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9 August, 2001The Italian metal union FIOM has underlined its commitment to the guarantee of peaceful demonstration.
ITALY: In a press statement issued on July 26 by the Italian metal union FIOM-CGIL, the federation describes and comments on the events which took place on Saturday, July 21, in Genoa.
To mark the conclusion of the Genoa Social Forum, which was organised on the occasion of the G-8 Summit and in which the FIOM participated, the union - along with thousands of metalworkers - joined a huge, peaceful demonstration. The FIOM said it had decided to take part in the Social Forum because:
- the different actors in the Genoa Social Forum have explicitly chosen non-violence as a fundamental principle;
- it reopens a large democratic process based on self-responsibility and collective engagement;
- it is important to be inside the process of discussion and exchange which are prioritising globalisation issues, as these issues are determining the political and social life of Italy and the entire world;
- the relationship and dialogue with this movement offers a more general exchange with the upcoming generations.
The participants in the demonstration of July 21 first witnessed peaceful protest at its highest level in a democracy which guarantees individual and collective expression. They then watched as groups used to provocate the crowd and ill-prepared security forces turned extremely violent against the peaceful demonstrators. The police did nothing either to stop the provocateurs, or to protect the peaceful demonstrators.
The FIOM points out the grave responsibility of the institutions in command of the security forces, to begin with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Chief of Police. The extreme confusion and acts of violence and abuse, with mass arrests and the suspension of individual guarantees and rights, are documented and cannot be contested, and those who are responsible must be held accountable if constitutional guarantees and the State of Law are to be protected. The peaceful demonstration on July 24, which filled the streets of Italy's most important cities, was a clear reply from the people that they refuse any attempt to infringe on their freedoms and democracy.
The FIOM has also declared its firm commitment to the guarantee of peaceful demonstration, whether as participant or organiser. And there is no doubt, says the union, that the questions raised concerning globalisation need an international trade union dimension. It is urgent to accelerate the thought process and decisions for reform.
To mark the conclusion of the Genoa Social Forum, which was organised on the occasion of the G-8 Summit and in which the FIOM participated, the union - along with thousands of metalworkers - joined a huge, peaceful demonstration. The FIOM said it had decided to take part in the Social Forum because:
- the different actors in the Genoa Social Forum have explicitly chosen non-violence as a fundamental principle;
- it reopens a large democratic process based on self-responsibility and collective engagement;
- it is important to be inside the process of discussion and exchange which are prioritising globalisation issues, as these issues are determining the political and social life of Italy and the entire world;
- the relationship and dialogue with this movement offers a more general exchange with the upcoming generations.
The participants in the demonstration of July 21 first witnessed peaceful protest at its highest level in a democracy which guarantees individual and collective expression. They then watched as groups used to provocate the crowd and ill-prepared security forces turned extremely violent against the peaceful demonstrators. The police did nothing either to stop the provocateurs, or to protect the peaceful demonstrators.
The FIOM points out the grave responsibility of the institutions in command of the security forces, to begin with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Chief of Police. The extreme confusion and acts of violence and abuse, with mass arrests and the suspension of individual guarantees and rights, are documented and cannot be contested, and those who are responsible must be held accountable if constitutional guarantees and the State of Law are to be protected. The peaceful demonstration on July 24, which filled the streets of Italy's most important cities, was a clear reply from the people that they refuse any attempt to infringe on their freedoms and democracy.
The FIOM has also declared its firm commitment to the guarantee of peaceful demonstration, whether as participant or organiser. And there is no doubt, says the union, that the questions raised concerning globalisation need an international trade union dimension. It is urgent to accelerate the thought process and decisions for reform.