Italy permitted civil militias per emergency decree on feb20

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Civil militias enacted per emergency decree are the reaction on racist encroachments (tresspassings)vs. boat people who are held captive in overexceeded camps for months. People speak of the long shadow of "Lega Nord" and La Repubblica wrote "a dangerous jump backwards to the militias of fascism." And many Italy-fans ask themselves: Where is the country left where the citrons prosper? (Italy is former favorite holiday country of the Germans which was reknown for its anarchic, happy calmness and hospitality of its citizens.)

The fascist-conservative government of Silvio Berlusconi agreed on a friday on a decree which legalized civil militias besides implying tougher punishment for sexual crimes, extended stay for immigrants in camps and an increase in the number of policemen.

The step follows politically on a number of brutal rapes in Italian cities which shocked the public in Italy in the past weeks and which caused a media uproar.
In several cities, especially in Rome, scuffles were reported:
Several times citizens have beaten Romanian immigrants so they had to stay in hospital, youth ignited an Indish, five immigrants escaped their lynching only closely while being arrested.

Sheer cynicism

It is the aim to avoid such cases of "uncontrolled self-justice" and to "support volunteers for the public safety," minister of interior Maroni of Lega Nord defended the measure.
The civil militias were only "armed" with portables.

"The prime doesn't control the situation anymore" Italian media wrote.
"La Repubblica" values Maroni's reasoning as sheer cynicism.
The racist incidents were fed by ministers and mayors according to "La Repubblica."