She was only 22 years old and she already had a daughter of 3 years, when the Mafia killed her husband. She decided to denounce the Cosa Nostra system as her sister-in-law Rita Atria, only 17 years old, did. Rita committed suicide after the massacre in via D'Amelio Piera wanted to resist. But for 18 years she has lived almost hidden as a witness to justice. She then discovered that the State had ended her protection program. And Piera Aiello has decided to react, in her way.She went back to live in Partanna, her town near Trapani. A gesture of protest. "At a distance of eighteen years from the choice that has marked my life and I don't disown, I say stop. I come back in Sicily, since I am a former witness. I return to my house, where no one can kick me out, I return to my identity, that no one has the right to cancel. "
Actually, the choice of leaving the protection program goes back to last April but since then, according to the witness, the former prefect of the city where she used to live had not yet taken any steps to ensure her security, Piera decided to go back to Sicily. And she wanted to "let people know the inefficiency of people and institutional officials who have the audacity to deal with absolute incompetence and total lack of interest delicate situations".
Now she's back where she fled 18 years ago, where the bosses of the Belice Mafia live, the ones she has helped to condemn. But Piera is alone, again, in her fight. Her daughter, now, has the same age Piera had when she was widowed. "She goes to college. She is an University student. And the last time I saw her, she told me 'Mom, remember that you have a family".
Fortunately, in Partanna there are citizens who have decided to protect the former justice witness. An "escort" of civil society. The idea is of Nadia Furnari, head of anti-mafia "Rita Atria" association. "The honest Sicilians, those who do not want to mourn the dead but support the alive, will defend with non-violence and peace weapons Piera Aiello".
Piera has made many efforts to honor the pact of cooperation with the State and Justice. She could not have a normal life, she had to overcome many difficulties to grow a child of whom the State, the one that was protecting her, had totally forgotten. Then last April, a policeman unveiled her coverage. But Piera is not silent. Even if "since the day I reported this episode, I have been abandoned". She added that she was not offered any opportunity to move to another location. The only certain thing is that the State seems to have forgotten that the risk for this woman and her family is still high. Protection of the witnesses of Justice should be withdraw only if there is an "effective termination of the risk".
Five men at the expense of the state. Five men that in less than three months are no longer needed.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
Comments