MIM Notes 187 June 1 1999

Italian outrage over U.$. military may lead to 
Baraldini return

by a MIM comrade

Silvia Baraldini, a revolutionary anti-
imperialist incarcerated for her political 
beliefs and alleged roles in political actions 
might finally be returned to her native Italy. 
Among the things Silvia is accused of is aiding 
in the escape of Black Liberation Army leader 
Assata Shakur. (Assata now lives in exile in 
Cuba).

Silvia has been imprisoned since 1983. Five 
times since 1989, Silvia and the Italian 
government have requested she be returned to 
Italy under a treaty that allows prisoners 
convicted abroad to serve their sentences at 
home. Each time Amerika said no, fearing that 
this leader of the people would not be 
adequately tortured by the Italian prison 
system.

But Italian anger at the United States over the 
U.$. Marine killing of 20 at an Italian ski 
resort might force the United States to consider 
letting Silvia return home. On Feb 3, 1998, a 
Marine jet flown by Richard Ashby sliced through 
a ski gondola cable 300 feet off the ground, 
sending the gondola and 20 people to their 
deaths. Area residents near the Avano air base 
had long complained of U.$. military planes 
flying too low and too fast. Rules at that time 
required the planes to be much higher than 300 
feet. At the time, the Italian government 
demanded that Ashby be tried in Italy. This 
request was refused by Amerika, and Ashby was 
recently acquitted of murder charges, although 
he was more recently convicted of obstructing 
justice by destroying evidence of his flight. 

Although this will not bring back the 20 
Italians murdered by the U.$. Marines, MIM hopes 
that the u.s. is forced to return Silvia 
Baraldini to Italy. By taking advantage of the 
mistakes of our enemies, the revolutionary 
forces can sometimes win small victories while 
building strength to take on the larger battles.

Note: Boston Globe 10 April 1999, p. A8.