by Tony Iozzo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

ROME, Italy – A protest in the streets of Rome turned violent on Saturday as police attempted to break up thousands of demonstrators, leaving several people injured.

The protest, which was regarding recent austerity measures by the newly elected government, grew out of control after demonstrators began to throw eggs and oranges at government buildings. The demonstrators then began throwing objects at police, and officers attempted to scatter the protest by marching towards the crowd and disseminating tear gas.

Many protestors ran away immediately, while six people were taken into custody by police. Several people were left injured after the clashes with police, and one protester lost his hand after a firecracker exploded prematurely in his hand. The Rome prosecutor’s office is also conducting an investigation after a video has been released of an undercover police officer stomping on a woman at the protest.

The demonstration was composed of thousands of workers, students, and unemployed citizens. Reports from protest organizers indicated that the protest drew 15,000 people. The protest was intended to be centered around Italy’s high cost of housing and high unemployment rates. A major topic was also the newly-elected Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s plan to reform labor laws. Renzi plans to attempt to reform labor laws which would make it easier for companies to hire, and consequently fire, employees. Some protestors were discussing issues from the previous administration, however most were focused on Renzi’s plan.

“So far Italians seem cautiously optimistic about Renzi’s proposed tax cuts, but two months in the job, he has faced the anger of those who oppose his drive for reforms,” stated one reporter.

Federico Bicerni, the youth head of the Italian Marxist Leninist Party stated, “They are reducing democracy. Renzi’s labor reforms will worsen the situation for workers without job security, hitting young people when they are already struggling. The rage of the people in the squares today is justified.”

Prime Minister Renzi was elected in February, and has swiftly put forth an economic reform plan that will cut public spending by a little over six billion American dollars. Italy’s unemployment rate reached a record 13 percent in February, and Renzi has stated that the new economic plan is a “precondition for economic recovery.”

Renzi is aiming to equalize the economy, and speaking to the plan last week, he stated, “there are those who have taken much, too much over the years, and it is time they give some back.”

For more information, please see:

Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata – Probe Opened After Policeman Filmed Stomping On Woman – 14 April 2014

Al Jazeera – Anti-Austerity Protest In Italy Turns Violent – 13 April 2014

EuroNews – Italy Anti-Austerity Protest Ends In Violent Clashes – 12 April 2014

ReutersUK – Thousands March In Paris, Rome Against Austerity, Economic Reforms – 12 April 2014

By Ben Kopp
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe Desk

MADRID, Spain – Amidst calls for separatist action, Madrid turned down a request for Catalonia to hold a referendum.

On 08 April 2014, Madrid refused permission for Catalonia to hold a Scottish-style independence referendum. The landslide vote settled at 299 to 47. Nevertheless, the President of Catalonia vowed to push ahead with plans to hold the referendum for the region just hours after Spain’s parliament overwhelmingly rejected the petition.

Earlier in the day Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had closed the door on the referendum insisting that it was not allowed under Spain’s constitution, following last month’s ruling by Spain’s Constitutional Court that a region like Catalonia could not “unilaterally” call a referendum on its sovereignty. He also warned that Catalonia’s independence would be economically disastrous for both the region and Spain.

“Together we all win and separate we all lose,” Rajoy told parliament. “This isn’t just a question of law, but of sentiment … I can’t imagine Spain without Catalonia, or Catalonia out of Europe.”

Rajoy warned that Catalonia’s isolation from Spain and the European Union would turn it into “the closest thing imaginable to the island of Robinson Crusoe.”

In response to Rajoy’s comment, Alfred Bosch, spokesman of the Catalan left-wing separatist party ERC said: “We are not Robinson Crusoe. Right now we are Friday, the servant, who can’t even choose his own name.”

“They are afraid of the vote of the Catalan people,” Artur Mas, President of the northeastern region said. “Some would like to present this as an end to the matter. But as the President of Catalonia, I have to tell them this is not the end. It is simply a new paragraph. Catalan Institutions will search through the legal frameworks to find away to continue with this consultation.”

Since the beginning of the economic crisis, separatist sentiment has soared, with growing resentment over “unfair” redistribution taxes from the wealthy region across the rest of Spain. Many believe that Catalonia’s distinct language and culture would fare better on its own. Mas has planned a referendum for 09 November 2014.

Of the region’s 7.5 million people, the latest polls have shown that about 80% in the region want the right to hold a referendum on independence and roughly half of Catalans voters would vote ‘yes’ to breakaway state.

During the debate Mr Rajoy also rejected comparisons with Scotland which will hold its own referendum on independence in September.

“Don’t talk to me about Scotland,” the Spanish premier said. “Because it responds to a very different constitutional and historic situation. If they had half the devolved powers (of Catalonia) they wouldn’t have taken the trouble they have.”

For further information, please see:

Euronews – Spain Rejects Catalonia Bid for Independence Referendum – April 09, 2014

Reuters – Catalan Leader Says Parliament Rejection Won’t Halt Referendum – April 09, 2014

Telegraph – Catalonia Vows to Continue Independence Fight after Referendum Snub – April 09, 2014

Deutsche Welle – Spanish Parliament Rejects Catalonia Independence Referendum – April 08, 2014

by Tony Iozzo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

Pozzallo, ITALY – Approximately 4,000 immigrants have reached the shores of Italy over the last 48 hour, according to Italian officials, and Italy is calling on the European Union for help.

The Italian government has stated that the latest influx of immigrants has been the highest mass immigration the country has seen since its launch of a naval operation to rescue immigrants at sea. The naval operation, referred to as “Mare Nostrum,” was launched in light of two shipwrecks in October of 2013 that claimed the lives of over 400 migrants from Eritrea and Syria.

The Italian government reported a roughly 60 percent increase in asylum claims in 2013. Most of these claims were from those fleeing Syria. Italy’s Interior Minister, Angelino Alfano, estimated that 15,000 migrants had been rescued so far this year in the Mediterranean Sea, and up to 600,000 migrants from Africa and the Middle East are still ready to launch from Libya. Alfano called on the international community to set up “refugee camps” in Libya and stated that the next six months would be “extremely difficult” because favorable weather conditions meant more migrants would cross the Mediterranean Sea.

“The landings are non-stop and the emergency is increasingly glaring,” stated Alfano. “Europe must take the situation in hand. It cannot say that, having given 80 million euros ($110 million) to [the EU’s border control agency], the problem has been resolved,” Alfano stated.

The Italian Navy stated that of the 4,000 recent arrivals, it had rescued approximately 2,500 of the migrants, and further migrants were being aided by coastguard ships and merchant ships. Alfano also stated that “the procedure for expelling those who do not have a right to stay in Italy should be sped up, but we should welcome those who have a right to asylum.”

The recent influx of migrants comes amidst the buzz of European Parliament elections next month. Lawmakers have disagreed on the migrant influx. MP’s Davide Caparini and Nicola Molteni have urged Alfano to quell the arrivals “by turning them back” and have claimed that asylum-seekers are getting better treatment “than any Italian citizen.” Senator Luigi Manconi, however, the head of the human rights committee in Parliament, stated that the problem was Italy’s to bear.

“We are not facing an invasion, absolutely not. We have to criticize ourselves for not putting in the necessary measures in time,” Manconi said.

The Italian Navy stated that it has undertaken health checks on board of the vessels on which the migrants were rescued and taken the migrants to the ports of Augusta and Pozzallo in Sicily.

On Wednesday, six large tents were assembled in Pozzallo for some migrants, while others have been transported across the country.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Italy Sounds Alarm as 4,000 Immigrants Land – 9 April 2014

Deutsche Welle – Italy Alarmed Over Boat Migrant Influx – 9 April 2014

The Guardian – 4,000 Immigrants Reach Italy By Boat In 48 Hours, As Minister Calls For EU Help – 9 April 2014

Reuters – Italy Rescues 4,000 Migrants In 48 Hours In Escalating Crisis – 9 April 2014