Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ROME810
2003-02-26 17:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
GOVERNMENT OF ITALY HAS HANDLE ON TRAINSTOPPING
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 000810
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2013
TAGS: MOPS MARR MARR IT ITMOPS FORCES IN ITALY IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT OF ITALY HAS HANDLE ON TRAINSTOPPING
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ROME 00810 01 OF 02 261816Z
REF: A. MILAN 0133
B. ROME 5358
CLASSIFIED BY: A/POL-MIN COUNSELOR GARY ROBBINS FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND
(D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 000810
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2013
TAGS: MOPS MARR MARR IT ITMOPS FORCES IN ITALY IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT OF ITALY HAS HANDLE ON TRAINSTOPPING
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ROME 00810 01 OF 02 261816Z
REF: A. MILAN 0133
B. ROME 5358
CLASSIFIED BY: A/POL-MIN COUNSELOR GARY ROBBINS FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND
(D).
1. (C) SUMMARY. THE GOI, WORKING WITH THE U.S. MILITARY AND
THE EMBASSY, HAS PREVENTED ANTI-WAR PROTESTERS FROM STOPPING
TRAINS MOVING U.S. MILITARY EQUIPMENT FROM THE SOUTHERN
EUROPEAN TASK FORCE (SETAF) TO CAMP DARBY. PROTEST ACTIVITY
IS SPREADING, BUT THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR (MOI) HAS
IMPLEMENTED A GOOD SECURITY PLAN TO ENSURE THE SAFE PASSAGE
OF ONE REMAINING TRAIN, SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE AT CAMP DARBY ON
FEBRUARY 27. THE GOI HAS MADE CLEAR ITS INTENT TO DEPLOY ALL
MEANS NECESSARY--INCLUDING THE USE OF FORCE AGAINST THOSE
BREAKING THE LAW--TO COUNTER THE "TRAINSTOPPING" ACTIVISTS.
IN THE EVENT THREATENED DOCKWORKER STRIKES MATERIALIZE AT
LIVORNO, A COMMERCIAL PORT NEAR DARBY, U.S. MILITARY
OFFICIALS BELIEVE THEY SHOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH EVENTUAL
LOADING OF EQUIPMENT ON SHIPS BOUND FOR SW ASIA. END
SUMMARY.
2. (C) PROTESTS IN NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ITALY (REF A)
TARGETING ITALIAN CIVILIAN TRAINS MOVING U.S. MILITARY
EQUIPMENT FROM THE U.S. ARMY'S SOUTHERN EUROPEAN TASK FORCE
(SETAF) IN VICENZA TO CAMP DARBY (LIVORNO) HAVE DISRUPTED,
BUT NOT STOPPED DELIVERIES. SETAF HAS STRICTLY FOLLOWED
NOTIFICATION CHAINS AND IS WORKING INTENSIVELY WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS TO ENSURE SAFE AND TIMELY MOVEMENT OF
THE TRAINS, WHICH ARE TRAVELING WITH U.S. SERVICEMEN AND
ITALIAN CARABINIERI ABOARD. ODC ROME IS COORDINATING CLOSELY
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ROME 00810 01 OF 02 261816Z
WITH THE MOI ON STRATEGY.
3. (C) THE MOI'S DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SECURITY HAS SET UP A
CRISIS CENTER TO MONITOR EVENTS AND WORK TACTICS TOGETHER
WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NATIONAL RAILROAD (FERROVIE DI
STATO). A SYSTEM OF COUNTERMEASURES HAS BEEN ACTIVATED WHICH
INCLUDES HEAVY SURVEILLANCE OF THE PROTESTER'S
COMMUNICATIONS, DEPLOYMENT OF HUNDREDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS AT KEY POINTS ALONG TRAIN ROUTES, AND MOVING
EQUIPMENT BY NIGHT. THE GOI, BY PLAYING A CAT AND MOUSE GAME
WITH THE TRAINS--OFTEN SHIFTING ROUTES ON SHORT NOTICE--HAS
BEEN ABLE KEEP THE PROTESTERS OFF BALANCE.
4. (SBU) POLICE OUTFITTED WITH ANTI-RIOT GEAR HAVE REMOVED
ACTIVISTS FROM THE TRACKS, BUT VIOLENT CLASHES WITH
PROTESTERS HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. INTERIOR MINISTER PISANU SAID
ON FEBRUARY 25 THAT THE GOI IS FOCUSING ON PREVENTIVE
MEASURES, BUT IS WILLING TO USE THE REPRESSIVE POWERS OF THE
STATE TO COMBAT ILLEGAL ACTIVITY, IF NECESSARY. ACTIVISTS
BLOCKING CIVILIAN TRAIN LINES ARE SUBJECT TO ADMINISTRATIVE
FINES OF UP TO 10,000 EUROS, BUT COULD ALSO BE ACCUSED OF
"PROHIBITING A PUBLIC SERVICE," WHICH IS PUNISHABLE BY UP TO
ONE YEAR IN PRISON. BLOCKING THE MOVEMENT OF A "MILITARY
TRAIN" IS A FELONY FOR WHICH A PERPETRATOR, IF FOUND GUILTY,
WOULD FACE A MINIMUM OF EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON. DURING THE
"TRAINSTOPPINGS" THAT BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 21, NO ACTIVIST HAS
YET BEEN CHARGED WITH COMMITTING AN ILLEGAL ACT.
5. (C) ON FEBRUARY 25, SETAF, AFTER CONSULTING WITH LOCAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES, DECIDED TO DELAY THE LOADING OF
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 ROME 00810 01 OF 02 261816Z
TWO TRAINS THAT HAD BEEN SCHEDULED FOR THE MORNING OF
FEBRUARY 26. ODC ROME SUBSEQUENTLY INFORMED MOI ABOUT THE
DELAY. SETAF MADE THE DECISION AFTER BEING APPRISED THAT A
LARGE DEMONSTRATION AT THE GRISIGNANO DI ZOCCO STATION (NEAR
VICENZA) WAS LIKELY AT THE SAME TIME LOADING WAS TO HAVE
BEGUN (NOTE: THE DEMONSTRATION CONSISTING OF SOME TWO-HUNDRED
ACTIVISTS UNFOLDED AS EXPECTED). MOREOVER, A "NATIONAL DAY
OF ACTION" TO INCLUDE WIDESPREAD SIT-INS ON TRACKS THROUGHOUT
NORTHERN ITALY IS BEING STAGED WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26 BY THE
SOCIAL FORUM, A COALITION OF "NO GLOBAL" GROUPS, AND THE
"DISOBEDIENTS" (REF B). THE TWO TRAINS WILL NOW BE MERGED
INTO ONE LONGER TRAIN AND LOADED AT 2100 ON FEBRUARY 26. ITS
ARRIVAL AT CAMP DARBY ON FEBRUARY 27 WOULD COMPLETE THE
CURRENT PRE-POSITIONING OF EQUIPMENT.
6. (C) NO DATE HAS BEEN SET YET FOR LOADING OF THE
PRE-POSITIONED EQUIPMENT ONTO SHIPS FOR ONWARD TRANSPORT TO
SW ASIA. POSSIBLE DOCKWORKER STRIKES BY ITALY'S LARGEST
TRADE UNION (CGIL),WHICH DOMINATES ITS COMPETITION IN THE
SECTOR, SHOULD NOT POSE A PROBLEM AS ROLL-ON/ROLL-OFF VESSELS
WILL BE USED TO LOAD THE EQUIPMENT AT THE PORT OF LIVORNO,
REQUIRING ONLY MINIMAL LONGSHOREMAN-TYPE ASSISTANCE.
NEVERTHELESS, WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO CLARIFY WITH UNION
OFFICIALS WHETHER THEY WILL ATTEMPT TO ACTIVELY PREVENT
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ0767
PAGE 01 ROME 00810 02 OF 02 261816Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00
DS-00 EB-00 FAAE-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01
L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 SS-00
TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-01
G-00 SAS-00 /004W
-------------- 3BD9A5 261816Z /38
O 261723Z FEB 03
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8474
INFO AMCONSUL FLORENCE IMMEDIATE
AMCONSUL MILAN IMMEDIATE
AMCONSUL NAPLES IMMEDIATE
HQ EUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE
JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
CDR USASETAF VICENZA IT IMMEDIATE
CDRUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 ROME 000810
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2013
TAGS: MOPS MARR MARR IT ITMOPS FORCES IN ITALY IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT OF ITALY HAS HANDLE ON TRAINSTOPPING
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ROME 00810 02 OF 02 261816Z
LOADING OPERATIONS OR SIMPLY STRIKE TO AVOID PARTICIPATING.
7 (SBU) ALSO ON FEBRUARY 26, FIVE LEFT-WING PARLIAMENTARIANS
CONDUCTED A "PARLIAMENTARY INVESTIGATION" OF CAMP DARBY,
PERMITTED BY ITALIAN LAW. THE PARLIAMENTARIANS, WHO HAVE THE
LEGAL RIGHT TO BRING INVITED GUESTS, WERE ACCOMPANIED BY
SOCIAL FORUM LEADER VITTORIO AGNOLETTO, A JOURNALIST
AFFILIATED WITH THE HARD-LEFT COMMUNIST RENEWAL PARTY, AND AN
ASSISTANT TO A GREEN PARTY MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF DEPUTIES.
THE GROUP WAS GIVEN A BRIEF TOUR OF THE BASE BY THE ITALIAN
BASE COMMANDER, COLONEL VENUTI, WHO WAS ACCOMPANIED BY U.S.
ARMY COLONEL CARROLL, THE SETAF-BASED AREA SUPPORT GROUP
COMMANDER.
8. (C) COMMENT. THE GOI HAS BEEN ABLE TO OVERCOME AN
INITIAL HICCUP IN ITS INTERAGENCY PROCESS (NOTE: CGIL
SECRETARY GENERAL EPIFANI WAS THE FIRST TO INFORM THE PRIME
SIPDIS
MINISTER'S OFFICE ABOUT THE PROTESTS THAT BEGAN ON FEBRUARY
21) AND IS RESPONDING ABLY TO COUNTER THE TRAINSTOPPERS.
SETAF REPORTS THAT THEY ARE VERY PLEASED WITH THE COOPERATION
THEY HAVE RECEIVED FROM ITALIAN AUTHORITIES AND THE
PROFESSIONALISM OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS CHARGED WITH
ENSURING THE SAFE PASSAGE OF TRAINS TO CAMP DARBY. END
COMMENT.
SEMBLER
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ROME 00810 02 OF 02 261816Z
CONFIDENTIAL
>
2003ROME00810 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2013
TAGS: MOPS MARR MARR IT ITMOPS FORCES IN ITALY IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT OF ITALY HAS HANDLE ON TRAINSTOPPING
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ROME 00810 01 OF 02 261816Z
REF: A. MILAN 0133
B. ROME 5358
CLASSIFIED BY: A/POL-MIN COUNSELOR GARY ROBBINS FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND
(D).
1. (C) SUMMARY. THE GOI, WORKING WITH THE U.S. MILITARY AND
THE EMBASSY, HAS PREVENTED ANTI-WAR PROTESTERS FROM STOPPING
TRAINS MOVING U.S. MILITARY EQUIPMENT FROM THE SOUTHERN
EUROPEAN TASK FORCE (SETAF) TO CAMP DARBY. PROTEST ACTIVITY
IS SPREADING, BUT THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR (MOI) HAS
IMPLEMENTED A GOOD SECURITY PLAN TO ENSURE THE SAFE PASSAGE
OF ONE REMAINING TRAIN, SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE AT CAMP DARBY ON
FEBRUARY 27. THE GOI HAS MADE CLEAR ITS INTENT TO DEPLOY ALL
MEANS NECESSARY--INCLUDING THE USE OF FORCE AGAINST THOSE
BREAKING THE LAW--TO COUNTER THE "TRAINSTOPPING" ACTIVISTS.
IN THE EVENT THREATENED DOCKWORKER STRIKES MATERIALIZE AT
LIVORNO, A COMMERCIAL PORT NEAR DARBY, U.S. MILITARY
OFFICIALS BELIEVE THEY SHOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH EVENTUAL
LOADING OF EQUIPMENT ON SHIPS BOUND FOR SW ASIA. END
SUMMARY.
2. (C) PROTESTS IN NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ITALY (REF A)
TARGETING ITALIAN CIVILIAN TRAINS MOVING U.S. MILITARY
EQUIPMENT FROM THE U.S. ARMY'S SOUTHERN EUROPEAN TASK FORCE
(SETAF) IN VICENZA TO CAMP DARBY (LIVORNO) HAVE DISRUPTED,
BUT NOT STOPPED DELIVERIES. SETAF HAS STRICTLY FOLLOWED
NOTIFICATION CHAINS AND IS WORKING INTENSIVELY WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS TO ENSURE SAFE AND TIMELY MOVEMENT OF
THE TRAINS, WHICH ARE TRAVELING WITH U.S. SERVICEMEN AND
ITALIAN CARABINIERI ABOARD. ODC ROME IS COORDINATING CLOSELY
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ROME 00810 01 OF 02 261816Z
WITH THE MOI ON STRATEGY.
3. (C) THE MOI'S DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SECURITY HAS SET UP A
CRISIS CENTER TO MONITOR EVENTS AND WORK TACTICS TOGETHER
WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NATIONAL RAILROAD (FERROVIE DI
STATO). A SYSTEM OF COUNTERMEASURES HAS BEEN ACTIVATED WHICH
INCLUDES HEAVY SURVEILLANCE OF THE PROTESTER'S
COMMUNICATIONS, DEPLOYMENT OF HUNDREDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS AT KEY POINTS ALONG TRAIN ROUTES, AND MOVING
EQUIPMENT BY NIGHT. THE GOI, BY PLAYING A CAT AND MOUSE GAME
WITH THE TRAINS--OFTEN SHIFTING ROUTES ON SHORT NOTICE--HAS
BEEN ABLE KEEP THE PROTESTERS OFF BALANCE.
4. (SBU) POLICE OUTFITTED WITH ANTI-RIOT GEAR HAVE REMOVED
ACTIVISTS FROM THE TRACKS, BUT VIOLENT CLASHES WITH
PROTESTERS HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. INTERIOR MINISTER PISANU SAID
ON FEBRUARY 25 THAT THE GOI IS FOCUSING ON PREVENTIVE
MEASURES, BUT IS WILLING TO USE THE REPRESSIVE POWERS OF THE
STATE TO COMBAT ILLEGAL ACTIVITY, IF NECESSARY. ACTIVISTS
BLOCKING CIVILIAN TRAIN LINES ARE SUBJECT TO ADMINISTRATIVE
FINES OF UP TO 10,000 EUROS, BUT COULD ALSO BE ACCUSED OF
"PROHIBITING A PUBLIC SERVICE," WHICH IS PUNISHABLE BY UP TO
ONE YEAR IN PRISON. BLOCKING THE MOVEMENT OF A "MILITARY
TRAIN" IS A FELONY FOR WHICH A PERPETRATOR, IF FOUND GUILTY,
WOULD FACE A MINIMUM OF EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON. DURING THE
"TRAINSTOPPINGS" THAT BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 21, NO ACTIVIST HAS
YET BEEN CHARGED WITH COMMITTING AN ILLEGAL ACT.
5. (C) ON FEBRUARY 25, SETAF, AFTER CONSULTING WITH LOCAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES, DECIDED TO DELAY THE LOADING OF
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 ROME 00810 01 OF 02 261816Z
TWO TRAINS THAT HAD BEEN SCHEDULED FOR THE MORNING OF
FEBRUARY 26. ODC ROME SUBSEQUENTLY INFORMED MOI ABOUT THE
DELAY. SETAF MADE THE DECISION AFTER BEING APPRISED THAT A
LARGE DEMONSTRATION AT THE GRISIGNANO DI ZOCCO STATION (NEAR
VICENZA) WAS LIKELY AT THE SAME TIME LOADING WAS TO HAVE
BEGUN (NOTE: THE DEMONSTRATION CONSISTING OF SOME TWO-HUNDRED
ACTIVISTS UNFOLDED AS EXPECTED). MOREOVER, A "NATIONAL DAY
OF ACTION" TO INCLUDE WIDESPREAD SIT-INS ON TRACKS THROUGHOUT
NORTHERN ITALY IS BEING STAGED WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26 BY THE
SOCIAL FORUM, A COALITION OF "NO GLOBAL" GROUPS, AND THE
"DISOBEDIENTS" (REF B). THE TWO TRAINS WILL NOW BE MERGED
INTO ONE LONGER TRAIN AND LOADED AT 2100 ON FEBRUARY 26. ITS
ARRIVAL AT CAMP DARBY ON FEBRUARY 27 WOULD COMPLETE THE
CURRENT PRE-POSITIONING OF EQUIPMENT.
6. (C) NO DATE HAS BEEN SET YET FOR LOADING OF THE
PRE-POSITIONED EQUIPMENT ONTO SHIPS FOR ONWARD TRANSPORT TO
SW ASIA. POSSIBLE DOCKWORKER STRIKES BY ITALY'S LARGEST
TRADE UNION (CGIL),WHICH DOMINATES ITS COMPETITION IN THE
SECTOR, SHOULD NOT POSE A PROBLEM AS ROLL-ON/ROLL-OFF VESSELS
WILL BE USED TO LOAD THE EQUIPMENT AT THE PORT OF LIVORNO,
REQUIRING ONLY MINIMAL LONGSHOREMAN-TYPE ASSISTANCE.
NEVERTHELESS, WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO CLARIFY WITH UNION
OFFICIALS WHETHER THEY WILL ATTEMPT TO ACTIVELY PREVENT
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ0767
PAGE 01 ROME 00810 02 OF 02 261816Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00
DS-00 EB-00 FAAE-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01
L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 SS-00
TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-01
G-00 SAS-00 /004W
-------------- 3BD9A5 261816Z /38
O 261723Z FEB 03
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8474
INFO AMCONSUL FLORENCE IMMEDIATE
AMCONSUL MILAN IMMEDIATE
AMCONSUL NAPLES IMMEDIATE
HQ EUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE
JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
CDR USASETAF VICENZA IT IMMEDIATE
CDRUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 ROME 000810
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2013
TAGS: MOPS MARR MARR IT ITMOPS FORCES IN ITALY IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT OF ITALY HAS HANDLE ON TRAINSTOPPING
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ROME 00810 02 OF 02 261816Z
LOADING OPERATIONS OR SIMPLY STRIKE TO AVOID PARTICIPATING.
7 (SBU) ALSO ON FEBRUARY 26, FIVE LEFT-WING PARLIAMENTARIANS
CONDUCTED A "PARLIAMENTARY INVESTIGATION" OF CAMP DARBY,
PERMITTED BY ITALIAN LAW. THE PARLIAMENTARIANS, WHO HAVE THE
LEGAL RIGHT TO BRING INVITED GUESTS, WERE ACCOMPANIED BY
SOCIAL FORUM LEADER VITTORIO AGNOLETTO, A JOURNALIST
AFFILIATED WITH THE HARD-LEFT COMMUNIST RENEWAL PARTY, AND AN
ASSISTANT TO A GREEN PARTY MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF DEPUTIES.
THE GROUP WAS GIVEN A BRIEF TOUR OF THE BASE BY THE ITALIAN
BASE COMMANDER, COLONEL VENUTI, WHO WAS ACCOMPANIED BY U.S.
ARMY COLONEL CARROLL, THE SETAF-BASED AREA SUPPORT GROUP
COMMANDER.
8. (C) COMMENT. THE GOI HAS BEEN ABLE TO OVERCOME AN
INITIAL HICCUP IN ITS INTERAGENCY PROCESS (NOTE: CGIL
SECRETARY GENERAL EPIFANI WAS THE FIRST TO INFORM THE PRIME
SIPDIS
MINISTER'S OFFICE ABOUT THE PROTESTS THAT BEGAN ON FEBRUARY
21) AND IS RESPONDING ABLY TO COUNTER THE TRAINSTOPPERS.
SETAF REPORTS THAT THEY ARE VERY PLEASED WITH THE COOPERATION
THEY HAVE RECEIVED FROM ITALIAN AUTHORITIES AND THE
PROFESSIONALISM OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS CHARGED WITH
ENSURING THE SAFE PASSAGE OF TRAINS TO CAMP DARBY. END
COMMENT.
SEMBLER
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ROME 00810 02 OF 02 261816Z
CONFIDENTIAL
>
2003ROME00810 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL