Three years ago, the world was coming to terms with the murder of Carlo Giuliani at the hands of the Carabineri during the G8 protests in Genoa. GR’s John Sinha caught up with Carlo’s father, Giuliano on a recent visit to London, here’s what they discussed.

“Without Genoa there would not have been the giant demonstrations against the war…”

Q. Can you give us an update on the inquiry into Carlo’s death?

The investigation into Carlo’s death has been shelved because the authorities are wilfully blind to all the evidence that has been put before them. They do not want to investigate because of the political consequences. Only a thorough going government inquiry can establish the truth because the responsibilty for what happened goes right to the top in govenrment. The whole truth will never come out untill we have a change of government.

Q. How are the trials against the Police officers involved in the Diaz school raids progressing?

There are two trials currently underway: one is of a group of young people who have been charged with riot and looting, these are very serious charges and carry prison sentences of upto eight years. The other is of the group of 29 police officers who carried out the raids at the Diaz school. The problem is the responsibilty for what really happened will not be established in the trial as it goes right up the chain of command, right upto the political level. This is why we will need a full parliamentary inquiry to establish what happened. But ofcourse, this will not happen untill we have a change of governement.

Q. What do the events in Genoa three years ago and since tell us about Italy and the Berlusconi government? What is your prognosis?

The death of Carlo and what happened in Genoa has made many people realise that we have a right-wing government in Italy that is awful, obscene - for some on the left it took rather a long time to understand that - and based on arrogance, the abuse of power, and the defence of the interests of the elite. This has started a process of strong criticism, and I am sure that at the next elections the right will lose. What is important is that the centre-left and the opposition finds the will and capacity to put forward a program that is concrete and accetable, and that will above all, protect the interests of the weak; in defence of all rights; in defence of the rights of those who work; in defence of the right to work. These are the things which ought to be put forward in any program because they are things which really matter if we are to rebuild our society.

Q. How have the the events in Genoa three years ago changed Italy and what can we learn from it?

What happened in Genoa was very important, the fact that there were already, at that moment, so many people with their own wish to build a better world. This desire has grown amongst the people in the last three years. Without Genoa there would not have been the giant marches against the war. The tragic ending of Carlo was a turning point between a society that was still asleep into a society that has woken up. That was the most important thing to happen, and is what gives me the hope that we can start to build another, better, world.

Giuliano Giuliani interviewed by John Sinha