Wave of fires and acts of intimidation on confiscated lands in the South

The latest in chronological order is the fire at the Fund confiscated from Francesco “Sandokan” Schiavone in Santa Maria La Fossa (province of Caserta) managed by the social cooperative Terra Felix : the entire harvest was lost. This act follows the one that occurred in Calabria where another arson attack hit the Valle del Marro cooperative: a wheat crop in Gioia Tauro, managed by the cooperative, was completely destroyed .

This is the latest episode, after a long series of damages and thefts, that strikes those who courageously oppose organized crime. The Valle del Marro cooperative , associated with Libera , has been cultivating the lands confiscated from the 'ndrangheta in the Piana di Gioia Tauro for over twenty years, returning them to legality and the common good. Finally, even earlier in Ramacca (in the province of Catania) another theft to the detriment of the Beppe Montana Libera Terra cooperative , for years at the forefront of the recovery and social management of assets confiscated from the mafia: an episode that adds to a series of similar acts suffered in recent times, generating economic damage and delays in production activities.

"We are facing a wave of intimidating acts that are hitting our social cooperatives," says the national president of Legacoopsociali Massimo Ascari , "which for years have been on the front lines to manage and restore to the community and to production companies, lands and assets confiscated from the mafia in the South. We are with them, we are not retreating and with them we will continue to fight this great battle together with our cooperatives."

"On behalf of the entire national presidency of Legacoop", declares the national president of Legacoop Simone Gamberini , "I express full solidarity and closeness to the members and workers of the social cooperatives Valle del Marro, Beppe Montana and Terra Felix, which in recent days have been hit by serious and unacceptable acts, such as arson and theft. We firmly condemn these intimidating gestures that aim to hinder the valuable and courageous work of organizations committed to returning to the community assets confiscated from organized crime . These cooperatives represent a stronghold of legality, justice and inclusive development in territories that want to turn the page. Legacoop will always be at the side of these organizations, strengthening its commitment to promoting a healthy and inclusive economy, free from any form of intimidation and blackmail. We will soon have a meeting with the Minister of the Interior Piantedosi, to whom we will express our strong protest for the repetition of these and we will ask for the activation of the controls and a strengthening of the interventions to protect the cooperatives that manage confiscated assets".