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From: "SchNEWS"
To: "SchNEWS Subscribers"
Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 17:23:15 +0000
Subject: SchNEWS 167, 15 May 1998
Reply-to: schnews@brighton.co.uk

Turin Street Party Postponed

ITALIAN ACTIVIST FOUND HUNG IN PRISON CELL

The Turin street party in Italy has been postponed after a massive clamp down by the state. At the beginning of March a police operation led to the eviction of two squats and the arrest of 3 people for their alleged involvement in sabotage against the TAV High Speed Train which is destroying the Val Susa. The next day there were demonstrations, where the cops assaulted people ensuring a riot. At night the squats were re-occupied and there followed weeks of demonstrations to get the three people released. However, the courts refused and on 29th one of the men, Baleno, hung himself in his cell.

The journalists who declared him a terrorist didn't even respect his family's wish to stay away from Baleno's funeral, so one of them ended up in hospital, while others had their cars smashed. The next day eight thousand people expressed their anger in a demonstration that led to one of the local prisons and Palace of Justice being pelted with stones and bottles. One of the two remaining prisoners is now in home detention, the other is on hunger strike - and a street party is still being planned for the future.

Radio Black Out: blackout@ecn.org


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