There has been a new CPT setback. During the debate on Bill 733 (the
one containing among other things the abolition of the ban on
reporting by doctors) the Senate had already eliminated the provision
extending the period of detention of irregular migrants to one year
and six months in detention centres.
But the Ministry of the Interior, unable retreat on the government of
migration by imprisonment (supposedly pending deportation) had
re-proposed a similar rule within the so-called “anti-rape” decree a
rule extending detention to six months. This was not only in the case
of obstruction to identification (as required by the much disputed
European Returns Directive) but simply in the case of difficulties
(perhaps bureaucratic and attributable to the authorities in the
countries of origin) in determining the nationality of migrants
awaiting expulsion.
The fate of the bill, which has to be ratified by Parliament within 60
days of enactment) in terms of the part relating to the CIE centres,
however, has been affected by a UDC and PD amendment that has removed
Article 5. This was supported by some of majority in a secret ballot.
This is a slap in the face for the Northern League which is staking
its legitimacy on immigration.
Anything is possible and the decree still stands, pending the next
votes in the Senate. Meanwhile, however, a window of possibility has
opened in the reality of a crisis that is shaking the monolithic
foundations of political representation, incapable of finding adequate
responses to the current scenario. The answers are confused, and range
from the belligerent statements of Minister Maroni (remember his call
to be “bad towards illegal immigrants”) to the stupefying statements
of Fini, the chairman of the House (what tolerance, we need
integration …), to the bonapartist remarks of the President of the
Council who though intent on hitting the “people’s belly” was
nevertheless wise enough to soften the thorniest controversies.
Anyone who wants to look at this scene through classical political
eyes risks insanity. Those who try to do so with ideology risk finding
themselves in a fantastic vision.
The harsh reality is one which simultaneously unites the most vulgar
racism, that would like to blame the crisis on migrants, with the
hundreds of signatures collected by the parliamentary majority against
denouncing irregular immigrants – a new bucket of worms.
To those who think that the vote in the House against Article 5 of the
decree signals the ability to respond to racism with opposition votes
is short sighted and confused.
What is at stake is not the ability to vote or to make a decision on
this or that measure, but the strength to decide.
There is something new that needs to find new institutions and new
decision making moments. The networks of solidarity, those of doctors
against denunciation, the self-organized migrant networks, can speak
to a country where the crisis has broken every inhibition against
xenophobia.
The answer to racism in a crisis can only come from the multitude. It
is not that of the immigration experts and not that of the isolated
immigrants, but that of a society that knows how to recover from the
ground up what this so badly governed world has taken away; the
ability to decide about its own future.
N. Grigion, Progetto Melting Pot Europa
See also:
– The Road to Lampedusa – The Hell is now lasting 6 months
Translated by Chris. B.