Italy in racism debate as migrants quit riot town
Hundreds of African immigrants have been evacuated from a southern Italian town, authorities said today, following some of the worst racial violence in Italy since World War Two.
The evacuation followed three days of clashes in the southern Calabrian town of Rosarno, which began when some local residents began attacking immigrants who responded by rioting.
At least 53 people, including 18 policeman, were injured in the unrest in the town, located in Italy's southwestern toe.
Authorities moved more than 1,000 people, mostly illegal temporary workers from sub-Saharan Africa to immigrant centres around Italy in an operation that lasted from yesterday through to the early hours of today.
Even workers with regular residence permits left the town to escape a climate that one political commentator compared to the 1960s Ku Klux Klan racial violence in the United States.
Immigrants without regular papers risk expulsion to their country of origin and the authorities today began demolishing their former makeshift homes in Rosarno.
Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said the government had "brilliantly resolved the problem of public order" and thanked police for organising the exodus "in an exemplary way."
The violence has inflamed a long-running political debate on immigration. Maroni blamed the unrest on years of "mistaken tolerance" while the opposition accuses the government of fuelling xenophobia.
The front page headline of the anti-government Daily Fact newspaper referred to the immigrants' departure as "Ethnic Cleansing".
Pope Benedict departed from the prepared text of his weekly Angelus blessing to appeal for tolerance.
"An immigrant is a human being, different in origin, culture and tradition but he is a person with rights and duties who must be respected," he told the crowd in Saint Peter's Square.
AIR RIFLE ATTACK
The clashes started on Thursday, when a gang of white youths in a car fired air rifles at a group of African immigrants returning from work on farms, injuring two of them.
The attack set off a night of rioting by dozens of Africans, who smashed car windows with steel bars and stones and set cars and rubbish bins on fire. That in turn sparked more attacks from residents determined to drive the immigrants out of the area.
"I have never hurt anyone, I don't know why they attacked us, we are here to work," Ajra Saibu from Togo, one of the men fired at on the first night of violence.
Some 8,000 illegal immigrants work in Calabria, most as day labourers picking fruit and vegetables.
Many live in abandoned factories with no running water or electricity and human rights groups say they are exploited by the 'Ndrangheta, Italy's most powerful mafia organisation.
"The state does not exist in Calabria, it's the 'Ndrangheta which regulates social relations," said Pierferdinando Casini, leader of the opposition Union of Christian Democrats party.
Roberto Calderoli, a minister from the same far-right Northern League party as interior minister Maroni, said with unemployment at 18 percent in the south of Italy, "work should go to the Italians ... not to illegal immigrants".
If necessary, agricultural pay levels should be increased to make them acceptable to locals, he said.
Silvio Berlusconi's government has taken a hard line against illegal immigration and has moved to stem a tide of immigrants who board boats in Africa to try to reach its southern shores.
Some boats have been turned back on the open seas, prompting criticism of the Italian government by the United Nations' refugee agency. The European Commission has also voiced concern over the policy.
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David Falzon
Jan 10th 2010, 22:26
HaHaHa mafia, Ndrangheta exploit immigrants??????????? You are totally unaware that a couply of months ago Camorra which is the Naples mafia has shot down 6 africans from ghana or whatever other country because they were taking their drug business in Naples. Mafia does not work by kidnapping people but through extortion from local businesses as a protection, illegal dumping of toxic waste, etc as all this was found and reported in the news so stop protecting the illegal immigrants. The thing I condem is the use of force on these people which have the right to live too but they must understand that we cannot cope to keep them all off them. if the whole african continent comes to europe we must put mountains into rubble in order to build up homes to accomodate them and must generate enough work to keep jobs for all the population
ray sacco
Jan 10th 2010, 22:11
and even today european and american companies are still sucking out africa of it's rich mineral wealth by arming rebel warlords and mercenaries to control diamond, gold and other mineral mines in africa. ironically, the diamond companies hub is so close to the heart of the european union in brussels. and what is the european union doing to stop these blood vultures who ruined africa with rebel wars and corruption? italy and europe are reaping the misery it sowed in africa. unfortanately we stand in the middle of all this mess!
Robert Callus
Jan 10th 2010, 22:11
@J Abela
Don't get me wrong. I'm not apologising any Mafia. Because I said the 'Ndrangeta is more ruthless, it doesn't mean the Sicilian Mafia is somewhat acceptable.
@andrea doughty
It is all about the Mafia, even the first article. Obviously Maroni doesn't want you to know that. If you just follow the news, controlled by the Prime Minister he is in coalition with, this has nothing to do with the Mafia. However, in reality, the 'Ndragheta, is the orchestrator of all this. I disagree with those who state it is the people of Rosarno who are racists. They are victims too in this situation. What triggered this riot - a violent attack on migrants by white supremacists - was only the last straw. The N'drangeta, which controls everything in the region, even how people think and act has been keeping migrants in slave like conditions for years. The good people of Rosarno never object. They are too afraid.
I am not apologising for the violence done by the immigrants. I am just criticising the Italian govt for targeting migrants as 'the bad ones' to shift away the attention for a problem extremely more serious than migration
ray sacco
Jan 10th 2010, 22:00
i hate seeing my country invaded by african immigrants, but let's be honest. why are these desperate people running away from their countries? it's because africa is plagued with civil wars, rebel warlords, corruption and misery. and why is this? because this continent has been abused and abused for centuries by the european empires, including italy. europe evolved into the great continent we know at present with wars. tribes fought wars through the centuries untill they found their land and formed the nations we know today. but africa was not given this chance to evolve naturally. the european empires invaded it, divided it into squares by themselves and shaped out new nations with eternal enemy tribes conbined together in each country. congo, sudan, rwanda, burundi are just a few examples of tribal civil wars in africa.
anthea doughty
Jan 10th 2010, 21:35
Do not even try to drag me into any comments about the mafia - I know nothing about the mafia and my comments had nothing to do with them. You did not read my comment properly. I was commenting on the first article about the migrants quitting the town, not the second article about the air rifle attack.
J.Abela
Jan 10th 2010, 20:49
@Robert
...what about the millions of Italians abused daily by any type of mafia?
How many articles did we ever read about THEM?
Also, like Geir said, it seems that racism only applies to actions done by white people. All the rest is simply 'voicing once mind'...
R Curmi
Jan 10th 2010, 20:48
Finally the Italians are taking this problem serouisly. Hope we follow suit and not act like nothing happened and keep inviting these people. They love rioting? send them to riot for their rights in their country instead of here
Leah Micallef
Jan 10th 2010, 20:34
GOOD on the Pope for speaking out! For once I actually agree with him. Now let us see whether the so-called Roman Catholics of Malta will actually pay attention to his message of love, tolerance and peace... the message that the religion itself is always supposed to convey.
Geir Nilsen
Jan 10th 2010, 19:53
Oh please. Is it only racism when the Italians attack the blacks? Are only the blacks allowed to be frustrated?.The Italians never wanted these illegal immigrants in Italy in the first place, and when they smash your cars and set them alight I can understand that it boils over.
Yes, the blacks were provoked, but it didn't justify them destroying private property and injuring innocent people. There were two Italian kids shooting at two of them, and while that obviously isn't on at all, it seems every black participated in this revolt, and that is a lot worse.
The blacks attacked whites and their property at random. The sooner they can figure out that they should go back to their country and help building it up, the better it is.
COLIN STANLEY
Jan 10th 2010, 19:51
@ A. Zahra.. if you don't like to moan,and you are full of optimism, and full of attitude to life, and feel so much for the foreigners, (not the maltese ) please help in this situation by taking a few home and look after them.
T.gauci
Jan 10th 2010, 19:50
It's funny how the light skinned people get called racist but the dark skinned people doesn't get called racist. racism is only one sided according to the liberals. the liberals are the problem all along, we shall send the leftists together with these immigrants back to Africa so they can commence their own society right there, the liberals wouldn't last a year without becoming extinct. have you ever heard of the polish immigrants in the UK and the treatment they get by the natives ? guess what they are white with blue eyes so stop playing the race card and accept the fact that this is a big problem.
Robert Callus
Jan 10th 2010, 19:42
@J Abela
Yes I have friends who work in a detention centre. All have recieved ingratitude at some point or another. However they have also recieved gratitude at some point or another. Because most of these people come from the same continent it doesn't mean they have the same personality.
However this is not the issue. I'm talking about the situation in Italy. My point is not to apologise for anyone, but expose the truth behind this. You may take a look at my last blog if you're interested
www.robertcallus.wordpress.com
A. Zahra
Jan 10th 2010, 19:32
the majority of those who are strongly against unfortunate, poor immigrants are unhappy people, with negative, pessimistic perspective and attitude to life, who only know how to complain, critisize, bemoan and cry (even in relation to other local issues that have nothing to do with foreigners all together).
Joseph Tonna
Jan 10th 2010, 19:19
Migrants MUST NOT GET FREEDOM , and stay in CLOSE detention centres till they are sent back to their countries of origin or other countries in Europe.
They are ruining MALTA in every aspect. Irrelevant of their skin colour, this is not racism , this is REALITY.
Many migrants are getting freedom in few months after their arrival to Malta.
colin stanley
Jan 10th 2010, 19:14
Anthea Doughty,is speaking about our problems, not the italians has she got a right to be concerned, in Malta most of the illegal immigrants live in fairly good places, like church homes and open centers, we are not saying that they are living in luxury, they get basic needs like all of us ,and they also get jods that could otherwise be taken by locals. I don't see the goverment or the church opening their doors for the poor maltese, we have homeless people here ,don't we?can you explain to us why we are obliged to keep these people, where as if they come from another country, for example russia, we do not help them ,most probably we deport them back. when we had problems in Malta we fought for our rights,not depended on other nations to look after us, as if they owed us a living.
J.Abela
Jan 10th 2010, 19:07
@Raymond, Robert
Does any friend/relative of yours actually work as casual officer in a detention centre?
Does any of you know the (lack of) gratitude continuously received by these people and their apologists?
As far as I know there is no such mafia in this country... and we received similar treatment from these people in past..
lgalea
Jan 10th 2010, 18:45
anthea doughty
You are right.
They should all be returned to their own countries.
We have already seen some of their violence in Malta.
Raymond Camilleri
Jan 10th 2010, 18:35
@Anthea stop the hysterics please. Whenever you want you can go and live in an abondoned wharehouse without running water and full of filth...whenever YOU want you can go and pick fruit for a pittance...so that then ot can be sold in supermarkets at a price you can afford or if not so that the supermarkets can make a super profit....... anthea is in favour of the mafia it seems!
Robert Callus
Jan 10th 2010, 18:30
@anthea doughty
You are completely out of point. These migrants are not given any benefits, they are exploited in slave labour form by the notroious 'Ndrangheta, more brutal and ruthless than Sicilian Mafia. Tough there is a race issue this is much more than that. However Maroni wants the focus to on that issue only, not to expose the real threat - the 'Ndrangheta.
He claims they have tolerated migrants for too long. However he never mentions tolerating the 'Ndrangheta for too long. Ironically, unlike the Sicilian Mafia boosts itself financially by kidnapping relatives of rich people from the North for enormous ransom money. The same people that Lega Nord's Calderoli and Maroni have pledged to defend.
anthea doughty
Jan 10th 2010, 18:06
IT IS NOT RACISM - OUR GOVERNMENTS ARE DUMPING PEOPLE ON US THAT WE DO NOT WANT!!!!! These illegals are getting financial handouts and accommodation etc when we are all struggling to fend for ourselves. Paying taxes and unable to meet our own mortgage payments, fuel prices, food prices, let alone try and get a doctors appointment or get ones child a place in school. And don't expect to get a hospital appointment or operation too quickly, all our services and infrastructures are over inundated. It is that we are fed up with what is being heaped upon us. It suits the do-gooders and the political correctness to call it racism, xenophobia etc etc blah blah blah - why SHOULD we put up with this mass influx from sub-Saharan Africa? Africa that has had more aid and refief and money thrown at it for decades than anywhere else on the planet? Send all illegals home right now from every country in Europe I say. Tolerance? My foot!!!!!! We have all been tolerant beyond belief.