Statement from the victims of the Genoa G8 Diaz raid 2001 - G82001

international | summit mobilisations | press release

Thursday June 13, 2013 21:08

by Mark Covell - Indymedia UK

It has been almost twelve years since the Genoa G8 2001 summit demonstrations descended into a Dantes hell for both sides. Amnesty itself has said of Genoa that there was ‘the biggest suspension of democratic rights in a western country since WW2’. My Name is Mark Covell and I was almost killed during the Diaz school raid.

Since there is and will continue to be a debate in the Irish media about the Genoa G8, myself and the rest of the victims from Diaz and Bolzaneto wish to speak to all interested parties – police, government, media and protesters.

All of us from Diaz wish to say thank you to Amnesty Ireland for allowing us to finally tell the truth of what happened at Diaz during the Genoa G8 2001.

Yet again, another G8 summit is happening, this time in Northern Ireland. There is much talk and speculation that another Genoa may happen again in the mainstream media. There is also much myth, legend and conspiracy surrounding Genoa and the events at Diaz.

The PSNI and government should know that one of us from the Diaz raid will be coming to Belfast to show an almost factual movie called DIAZ: Don’t Clean Up This Blood which tells the events and the human rights tragedy during the raid and is based on 10,000 trial documents.

Hopefully, the movie will alay fears and convey a message of what we have been through, what we have survived to finally get justice and convict 27 superpolice in July 2012. Bolzaneto victims are awaiting their final verdict on June 14th 2013 at Cassazione, the Supreme court of Appeal in Rome where 44 Italian police are on trial for torture.

Northern Ireland police have stated they will have several options available to them including rubber bullets and water cannon. English protesters have never faced these tools of public order. At Genoa water cannon, a shoot to kill policy and live rounds were used which led to the death of one protester. However, many police commanders disobeyed orders during that day, Friday 20th July 2001.

Whilst it is understood that the PSNI will want to look as though it is facilitating peaceful protest, protect its citizens and property, it is of great concern that the Northern Ireland G8 is looking like the military build up that turned Genoa into a fortress in 2001.

As a victim of Diaz from Genoa 2001 and whose story is told in the movie, I have a bitter experience of the human cost and the life lost. I urge restraint on both sides so that no serious injury or death happens on either side. No-one has to die for a G8 to get the message.

Normally, a G8 does not listen to the protesters, this time I hope they do.

Mark Covell

Victim of the Diaz school raid, July 21st/22nd 2001.

Premiere of the DIAZ:Don't Clean Up This Blood - Sunday 16 June at 2pm at the Ulster Museum, Belfast

Myself, Eamonn from Indymedia and other speakers will give a Q and A about the events in Genoa, The Diaz raid, the Bolzaneto torture and the trials that followed. We will also talk about the movie and how it became to be made.

Victim Mark Covell Tells Us More About His True Life Experience – ‘Diaz: Don’t Clean Up This Blood’

http://iloveitalianmovies.com/2013/06/05/victim-mark-co...lood/

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Comments (2 of 2)

agree

by Joe Mc

Thu Jun 13, 2013 23:11

Amnesty Ireland has had a lot of dodgy form recently. Their promotion of an Assange-bashing book by the right wing journalist Luke Harding, who was described last year as a "sleazebal hack and a plagiarist in this counterpunch article: http://www.counterpunch.org/2011/02/25/cable-cooking-an...ange/
was the final straw for many long-time supporters of the organization in this country. See comments here for instance :
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/101677?search_text=amnesty

Best wishes for the film showing . What happened at Genoa needs to be told ; it was indeed a gross violation of human rights .But don't be surprised if people in Belfast disagree with Amnesty's description of the police raid as ‘the biggest suspension of democratic rights in a western country since WW2’

why do you need to involve Amnesty in this?

by Amnasty

Thu Jun 13, 2013 21:54

"All of us from Diaz wish to say thank you to Amnesty Ireland for allowing us to finally tell the truth of what happened at Diaz during the Genoa G8 2001."

I am interested in seeing the film but I have to ask: Exactly why do you need Amnesty to tell your story? They can't be trusted:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzanne_Nossel

Why not tell your story independently and not through a compromised NGO??

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Statement from the victims of the Genoa G8 Diaz raid 2001 - G82001

Comments (2 of 2)