Italy: Update on the Repression Against Anarchists in Naples

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The pacification of political movements has led to the almost total disappearance from our society of any revolutionary aspiration, replaced with a frenetic rush to occupy the warm and comfortable seats that power offers. This has led to a fierce struggle, often without quarter, to follow the current politician, who is raised to rank of political revolutionary in order to guarantee ‘antagonistic’ politicians an area of political acceptability within the institutions. As a result we witness the voluntary cancellation of any form of opposition in favor of cooperation and often collaboration with a political system that until recently was considered hostile. All these elements represent tangible facts that have negative reprecussions on what remains of the revolutionary or insurrectionary movement, if you prefer.

In a similar context, the last pockets of resistance, those who persist in considering the destruction of this political and economic system as unavoidable, are able to be identified and attacked more easily by the repressive apparatus of the state.

The huge amount of resources that the police and magistracy are able to call upon can be used entirely and with minimal resistance to annihilate a social enemy that now have increasingly reduced spaces to maneuver in.

Specifically, the anarchist movement is the one that is hardest hit by this repressive attack launched by the state. All this has been made possible by the widescale use of so-called criminal association laws that have continuously been adapted to the socio-political structure of the movement.

At present, dozens of comrades are facing prison sentences, are imprisoned or under house arrest, and just as many are subject to various forms of precautionary measures such as signing on, residencial restrictions, special surveillance, etc and an unknown number, certainly very high, are under investigation by various prosecutors scattered throughout Italy. Among these, the Naples prosecutor, who has been struggling for years without much success to make his own infamous contribution, made his voice heard at the beginning of December.

Following two investigations brought together in one proceeding, one in 2010 and the other in 2011, the arrest of twenty anarchist comrades was requested. The investigators hypothesized the existence of a cell, active in Naples and with connections to Greece and Spain, linked to the FAI-FRI and that the publications La Miccia, Invece, Blasphemia and the blog Arraggia are the propaganda tools that the organization uses to publish their communiques and claims of responsibility.

The accusation against them all is subversive association (270 bis) and, for one comrade, specific crimes concerning the possession and use of explosives. Furthermore, the precautionary closure of the Libertarian Studies Center was requested, which since the 1970s has hosted the Louise Michel anarchist group and the 76A anarchist space, which they consider to be logistical bases of the Naples cell.

The author of the investigation is Prosecuting Magistrate Catello Maresca from the District Anti-Mafia Directorate (DDA), who became famous for having arrested several bosses linked to the Casalesi clan. Now, after his 8 year involvement in anti-mafia investigations, he has been moved to anti-terrorism and has decided that in order to maintain his style that he will now pursue the anarchists.

Like many other magistrates he takes delight in writing books in which he describes to us mere mortals the ‘very important’ operations he has completed. In one of these he collaborated with Leandro Del Gaudio, who is well known to us because he often used the newspaper he writes for, Il Mattino, to sling mud at the Naples anarchists. And he has not been shy about divulging news regarding the proceedings against the anarchists, no doubt prompted by his friend Catello is order to seek maximum media visibility.

The investigation is still open so as of yet we have not had the opportunity to read the huge volume of paperwork concerning the procedure that are available to us (the only request from the Prosecuting Magistrate has more than 1500 pages). We don’t know, for example, the total number of suspects because it possible that for other comrades no precautionary measures have been resquested. Furthermore, we don’t know what the basis is for the investigative hypothesis of our zealous magistrate.

One of the things we do know is that in the first instance the request was rejected by a Preliminary Investigations Judge (GIP) who did not consider the elements in his possession to validate the arrests. Not used to having his integrity questioned, the Public Prosecutor has appealed because he can’t accept anybody being allowed to question the work that he has so dilligently carried out. One of the brightest stars of the firmament of our inquisitors does not tolerate defeats, so it seems likely that he will not give up until the end.

Beyond all reasoning, experience teaches us that one of the main objectives of these types of operations is to disintegrate, if not to eradicate, a group of active comrades from the territory in which it acts.

In our case they have been mistaken in their calculations. We are not going to retreat one single step. We will continue our political and existential journey in the face of those who would like us to be mute and submissive.

The date of the appeal hearing was set for December 14 and then moved to February 22 due to a lack of notification.

Updates will follow as soon as we are able to provide more detailed information.

SOME ANARCHISTS IN NAPLES

(via Croce Nera Anarchica, translated by Insurrection News)

via insurrectionnewsworldwide.com