesters were asked to make a “qualitative leap”. Such a letter was uploaded in the internet and can be found in the website of International Red Aid. It sounded strange to me, and such a feeling was confirmed by a brilliant article written by Ciro Pellegrino for Fanpage. The first precedent that appeared in my mind reading the news was the letter by FAI after the attack to Adinolfi. Pellegrino, at the contrary, found a letter written by Marco Sacchi – another anarchist – in September the 13^th of this year. Pellegrino underlined how the direct appeal to the No Tav movement was probably copied from the one that Sacchi had written. Words are the same, as happens not only for the incipit, but for entire paragraphs of the two discourses. The only significant variation is the fact that important passages speaking about forms of repression used in Genoa during the G8 are reduced or eliminated. Remember this passage, because it will be important.

One of the possible links between the two letter could be that the declaration had to be given from the prison where Davanzo and Sisi are. So, quotations could have been utilized in order to have a part of the document ready without needing to pass through the prison system. Such a reading is not convincing, however. The other part of the text seems to have been redacted by someone who deeply knows the history of insurrectionalism. Probably an educated and proud person. Somebody who don’t quote from the work of others. But there is something more. The element of (presumed) repression has been deleted or marginalized, while on the contrary the other part of Sacchi’s text has been completely exploited. This is highly suspicious. As is suspicious how in a text of five pages the only the detail of the TAV had been underlined, while on the other hand, the website of FAI doesn’t even speak about the letter, and the No Tav movement has rejected it as offensive and suspicious.

It’s too early to prove something, but an indication exists and stays in analysis of elements involved in protests. The only actor of protests in Val di Susa who would gain in such a letter is exclusively one: the Ministry of Interior. Perhaps, the parliament should ask for a committee to make it clear. At the moment, the only response has been the one of sending another 200 soldiers, redoubling their presence in the area. Who wins? Security or control?

Photo: Collettivo Politico Scienze Politiche/Flickr

Filed under Europe, Italy · Tagged with Control, Italy, No Tav, Security, Terrorism, Val di Susa