 |
The
pro-Bourbon rebellion in Isernia, seen by "Il
Mondo Illustrato" of 1861 (Turin) |
On
this topic, Molfese wrote (p. 229-230):
«As concerns the
"cafoni" and farmers in general, the
army adopted a terrorist repression. In this
sector, the behaviour was clear since the very
beginning of the southern campaign and the "cafoni"
(peasants) found armed or suspected to support
the brigands were executed on the spot. Retaliations,
fires, vandalic actions and pillages were largely
practised. The repression of brigandage was
a real dark page and a sad training for the
young Italian army. Between 1861 and 1862, some
local commanders (…) issued Draconic proclamations
enforcing execution for any infringement to
the many prohibitions that, in addition, were
paralysing the economic and social life of the
provinces. But this repression, over which the
"love for one’s country" has
drawn a veil, accomplished also excessive actions
that nothing had to do with terrorist repression.
Mass imprisonments, carried out even in seriously
doubtful circumstances, and the imprisonment
of the relatives of the suspects were the general
rule applied since the beginning (…) even
more serious actions, such as the slaughtering
of prisoners, were not unusual…» .
|
Fifteen years later, Settembrini called the army «the
iron wire that has stitched Italy and keeps it together».
In 1863 the government took a resolutive decision:
on 3-4-5 May 1863, in a secret meeting, the Chamber
listened to the report of an Investigating Committee
sent to the war territories, while the National Guards
surrounded Palazzo Carignano. We know only those parts
of this report that were subsequently published, after
six passages of the original text had been censored
and lost forever. Even the deputies were not allowed
to see the documents. The government counteroffensive
was immediate, simple and radical: on 15 August the
Pica Law against brigandage came into force and remained
in force until 31 December 1865 (it was extended also
to Sicily with no real motivation): the entire southern
Italy was declared "under brigandage" (with
the exception of Teramo, Reggio Calabria, Naples,
Bari, Terra d'Otranto) and therefore under martial
law; military war tribunals where established almost
everywhere, «framing the
provinces of the former Bourbon kingdom into a network
of Draconic repression» ;
the military tribunals could judge the members of
armed groups even only upon a suspicion (the famous
"Law on Suspicions" of Jacobin memory),
and sanction armed resistance with execution (life
imprisonment in case of extenuating circumstances),
whereas the abetters (the so-called "accomplices")
were convicted to hard labour for all their lives.
Moreover, the government could sentence forced residence
for suspects, idlers, vagabonds and Camorrists and
- most of all - it could establish armed corps of
volunteers to repress "brigandage". |
