Open letter to:

- the President of the Italian Government, Romano Prodi,

- the Vice-President of the Italian Government, Walter Veltroni,

- the Minister of Justice, Giovanni Maria Flick,

- the Members of the Italian Parliament,

- the Members of the European Parliament.

The Association Malcolm X urges all those who are concerned about

Silvia Baraldini (and, in general, about the respect of universally

accepted legal principles) to subscribe this document, or any similar

action, and to circulate it in all possible ways.

* * * * *

It is increasingly difficult to understand why a center-of-left

Government, externally supported by a party such as Rifondazione

Comunista, has not yet taken action on Silvia Baraldini's case.

Surely, no Government should ever cease to show its indignation when

one of the country's citizens is tried abroad and sentenced to an

absurd penalty for a crime that, in any case, does not justify such a

severe sentence.

A reaction of this kind is too much to expect from the Prodi

Government, the government of a "limited sovereignty" country such as

Italy, historically prone to the will of the United States. In this

specific case, we merely expect Silvia Baraldini to be given the

chance to serve her sentence in an Italian prison, close to where her

mother lives. To this end, and given the intransigence of the United

States, the Italian Government can and must urgently take serious and

concrete action.

IT IS TIME THAT:

. the Government involve the international community by submitting a

request to establish an "Amicable Commission" as contemplated by

article 23 of the Strasbourg Convention. Since last July

parliamentary motions to this effect have been presented both at the

Chamber of Deputies and at the Senate and have not been brought up

yet for discussion.

. the Government ensure that (as Silvia Baraldini's lawyer Elizabeth

Fink suggested) a high-level Italian political figure be present

during the forthcoming parole board (which is to decide on Silvia

Baraldini's possible discharge).

. the Left-wing Members of Parliament supporting this country's

government show in fact as well as in word, that they genuinely wish

to put an end to this tragic case, that they are undertaking this

responsibility and that they will concretely act to force the

Government they are supporting to take a stand on this situation.

There is no lack of means to act, from within the government

majority. Parliamentary obstruction could be the ultimate measure

should others fail.

We call upon these Members of Parliament to prove they have the moral

strength to question the very existence of the Government should the

latter continue to disregard issues that are not only of concern for

a single person, Silvia Baraldini, but involve the more general

respect of universally accepted legal principles and the actual

recognition of every country's full sovereignty.

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Associazione Culturale "Malcolm X"

"Silvia deve tornare, Mumia deve vivere!"

http://www.mclink.it/assoc/malcolm/

email: mx@mclink.it