There are fears a new wave of Mafia murders may be about to sweep southern Italy after a Mafioso boss spoke out in court against tough prison conditions imposed on mobsters.
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Leoluca Bagarella pictured as he stands trial for the murder of prosecutor Mr Giovanni Falcone, in 1992. Photo: Reuters
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Leoluca Bagarella, accused of involvement in about 300 murders, stunned a courtroom in Sicily yesterday when he unexpectedly read an enigmatic statement accusing unnamed politicians of failing to honour past promises.
"We are tired of being used by the political class," said Mr Bagarella, who is the brother-in-law of the boss of bosses, Salvatore "the Beast" Riina.
"They are trying to make fools of us," he added, saying he had joined other jailed Mafiosi in refusing prison food to protest government plans to maintain firm jail controls on them.
His comments caused concern among Mafia experts that Mr Bargella words could start a new wave of political and judicial assassinations in Italy.
"This is very alarming, very worrying," national Mafia prosecutor Mr Pierluigi Vigna told the Corriera della Seranewspaper. "This man has never spoken before ... He might be alluding to the start of a new Mafia war," he said.
About 300 godfathers held in high-security jails across Italy started their food protest earlier this month to denounce government moves to make the rigid prison regime for Mafia detainees a permanent policy. The tough conditions were first introduced temporarily in 1992 after the mob murder of two top anti-Mafia magistrates.
Under the regime, a jailed Mafioso's contact with the outside world is limited to one monthly telephone call and a single visit from relatives. The Mafiosi are refusing prison food, but are still allowed buy €100-worth of food each week to cook in their cells. They have received little public sympathy for their cause. "If the Mafia bosses are protesting, it means that the tough Mafia regime is working," a former anti-Mafia magistrate, Mr Giuseppe Ajala, said. "This protest is a positive signal in the fight against the Mafia." Italy has scored huge successes over organised crime since the 1992 murders of anti-mob prosecutors Mr Giovanni Falcone and Mr Paolo Borsellino forced a previously lethargic country to take the Mafia seriously. About 300 long-time fugitives were captured in little more than two years, including senior bosses such as Bagarella and Riina, and whole mob rings were dismantled. However, experts said a wiser Mafia has now regrouped, maintaining its stranglehold on southern Italy's economy. A big shot in the Sicilian hilltop town of Corleone immortalised in the Hollywood "Godfather" movies, Bagarella is still viewed as one of the Mafia's most influential figures, so his courtroom statement is likely to electrify mob circles. "We will continue our protest until we receive precise signals," he said darkly, ignoring attempts by the public prosecutor to silence him. Anti-Mafia chief Vigna urged politicians not to take fright. "The only way we can respond to this is by closing ranks with determination and not make any concessions to the criminals," he said.