Free Trieste

Free Trieste to the Commissar of Government: abrogate the decrees in force on military service.

Roberto Giurastante, President of the Free Trieste Movement, addresses Trieste citizens of all ages after presenting the request to abrogate Italian military service in Trieste.

Trieste, July 31st, 2015. – Today (7.31) the Free Trieste Movement presented the Commissioner of the Government, Ms. Garufi, a request to abrogate two commissarial decrees.

It is the 1957 decrees that extend Italian military conscription to Trieste citizens. The new request is part of an international action, which includes requesting a compensation of  damages.

The question is a complex: since 1954, the Italian Government exercises, through the aforementioned Commissioner, the temporary civil administration the Free Territory of Trieste.

Since 1947, Trieste is an independent State, and the Treaty of Peace with Italy declares it demilitarized and neutral. Nevertheless, the Commissioner extended Italian military service to it. The action, which is against the Peace Treaty, was concealed having the draftees sign a blank paper. Later, and without their knowledge, the paper was filler with a request to serve as volunteers.

Italy has suspended military conscription in 2005. However, the law envisions resuming military service in the event of international crisis or war. This would mean calling up all men, including those discharged from service, up to 65 years. Younger citizens are at risk too: the Municipality of Trieste is still including 17-year-old kids in Italian conscription lists.

Furthermore, if the citizens of Trieste refuse to serve in the Italian army, they risk punishment under Italian Criminal Codes (articles about refusing military service). This punishment doesn’t cover only Question Trieste and the related legal questions. Indeed, it extends to antimilitarism and pacifist sentiment.

The document, in Italian and in English.

Press Office of the Free Trieste Movement