ITALY: Genoa investigation conclusions "unacceptable"
01 November 2001
On 20 September the conclusions published by a parliamentary committee looking into events during the G8 summit in Genoa, headed by Donato Bruno, were adopted by the Constitutional Affairs standing committees of the Italian Parliament and Senate. The document drafted by Bruno received the votes of the government coalition majority. Opposition parties described the document as "unacceptable", and both the centre-left coalition and Rifondazione Comunista presented minority documents. Events in Genoa led to allegations of police brutality during demonstrations, raids and detention, although the adopted conclusions claim that: "no doubt arises on the positive outcome of the G8 summit" in Genoa.
Blame for the disorder is laid squarely on the demonstrators, including peaceful demonstrators who were guilty of "tolerating" violent elements by failing to isolate, expel or report them and allowing them to "join and leave [the marches] as they pleased". The unexpectedly large number of violent demonstrators, estimated in the report at 10,000, made it impossible for police forces to use customary techniques for policing demonstrations and avoiding disorder.
Controversial events which are mentioned include a march in via Tolemaide that is alleged to have become violent before reaching police lines leading to a police assault. However, the enquiry heard evidence that carabinieri had attacked the via Tolemaide march before it reached police lines while it was still on its agreed course. There is no mention of this, or other evidence, which could be viewed as highly critical of the behaviour of law enforcement officers in the report. Other conclusions outlined in the document are that carabiniere Mario Placanica shot Carlo Giuliani in self-defence, police acted legally in their raid on the Sandro Pertini school (having reasonably organised a force capable of confronting resistance to the raid) and no complaints can be formulated with regards to events while demonstrators were detained in a makeshift prison in Bolzaneto carabinieri barracks. These conclusions dismiss the substantial evidence of abuse which was heard by the enquiry, although they claim that it is necessary to await the results of investigation to draw a balance. The only reference made to possible abuses by law enforcement officers is that "some information surfaced regarding some excesses carried out by individual members of the police forces". The Democratic Left MP Franco Bassanini has responded to the report by calling for a formal investigation committee, commenting: "Not only does the document not clarify [the facts], it also distorts them and contradicts the video footage and documents acquired by the [parliamentary] Committee.
Since the publication of the parliamentary report further evidence of law-enforcement excesses has come to light, contradicting carabinieri statements. A ballistic report submitted to investigating magistrates on 10 December on bullets found near the body of Carlo Giuliani indicates that two different carabinieri fired shots in piazza Alimonda on 20 July. They were fired by two different pistols, both of the kind used by carabinieri. On 12 December, Rome daily Il Manifesto questioned what the guidelines for the use of firearms was, alleging that it has been admitted by carabinieri that eight shots were fired in corso Torino, seven in via Tolemaide and, considering that Mario Placanica (under investigation for voluntary homicide) admitted to firing twice, at least three in piazza Alimonda.
Considerazioni conclusive, Donato Bruno, Comitato d'indagine, 14.9.01 (www.repubblica.it/...ica/ gottoventidue/ documentog8/doc1.htm; Repubblica 14.9.01, 20.9.01; ANSA, 10.12.01; Il Manifesto, 12.12.01; www.repubblica.it, 10.12.01.