The city of Pozallo,
in Sicily, woke up to a bright, sunny day after the dark and
frightening spectacle of last November 17organized by the neo-fascist
party Forza Nuova (New Force) - when dozens of people marched
through the streets shouting racist and xenophobic slogans.
Local residents,
unions and migrants all went out onto the streets to protest against
the rising anxiety caused by reckless journalists and a number of
racist and fascist factions. The anti-racism committee, Restiamo
Umani (We Remain Human), and other organizations and associations
wanted to counteract the tension which had been rising over recent
days in the area, and also to draw attention to the situation of
hundreds of refugees. After having been held in a sports centre on
arrival, they were then taken to the CPSA (Centri di Primo Soccorso e
Accoglienza: Centre of First Aid and Reception) at the port where
they have been held for several weeks awaiting relocation to
various other refugee shelters.
As always, due to
the absence of these shelters, a perceived emergency situation
occurred, which, was completely unfounded, considering that the
number of arrivals into Italy has always been lower compared to those
in other EU states. The fact that the arrival of new boats has been
perceived as an emergency for years is now part of a clearly
recognizable political and economic tactic.
Despite the large sums of
public money which has been made available for these “states of
emergency”, the refugees who are lucky enough to make it to Italy
alive, are expected to live in squalid conditions for years. . They
are trapped in reception centres that nowhere near meet even the
minimum standards. Meanwhile, the Asylum Commission of Syracuse
has set up a sub-committee for the recognition of
International
Protection in the prefecture of Ragusa in order to accelerate asylum
procedure.
The editorial
department of Borderline Sicily
Translated by Aylin
Satmaz
