Turin - The party of Premier Matteo Renzi received a threat
letter on Thursday from opponents of the encroaching TAV
high-speed-rail line around Turin.
"You are the true terrorists," said the anonymous missive
sent to the Piedmont office of the center-left Democratic Party
(PD), in reference to a group of anti-TAV militants arrested in
recent months on charges of terrorism.
"You can't hide forever behind your machine of servants.
We'll see you scumbags soon".
The letter is the latest in a long series of threats
against constructing a rail link between Lyon and Turin.
In February police and officials received notice from a
group called the Armed Operational Nuclei (NOA) that said its
"revolutionary court" had condemned them to death for allegedly
"repressing" protests against work on the TAV line north of
Turin.
The well-known No-TAV citizens' movement trying to stop the
link disassociated itself from the NOA and condemned its
actions, saying it objected to "violence against persons".
The threats come as a chilling reminder of leftist and
rightist terrorist campaigns in Italy that left an estimated
2,000 dead between 1969 and 1981.
Opponents argue the rail link is wasteful of public funds
and destroys pristine countryside.
Supporters say it will cut down on automobile and truck
pollution and make shipping and transit more efficient.
The Italian and French governments have insisted that the
link will not only speed passenger and freight traffic but also
boost both countries' economies.
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