For Mutual Aid & Solidarity
We inform that just over a week ago comrade Alfredo was subjected to a three-month censorship of correspondence.
Updates will follow.
The address of the comrade:
Alfredo Cospito
C. C. di Terni
strada delle Campore 32
05100 Terni
Italia – Italy
[September 30, 2021].
Source: Malacoda
The decision of the court regarding the appeal against the special surveillance measure against a comrade from Genoa was made in August; the request that this measure, applied with all possible restrictions, be removed from her was rejected and it was clear that, although the accusation of terrorism, the pillar of the accusatory hypothesis, was dropped, the special surveillance measure was maintained in its entirety for the same reasons, that is, her “adherence to anarchist ideology”, her “manifest expressions of solidarity with the militants of the Informal Anarchist Federation”, her “support for the detained anarchists”, her “incitement to direct action”, and her dissemination of counter-information material.
Still in August, always on the initiative of the Prosecutor’s Office of Genoa, other measures were arranged, as a corollary of the surveillance, aiming to limit even more her freedom, affecting her in the sphere of her affective relationships, since they add new constraints and new difficulties to the authorization, finally obtained after 7 months of waiting, to go and visit her family, which is domiciled outside the city of Genoa, that the companion has no right to leave. Moreover, her driving license was seized, with the absurd pretext that its possession could help her to commit crimes.
It is always the same refrain that continues to impose itself, a statement as monotonous as a broken record: the companion is an anarchist, therefore she is dangerous and this is confirmed by the fact that she is under investigation as an anarchist. In this way one could go on and on.
In this time of experimentation with instruments of social control extended to large parts of the population, anarchists have already gained a lot of experience in this matter and, for a long time, they have unmasked the lies of the narrative about the rights and freedom that one could have access to in civil and democratic society, if one gives in exchange obedience, delegation and legitimacy: it is quite obvious that the consequences of adhering to the social contract are mainly in favor of a few and to the detriment of the many.
The context may change, but the authoritarian drift of this time is not something new, it is the perfection of those instruments of social control that we already know, that is why the basic principles of the anarchist idea are still valid and they show the way: to preserve the value of the individual choice, to keep alive the spark of the criticism, to refuse the concertation with public institutions, of any level, to refuse the political representation of the movements and of the conflict, not to bend to the needs of the political realism.
We do not reaffirm them for sterile sectarianism, but because they are instruments of struggle that have supported thought and action, in the streets or elsewhere, en masse or in small numbers, facing, through theory and practice, the many, detestable scum that this dirty era throws back in our faces: the commodification of our lives, the plundering of the natural environment, the increasingly invasive authority and social control, the discriminations, the state violence, the surge of the logic of profit, which ravages humanity in a spiral of war, misery and slavery. Continue reading “Genoa, Italy: News of the special surveillance against a comrade”
The following text is the intervention of fellow anarchist Alfredo Cospito, currently imprisoned in Terni, for the debate on the book What International?, held in the context of the second edition of the initiative “Land of Love and Freedom”, two days of anarchist publishing in Calabria focused on internationalism and revolutionary continuity, in Grisolia 23-24 August 2021.
Lately I have been wondering with what nerve an anarchist prisoner for ten years as I claim to express an analysis “realistic” about the present, the real movement outside these four walls. The interview with “Vetriolo” caught me still relatively soaked in reality, out of the fray of the struggle, still convinced of having a “realistic” and objective view of the world. What international? is the result of thirty years of practiced struggle, of blows inflicted and received, of affinities and friendships born and then traumatically severed by the wall of a prison. Summing up, today I can say with a certain conviction that the only moments in which I was certain of having contributed to changing things were those moments in which I clashed with the system, in which I risked my freedom and my skin. In those moments I lived, I felt more alive than ever. And the pleasure I felt was incomparable, comparable only to the love for one’s own or one’s partner in the most intense moments of passion. I remember when, as a young boy, it seemed impossible for me to intervene concretely, the level of deepening always seemed insufficient, the practical skills I had didn’t seem up to the task, I didn’t know where to start, at the beginning one feels inept, incapable… I was waiting for a suggestion, a start from my more experienced companions. Often, in exchange for my enthusiasm, I received a good dose of “realism” that dampened or risked dampening any revolutionary “ambition”, any drive to action. Incredible as it may seem, “realism” sometimes makes any action, any impetus, impossible. I came out of this sort of “dead end” only when I decided in an impish, reckless, crazy, provocative way to arm my hands. Then everything became “easy”, failure after failure, step by step, things started to work. I looked for my companions and I found them, we recognized each other by making the refusal of delegation and wait-and-see our compass. Many (perhaps too many) years have passed since that time and today I find myself on the other side, “navigated” anarchist with more “experience”. And what I feel like saying is simply to follow your instincts and not to pay too much attention to the prudence of those who from the height of their lives “lived” push for moderation. Because that popular saying “you are born an arsonist and you die a fireman” is not so far-fetched. Every day in here I fight with myself to remain what I was, and I don’t always succeed. In my words I sometimes glimpse what I’ve always fought, opportunism, paternalism, realism… “politics”. Dynamics that risk making me forget how beautiful it was to communicate only through gestures of destruction and the words that followed them. When I wasn’t in danger of becoming a “point of reference”, when I was a complete stranger. And the stupid things I happened to say remained limited, no one rightly spun them. The tragicomic thing is that the “metamorphosis” is almost painless and does not only affect us prisoners but perhaps even more those who outside these walls every day relate to a reality that tends to normalize. The “realism” drags you to a continuous decline that leads you to judge those who remain “themselves” as naive, provocative, childish, deluded. Continue reading “Italy: Intervention of Alfredo Cospito to the initiative “Land of Love and Freedom” in Grisolia (24.08.2021)”
Natascia is well and her mood is high, especially since she knows that Anna [anarchist comrade sentenced to 16 years and 6 months in the Scripta Manent trial against the Federazione Anarchica Informale, “Informal Anarchist Federation”] has also arrived and received her greetings, even though Natascia is in a solitary confinement cell far away from the one she is in, which makes it impossible for her to hear directly from Anna. It seems that her transfer to Rebibbia prison in Rome is a permanent relocation, which she does not mind at all: in fact, she said she does not want to ask for other transfers and wants to stay there.
The prison has just authorised her to have four hours of visits per month, both with the comrade with whom she had visits before the transfer to Santa Maria Capua Vetere, and with her father. Her father will go when he can (given the distance, Natascia has also been authorised to make video calls with him), while the comrade intends to have regular visits every month, possibly by pooling the visit hours available to her, so as to reduce the cost of the journey from Turin to Rome and back.
Natascia is still in sanitary confinement and will remain so until the end of this week (most likely until Saturday, July 24), so the first visit will be in the last week of July with the authorised comrade.
We remind of the coordinates to contribute financially to the expenses for the maintenance of the comrades in prison, to those for the monthly travels of those who will do the visits and to those for the trial in Genoa:
Postepay evolution card n. 5333 1710 9103 5440
Account holder: Vanessa Ferrara
IBAN: IT89U3608105138251086351095
BIC/SWIFT: PPAYITR1XXX
Postepay evolution card n. 5333 1710 8931 9699
Account holder: Ilaria Benedetta Pasini
IBAN: IT43K3608105138213368613377
To write to Natascia:
Natascia Savio
C. C. di Roma Rebibbia femminile
via Bartolo Longo 92
00156 Roma
Italia – Italy
To write to Beppe:
Giuseppe Bruna
C. C. di Bologna “Dozza”
via del Gomito 2
40127 Bologna
Italia – Italy
Note: At this link it is possible to read all the updates of the last years on the Prometeo operation and the ongoing trial in Genoa (the texts are in both italian and english): https://malacoda.noblogs.org/post/tag/operazione-prometeo/.
[Published & Translated by malacoda.noblogs.org].
As the isolation situation in which he is being held in Terni continues, Alfredo began a protest this morning. During the phone call he communicated that he will later refuse to return to the cell.
We remind you of the solidarity gathering on Sunday morning, July 18, at 10 a.m. outside Terni prison to support his struggle. Break the isolation!
* * *
Break the isolation!
Solidarity gathering for Alfredo at Terni prison
Anarchist comrade Alfredo Cospito has been in prison since September 2012, following the repressive operation that led to his arrest and that of another comrade, both accused of shooting Roberto Adinolfi, the CEO of Ansaldo Nucleare, who was wounded on May 7 of that year in Genoa. The action, claimed by Nucleo Olga of Federazione Anarchica Informale – Fronte Rivoluzionario Internazionale [“Informal Anarchist Federation – International Revolutionary Front”], was then claimed individually by the two comrades also during the first degree trial held in Genoa. In addition to the 9 years and 5 months sentence he received in the trial for the action against Adinolfi, he was sentenced to 20 years in first and second instance in the Scripta Manent trial held in Turin starting in 2017 and derived from the arrests of September 6 of the previous year. Following the Scripta Manent sentences, in addition to Alfredo, Anna is currently imprisoned (in Messina prison), sentenced to 16 years and 6 months.
At the end of June, Alfredo was transferred from the High Security 2 section of the Ferrara prison, where he had been held since 2013, to that of Terni prison. However, he is still kept in the “transit” section, despite the fact that the isolation period imposed by the Covid-19 emergency regulations has been over for several days. We do not know why Alfredo is still in solitary confinement, we do not know or care about the plans of the DAP [“Department of Penitentiary Administration”]. What we do know is that the provocations and pretexts of the guards can not erase a historical fact: the existence over the years of an anarchism of action, an anarchism that has acted with determination, hitting structures and people of the state and capital.
The story of Alfredo, the practices of which he is accused, this is the contagion they fear. But that story can not be erased by the convictions of a court or the pretexts of the jailers; those practices can not be isolated, there is no bubble that holds: they are heritage of the revolutionary anarchist movement.
Sunday, July 18, 2021, 10:00 a.m.
Solidarity gathering under the prison of Terni, strada delle Campore 32
PDF: Rompere l’isolamento! Saluto solidale per Alfredo al carcere di Terni (18.07.2021).
From & Translated by Malacoda
UPDATE ON ALFREDO’S SITUATION IN TERNI PRISON
At the end of June we heard the news that Alfredo had been transferred to Terni prison, where there is a section for imprisoned revolutionaries. To date, however, Alfredo is still being held in the “transit” section, despite the fact that the period of isolation imposed by the Coronavirus emergency regulations has been over for several days.
We do not know why Alfredo is still in isolation, we do not know and are not interested in the plans of the DAP (Department of Penitentiary Administration). What we do know is that the provocations and pretexts of the guards can not erase a historical fact: the existence over the years of an anarchism of action can not be erased by convictions in court or by the pretexts of the jailers.
The history of Alfredo, the practices of which he is accused, this is the contagion they fear. But that history, those practices, cannot be isolated, no bubble of isolation can hold; they are a heritage of the revolutionary movement.
In the coming days, if the situation continues, we will consider what forms of public solidarity to undertake.
We remind the address of the comrade:
Alfredo Cospito
C. C. di Terni
strada delle Campore 32
05100 Terni
Italia – Italy
Some comrades of Alfredo
Update: Sunday, July 18, at 10:00 am, a solidarity gathering with Alfredo will be held under the prison of Terni.
[Published & Translated by malacoda.noblogs.org].
Missed from May 27, 2021
Incitement to Burn!
On the night of last Tuesday, May 18, 2021, we attacked a Waskita Beton Precast Inc in Klaten, Central Java by using Molotov cocktails, And on the night of May 21, we also attacked PT. Adhi Karya Persada Construction Division II in Palembang and attacked the outside of a BNI bank ATM. However, from some of these actions we did not get any response from the mass media. But we will always develop our practical practices to produce the joy we arm!
As we know based on information from the anarchist information web (https://kontramedia.noblogs.org/post/solidaritas-berarti-menyerang-solidarity-means-attack/), several corporations in the construction sector are involved in land grabbing in Wadas village.
For what they do (exploitation), they have the right get this act of revenge. We are disgusted and refuse to wait for others to fix the situation. Our struggle is not like those out there naively passively waiting for a major apocalyptic uprising. We want everyday confrontation against the state and capitalists. This is our symbolic praxis of lighting a fire to make new informal cells and, as Alfredo Cospito said through the proposal of a new anarchy manifesto or its black international a few weeks ago, we will always adjust words and actions, as we believe it!
This action is none other than solidarity for those who have been confiscated and repressed by the police who justify the act of land grabbing. Nor do we forget the struggle of Pakel residents, and those in Pancoran, Tamansari, Kulon Progo, Barabaraya, and from Papua, Rojava, Chili (Mapuche), Greece, Spain, Italy, England to Palestine and Colombia!
SOLIDARITY FOR WADAS VILLAGE!
SOLIDARITY FOR PAPUA, ROJAVA AND PALESTINA!
SOLIDARITY FOR NOSTATE COLLECTIVE SERVERS IN THE NETHERLANDS AND 325 COLLECTIVES
SOLIDARITY FOR MONICA CABALLERO, FRANSISCO SOLAR, MARCELO VILLARROEL, JUAN FLORES RIQUELME, TOBY SHONE AND FOR ALL SUBVERSIVE ANARCHIST COMRADES. WE DIDN’T CALL HIS NAME BUT YOU’RE ALWAYS IN OUR HEART AND WILL NEVER FORGET!
Long live Anarchy
Long live Conspiracy Cells of Fire / FAI
Long live the subversive and anarchist prisoners on hunger strike!
Death to all states!
Solidarity means attack!
From: AMW
Anarchist comrade Alfredo Cospito has been transferred from the Alta Sicurezza 2 (“High Security 2”) section of Ferrara prison to that of Terni. Below the new address:
Alfredo Cospito
C. C. di Terni
strada delle Campore 32
05100 Terni
Italia – Italy
The comrade has been in prison since September 14, 2012, following the repressive operation that led to his arrest and that of another comrade, both accused of having shot and wounded Roberto Adinolfi, the CEO of Ansaldo Nucleare, on May 7 of that year in Genoa. The action, claimed by the Nucleo Olga of Federazione Anarchica Informale – Fronte Rivoluzionario Internazionale (“Informal Anarchist Federation – International Revolutionary Front”), was then claimed individually by the two comrades also during the first degree trial held in Genoa. The comrade had been imprisoned in Ferrara’s AS2 since 2013.
We also recall that Alfredo, in addition to the 9 years and 5 months sentence received in the trial for the action against Adinolfi, was sentenced to 20 years in first and second instance of the Scripta Manent trial held in Turin since 2017 and derived from the arrests of September 6, 2016. Around twenty comrades were charged in the trial, with regard to the activities of the FAI (later FAI–FRI) in Italy, involving also specific charges relating to a series of actions realized between 2005 and 2016 and for some anarchist publications and websites run by comrades. In the appeal sentence of November 24, 2020, three comrades were convicted for subversive association with the purposes of terrorism and subversion of the democratic order and for “incitement to commit crimes”. Among these three comrades, Anna Beniamino and Alfredo Cospito were convicted for some actions (explosive attacks and parcel bombs) carried out between 2005 and 2007. In addition, ten other comrades were sentenced for various reasons only for “incitement to crimes”. Currently, in addition to Alfredo, Anna is imprisoned (in Messina prison), sentenced to 16 years and 6 months.
Forgetting the prisoners of the social war means forgetting the war itself: revolutionary solidarity with the imprisoned anarchists.
Some anarchists in solidarity
July 1st, 2021
[Published & translated by malacoda.noblogs.org].
It may be due to the fact that I will spend a large portion of my remaining life in a prison, that lately I feel inclined to “necrophilia”, to “historicize” what has just been. After all, the last action claimed ‘Federazione Anarchica Informale – Fronte Rivoluzionario Internazionale’ in Italy was “just” a year ago. Usually we historicize the things “dead”, past, but in me the fear that everything that has been deleted or worse, distorted, has taken over. And I say this with the conviction (maybe I’m wrong) that the FAI-FRI has exhausted its vital charge and has passed the “baton” to something more essential, the revolutionary campaigns. Campaigns that, from one continent to another, relaunch revolutionary solidarity, not by an organization but by groups and individual comrades who never need to know each other personally. Dynamic alive, linear process as effective in the world goes by the name of “Black International” and that in fact does not even need the coordination, there is no need to meet, to know each other personally. The anarchists of action usually neglect the historical introspection, the anarchists who postpone the violent action instead tend to exhume distant experiences that are more unlikely to give rise to criminal retaliation and “imitations” in today. “It was a different time …”, this phrase still rattles in my head repeated to me as a boy endless times by anarchists / and more conscientious, anarchists / and other times precisely …
If our history is not written by us anarchists and anarchists will do so others. If the anarchist “historiography” ignores the relevance of anarchist action in time will be the official one to deal with distorting it, showing it. Then there are fortunate cases, as rare, in which to deal with it are revolutionaries of other “schools”, as in the case of the book The work of the mole that is presented in these initiatives. A book the result of the work of revolutionary communists that comes in its last pages to talk about anarchists and in particular of the FAI and then the FAI-FRI. They do it honestly, but they do it with an interpretation that leads to distortions, inaccuracies. It is more than natural that coming from an “other universe” (let’s say so) something escapes, but this does not mean that we cannot but be impressed by their work. Let’s put aside certain statements that are the heavy baggage of a Leninist thought that sees in the organization to conquer and direct the proletarian state its point of no return, indisputable. Statements that support the thesis that “the anarchist approach is often by definition (sic) devoid of strategic depth” or that the basic “contradiction” of anarchism would be the “refusal of organizational and programmatic structuring [which would prevent] the development of unity and high capacity/possibility of confrontation”. Statements that, when they do not distort the reality of things by supporting our lack of “strategic depth”, transform our strengths, “the refusal of organizational structuring”, into “contradictions”, into weaknesses. Not understanding that our innovative and potentially disruptive strength, our strong point, is right there.
The thesis that sees the FAI as “daughter” of the experience of Revolutionary Action is certainly a stretch. The thing that unites the two experiences in addition to the constant use over time of an acronym is the turmoil that both created within the anarchist movement. As for the FAI, the reactions of the movement were far more virulent than those had against AR, the accusations of being infiltrators, provocateurs flocked. The thing finds its explanation in the acronym used, and in the mockery of some claims against the so-called official anarchists. Continue reading “Contribution of Alfredo Cospito from the AS2 section of the Ferrara prison for the cycle of presentations “Guerrilla and Revolution””