To the citizens of Vicenza,
It is with deep respect for your struggle and your cause that we, the International Network for the Abolition of Foreign Military Bases, send you this letter of support on the eve of your Declaration of Independence from the US military, on July 4th 2009.
The struggle in Vicenza continues to inspire dozens of similar campaigns across the globe, and thousands of activists and campaigners in the more than 100 countries and territories that "host" a foreign military presence. And as such, your decision to declare independence is taken on behalf of all of us. An independent Vicenza will be an important example for others. We need an independent Diego Garcia, an independent Curaçao, Pjong Taek, Tan-Tan and an independent Waihopei.... to give a few examples.
The US Declaration of Independence is a good starting point for formulating one's own independence from foreign military occupation or subjugation. In their struggle against British rule, one of the most common grievances among citizens of the United States at the time was that the UK was"quartering large bodies of armed troops among us, even in peace-time". In 1776 the citizens of the US recognised that the permanent military presence of a foreign power in peace-time undermined their self-determination, and was an infringement on their right to be master of their own faith and their own land. The desire of the people of Vicenza today is no different than the desire expressed 233 years ago in a document that until this day is widely regarded as one of the foundations for modern democratic, independent and sovereign societies.
The story of Vicenza is one that has been repeated over the past centuries in more than a thousand places the world over. And it is sad to say that the society of freedom fighters of 1776 has morphed into one of imposers, and occupiers, today.
It is equally disturbing to see that Vicenza is becoming a modern example of how undemocratic, un-transparent and - frankly - how deceitful modern European democracies can be. Where one would expect the Italian government to embark upon an open, inclusive and civilised debate with its own citizens on the need, necessity and consequences of yet another foreign military base, the Italian state has failed on all accounts. Information was withheld from those citizens who will bear the direct consequences of government decisions. Indeed, information was clearly withheld with the purpose of preventing any meaningful public debate on the matter. What's more, it has become obvious in the past years of non-violent struggle by the citizens of Vicenza, that the Italian government is willing to demonise its own opposition, even if this opposition consists of law-abiding, tax paying and non-violent citizens who it is supposed to serve. The Italian government systematically underplayed the consequences of the base planned at Dal Molin, it blocked any initiative for democratic and inclusive debate, it even blocked a regional referendum to be held on the matter initiated by the democratically-chosen mayor of the city.
The Italian government has also demonstrated over the past years that it intentionally subverts its own regulations and laws, in order to prevent adequate studies on the economic and social consequences of the military bases already existing in Vicenza, such as Ederle, and of the new US base planned at Dal Molin. Environmental impact studies were not conducted, although Italian law requires that they be carried out before any major construction project. The reason for this - as we all know - is the expected negative outcome of such a study, for the base is planned next to a UNESCO World Heritage site, and on top of the largest natural fresh water reservoir in the region. The Italian government also knows that Dal Molin is a bad idea, but it refuses - at all costs - to recognise its own mistake.
This, sadly, tells us something about the state of affairs in international relations. Apparently, being a docile ally of the US is more important to the Italian government than serving the needs and interests of its own population.
In addition, it can and will be held against the US government that it deliberately looks away when a 'host country' violates the democratic rights of its own citizens.
It takes bravery, perserverance and - to use an American expression - "balls" to do what you in Vicenza have done: To challenge head-on a state determined to trample the rights of its own citizens, and with that in mind, your relentless struggle for justice is becoming a modern example of the power and determination of ordinary people in the face of overwhelming state pressure.
During recent visits to Washington, where representatives of your movement tried to reason with representatives of the US government and the US army, it became clear that the US believes that Vicenza is a perfect location for its military. Why, you wonder? Because life in Vicenza is so good. The mountain air, the medieval city centre, the friendly people....... It became clear that the US government, despite all your efforts to reason with them, is under the misguided impression that you like to live with an increasing number of military personnel, who can't be bothered to speak your language, who do not share your culture of peace and who will not take into account the fact that Italians in general want nothing to do with the wars they are fighting. Apparently, the fact that you have been campaigning and demonstrating without using violence, and trying to use rational arguments rather than cheap slogans, and without resorting to blaming individual US soldiers for the wrongs of the military machine they are part of - all of this led to the idea in Washington that the people of Vicenza actually like the US army. We need to correct that misunderstanding, and therefore the International Network for the Abolition of Foreign Military Bases fully endorses the non-violent "inhospitality" actions undertaken by the NoDalMolin Campaign. If the US is thinking of moving Africom to Vicenza because it is such a fine place to live in, we apparently need to make sure it is not.
They call us anti-American, but I'm sure you, like all of us would think and act the same if the bases in and around your town were operated by Russians, or the French, or any other foreign army. Instead, it is anti-Vicenzanism that we have to fight here: the idea that the grandiose military fantasies of some decision makers in Washington and Rome can override the needs, desires, and legitimate concerns of the people of Vicenza.
Hosting a base is giving up sovereignty, independence. And ending such an undesired situation starts with regaining sovereignty, by declaring independence.
So we declare independence. And we send ALL troops home.
On behalf of the International Network for the Abolition of Foreign Military Bases,
In solidarity,
Wilbert van der Zeijden, June 29, 2009, Amsterdam