The movement against the High Speed Rail (NO TAV) in NW Italy has been subject to police harassment, intimidation and criminalization in the last weeks, as reported by Struggles in Italy:
[en] Police operation against No TAV: charges of terrorism and subversion
In
the Susa Valley and Turin, tens of homes and even restaurants owned by
No TAV activists from the group Comitato di Lotta Popolare have been
searched in an extraordinary anti-terrorism and subversion police
operation. Police were looking for “explosives, blunt objects, items
suitable for cutting fences and audio-visual and digital devices that
could lead to the identification of possible accomplices.”
Searches and arrests have taken place under article 280 of the
Italian Criminal Code rather than the more usually employed articles 270
and 270bis. This represents a significant reframing of the No TAV
struggle by the judiciary, with consequences to be found in the actions
of the police. Charges associated with article 280 (“subversion of
democracy”) are easier to bring than those associated with article 270
(“criminal organisation”). For article 280 charges (which can attract
custodial sentences of up to 30 years), a judge only requires a couple
of injured police officers. Article 270 charges, on the other hand, are
difficult to bring against anarchists (who are often involved in
demonstrations) as they tend not to be involved in a formal
organisation. In addition, the use of petrol bombs (Molotov cocktails)
is treated most seriously by Italian law.
These searches and arrests are related to the protests that took
place on July 10, when stones and firecrackers were thrown at the
heavily fortified building site and many demonstrators were arrested.
After the arrests, many demonstrations took place in solidarity with
those arrested. A few days later, all were released.
On July 19, another demonstration, a march through the woods to the
perimeter fence of the building site, turned very ugly with 63 injured,
two detained and seven arrested. Among them was Marta, an activist who
has reported harassment and humiliation by the police. She was left for
four hours with a split lip (despite a police doctor having ordered
immediate admission to hospital) while police officers spat at her and
insulted her.
Tension is growing in the Susa Valley. Police jeeps carrying officers
have been seen close to the No TAV camp in Venaus and other police
vehicles are guarding different parts of the valley. No TAV activists
believe that the new wave of searches and charges indicate the
judiciary’s desire to increase the level of repression. There have been
no more arrests but there is now the threat of most serious charges
being brought, charges which could lead, without evidence, to long
pre-trial detention orders.
As a footnote – reporting of the No TAV struggle, in all its variety,
by the mainstream media is extremely biased. By presenting a partial
story to the general population, the media (such as La Stampa, a
newspaper based in Turin) encourages people to take a particular view,
with no alternatives countenanced.
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