A POLITICAL TRIAL | Free Trieste Movement

UPDATE: in July 2017 the Court declared that Free Trieste’s demonstration was not subversive, read more HERE

ON JULY 10TH, THE TRIAL ABOUT THE “OLD PORT” OF TRIESTE ENDS.

The trial against 17 citizens of the Free Territory of Trieste charged with organizing and taking part to a demonstration in defense of the Free Port of Trieste allegedly held without informing the authorities (Questura, head office of the police) is about to end.

The final hearing will be held on July 10th, at 5PM before the Court of Trieste. Judge Casavecchia is to pronounce the judgment.

The proceeding is No. 840/14 opened by the Prosecution Office of the Republic in Trieste. Public Prosecutor Federico Frezza is the “father” of this trial against Free Trieste and the peaceful citizens standing for legality.

The trial has no legal ground. Its only purpose was frightening Free Trieste’s supporters, distancing the people from a cause of legality. A legal battle for the Free Territory of Trieste’s full rights and for its international Free Port’s legitimate management.

This is why hundreds of Free Trieste’s activists and supporters stood in the rain on February 10th, 2014. It is the anniversary of the 1947 Italian Peace Treaty, the one establishing Trieste’s independence. We stood day and night in the Northern Free Port to defend it from an aggressive housing speculation attempt, under anti-mafia questions, but supported, cross the border, by all political parties.

An operation against the Peace Treaty and the 1954 MOU regarding the Free Territory (with which the Governments of the United States and of the United Kingdom have sub-entrusted Trieste’s temporary civil administration to the Italian Government’s responsibility). Yet, in January 2014 the Commissioner of the Italian Government suspended the Northern Free Port’s free zone regime to promote this very operation.

A reckless and illegal operation indeed. Still, only Free Trieste opposed it, summoning demonstrations that the local establishment didn’t appreciate.

Thus the criminal investigation. And the usual “leaking” of classified informino about the investigations on monopolistic newspaper of Trieste Il Piccolo.

All of this is clearly illegal. Take, for example, publishing the names of those under investigation while the preliminary investigations were in progress. Even before any of them received a formal act of indictment. The purpose was portraying us, peaceful citizens, as terrorists. Frightening our supporters. Isolating us and our legal battle.

The trial itself served for this intimidatory action: the judiciary wanted to break the back of whoever would dare to remind fellow citizens that Italian sovereignty over the Free Territory of Trieste has ended on September 15th, 1947 and was never restored.

Reading the charges is enough to see that this is a political trial.

Citizens who rightfully demonstrate their ideas, calling for compliance with the very Italian laws become “subversive” in the Republic’s Prosecution Office. Kind of an interesting subversion of society’s norms… but this “particular” trial, its dozen of hearings, is ending. I have written plenty about all of this. Here is a recap:

This trail is leaving behind a powerful defense based on the law. One supported, once again, by the Free Trieste Movement. A defense without giving up, and without fear. Citizens of the Free Territory of Trieste who were not afraid to exercise their rights, starting from citizenship, before Court, to the point of rejecting the very judge.

Citizens of the Free Territory standing for the Free Port of Trieste and international legality with it: this is the best possible synthesis of this reverted trial.

Translated from blog “Environment and Legality” by Roberto Giurastante

UPDATE: in July 2017 the Court declared that Free Trieste’s demonstration was not subversive, read more HERE

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