Violence in Italy over growing mountains of trash
Pastor Dale Morgan
Violence in Italy over growing mountains of trash*
* Story Highlights
* Clashes break out over Italian plans to dump mountains of trash
from Naples
* Police in riot gear watch apparent firebombing of trash heaps
* Berlusconi has pledged to deploy military to tackle crisis
ROME, Italy (AP) -- Tensions remained high Saturday after a night of
clashes between police and protesters furious at Italian government
plans to dump mountains of uncollected trash from Naples in their towns.
Police in riot gear watched but did not intervene Saturday when a
protester threw what appeared to be a firebomb near the town of
Chiaiano, a suburb of Naples. Demonstrators also hurled cans and other
garbage at police.
The site near Chiaiano is one of 10 selected by Premier Silvio
Berlusconi's new government to receive some of the tons of stinking
garbage piled up in Naples and surrounding areas.
Police and protesters clashed overnight after authorities tried to move
an empty bus that demonstrators used to block a road leading to the
planned dump site.
Several injuries were reported on both sides. Police arrested three
people, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.
Earlier this week, Berlusconi led a Cabinet meeting in Naples to show
that his government was serious about tackling Naples' garbage problem.
He pledged to deploy the military to protect the dump sites.
Naples' latest garbage crisis began in December when trash collectors
said they had run out of dump sites.
The recurring problem is blamed on decades of poor local government,
residents' resistance to new dump sites or incinerators and what
authorities say is organized crime's infiltration of the trash business.
With summer approaching, the stench of garbage piled up on sidewalks and
piazzas has become overpowering, and Italy's tourist industry is worried
it will hurt business.
But local leaders vowed to thwart the national government's plans to
move the rubbish to dumps in their areas.
"I won't give up easily," ANSA quoted Marano mayor Salvatore Perrotta as
saying. Marano is situated next to the planned Chiaiano dump. Perrotta
said he would wage a legal battle to try to prevent it opening.