At the beginning of May eleven anarchists were arrested in Pisa and La Spezia accused of ‘subversive association (conspiracy) with terrorist aims and subversion of the democratic order of the State’ (article 270bis). Some are accused of sabotaging pylons and mobile phone masts.

During the police operation dozens of comrades houses were raided all over Italy. Five anarchists are in prison, another five are under house arrest and a last one has forced residence (House arrest).

A couple of weeks earlier another two anarchists were arrested in Pietrasanta accused of trying to set fire to Forza Italia structure.

These are comrades known for their passionate and continuous participation in the struggle, particularly against environmental pollution and the world that produces it. From a practical critique of the exploitation of animals to opposition against the biotechnologies, they have always been in the front line in actively contrasting the delirium of absolute power over living beings and nature by a social organisation that is moving towards ecological catastrophe. Some of them have animated local battles against highly polluting incinerators and factories, others were and still are editors of Terra Selvaggia, a newspaper that carries a critique of industrial society.

We have experienced and appreciated their tenacity, simplicity and solidarity on many occasions. We have had them at our side during our initiatives here in Rovereto and Trento, and we shared the wonderful days of resistance against the TAV in Val di Susa (discussing, eating and erecting barricades) with some of them. We want to express our love and respect to them in the way we prefer now that they are hostages in the hands of the enemy: by continuing the struggle against environmental and social pollution uncompromisingly.

We know how magistrates and the forces of order transform relations of friendship, affinity and struggle into ‘subversive associations’; and how in their eyes a paper becomes a centre of command, a public meeting a secret and subversive encounter: the usual world of ghosts that unfortunately turns into arrest warrants, handcuffs, bars and trials.

We don’t know whether the comrades are responsible for the actions they are accused of, nor do we care.

We don’t like alibis. If someone thinks that it is pointless and wrong to sabotage a structure that pollutes, it’s up to them to look for other forms of action to stop the ecological and social collapse we are heading for: passivity and indifference are not an alternative but are the very foundation of the collapse. (Who knows then whether by beginning the struggle they won’t perhaps change their attitude towards certain practices).

As one well known saying goes, for the many who don’t want to risk anything, there will always be one who is obliged to risk everything.

May each give his or her contribution. For really explosive mixtures to occur, in fact, there a need for all the elements of the struggle (and life): from the leaflet to the demo, from the slogan on the wall to a road block, from the garden in the country to squatting of places in the city, from the public meeting to direct action. The principle goes for all: first the comrades are freed, then we discuss ways and moments and forms of that revolutionary struggle that is now one and the same as the defence of humanity and the Earth. At the same time, the stronger this struggle, the sooner the comrades will be released.

Anarchists from Trento and Rovereto (Italy)