Trieste, March 15th, 2013. – Today at 10.30AM Free Trieste held a sit-in before the offices of Equitalia S.p.A., in via XXX Ottobre 4.

Equitalia is the company that, on the Italian State’s behalf, carries out enforced recoveries in the Free Territory of Trieste. Equitalia has no mandate to act outside of Italy, and under Italian law, Trieste is independent since 1947.

The hundreds of participants to the sit-in held banners and proclaimed slogans as they seek compliance with the law.

Under the 1947 Treaty of Peace, Trieste is not only independent, it is also exempted from the payment of the Italian public debt (Annex X). Also, being its own State, it has the right to its own taxation.

Italy recognizes Trieste’s independence.

Since 1954, under a MoU, the Italian Government committed to administer Trieste under a special trusteeship mandate. Like the previous British-US administration, the Italian Government should respect Trieste’s legal status, that of its international Free Port, and obviously their specific taxation laws.

Roberto Giurastante, founder of the Free Trieste Movement, has written more about Equitalia on his blog, “Environment and Legality”, we re-uploaded his article HERE

The question of taxation in the Free Territory of Trieste has attracted an unprecedented press covering: this is much appreciated.

Gallery:

15 March 2013: everything is ready for Free Trieste's demonstration calling for fair taxes.

The main banner: Equitalia, go away from Trieste!

Roberto Giurastante, first citizen of Trieste to open Question Trieste in this century, explains the rights of the people and enterprises to fair taxation.

Free Trieste stands for legality and acts peacefully, but the Italian Police keeps an eye on the sit-in no matter what.

Many citizens of Trieste call for the re-establishment of fair taxation in the Free Territory and international Free Port of Trieste. Currently, Trieste is forced to pay the huge Italian taxes, even if Italy is a foreign Country.

We are not against paying taxes. We want to pay the due taxes to our State, the Free Territory of Trieste.

Press coverage is uncommon during Free Trieste's events: taxation is indeed an important topic.

Roberto Giurastante explains to the press Free Trieste's legal opposition to Italian taxes and call for the fair taxation of the Free Territory of Trieste.