(By Laura Clarke)
Police clashed with
protestors in Milan on Tuesday during the eviction of two
left-wing social centres from public housing premises that had
been illegally occupied in the south of the city.
Police charged the activists and fired teargas
after coming under a barrage of stones.
The social centre activists also set fire to rubbish bins.
A city campaign to evict families and social centres that
have been illegally occupying Milan council-owned houses has
caused considerable tension in recent weeks.
On Monday, scuffles broke out after a family was evicted
from a flat in the outlying Lorenteggio area.
Five police officers were injured in the clashes and two
protesters were arrested on charges of violence, resistance and
injury.
Milan city council condemned Monday's violence but said it
would not stop it from pursuing the evictions.
"We are already working, and will continue to work to solve
a complex problem that sees us in the front line in the fight
against illegality but also to provide answers to the housing
emergency expressed by this city," said Daniela Benelli and
Marco Granelli, the councillors responsible for housing and
security.
"However, let it be clear to all that the social protection
of fragile people and families in need has nothing to do with
people who use violence to prevent occupied housing from being
freed up and with those who shamefully speculate on the
desperation of others to fuel the racket," they added.
"Milan city council is committed to restoring legality,
livability and dignity to its working class areas," concluded
the councillors.
However, many families who illegally occupy social housing
say they are forced to do so because of the length of waiting
lists to obtain a flat via the proper procedures.
Also on Tuesday, around 100 residents of Milan's San Siro
area gathered in Piazza Selinunte to protest against the
evictions.
"We have been going for a week and we will continue
further," said Paola, a spokesperson for the movement, who did
not give her surname.
"This morning, we gathered at 7 am and after having
breakfast together - an excuse to meet and talk - we organised a
sale of second-hand items.
"We want to help each other, not continue this war among
the poor," she added.
Meanwhile, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Maurizio
Lupi of the minority government partner New Centre Right (NDC)
praised the latest evictions.
"Legality is finally being restored with respect to housing
and illegal occupations in Milan, and the violent reactions of
the usual suspects will not stop it happening," Lupi said.
"Just as we are making big efforts to help those
experiencing the housing emergency, with the rental and
arrearage funds and the 500 million euros allocated under the
Housing Plan to renovate public housing premises, we must ensure
that the rights of those who really are in need are not trampled
by illegal occupants," he continued.
The government of Democratic Party (PD) leader Matteo Renzi
has made tackling Italy's chronic housing shortage a top
priority with the allocation of nearly two billion euros to
renovate existing public housing and build new structures in
particular.
The so-called Housing Plan, approved by parliament in May,
also contain measures in support of house rentals at a
previously established price (canone concordato) rather than at
the market rate, including a lower flat rate of taxation on
rental income for property owners, and tax breaks for social
housing tenants.
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