ABSTRACT: The Radical Party's action to obtain the liberation of Judge Giovanni D'Urso, kidnapped by the "Red Brigades" on December 12, 1980, and to oppose that group of political and press officials that advocate his death to justify the imposition in Italy of an "emergency" government composed of "technicians". On February 15, 1981, Judge D'Urso was freed: "The Party of inflexibility was organizing and is still organizing a coup d'état: for this as for the 1921 fascism, it needs victims, but this time, unlike what happened with Moro, it has been temporarily defeated: for once, the Red Brigades have not served the purpose. The campaign conducted by Radio Radicale successfully interrupts the blackout on information ordered by the press.

("The life of Judge D'Urso", Who needed it, who sold it, how it was saved - edited by Lino Jannuzzi, Ennio Capelcelatro, Franco Roccella, Valter Vecellio - Supplement to Radical News n.3 - March 1981)

Leonardo Sciascia's second appeal to the press (January 12)

"My appeal of Saturday evening to the Italian press was published unabridged by very few papers and by others ignored. Among the Italian writers, I am one much in demand, and I must say the newspapers I normally collaborate with even overpay me: and yet, not even those papers I collaborate with regularly published this statement of mine, consisting of no more than ten lines.

The ineffable "Eugenio Scalfari" or those writing on behalf of him on "La Repubblica", have managed to make it appear as if I am contradicting myself, using an interview on "L'Espresso", in which I stated that Government had done a good thing to dismantle the penitentiary of Asinara, and that following this I expected other openings, and comparing this statement to Saturday's appeal to the press. But in fact I was addressing myself to the press, not to Government. Government cannot and must not give in, unless the question is modifying the law, as for L'Asinara. But newspapers are not the Government. Newspapers are made of journalists, reporters, editors, owners, those who publish them, those who read them. My appeal was addressed to these people. An appeal addressed by one man to other men, whose names I can here list (not all of them, those who are at the top): "Franco Di Bella, Eugenio Scalfari, Indro Montanelli, Giorgio Fattori, Roberto Ciuni, Gianfranco Piazzesi, Michele Tito, Vittorio Emiliani, Gianni

Letta, Fausto De Luca, Mario Ciancio...". To each of them, individually, I addressed and repeat my appeal. The Red Brigades state that the life of a human being depends on your decision: the decision to publish their ravings on your papers. It is a despicable and painful blackmail, but there is also an idiotic and ridiculous aspect in the effect these communiqués could have on your papers. Personally, they believe their communiqués should be published and divulged at the State's expense. Publish them, therefore: to suffer a blackmail is much nobler and profitable, in this occurrence, than refusing it.

As you know, my appeal has been answered by Mrs Moro, Mrs Tobagi, the son of Carlo Casalegno: their grief, which they could have directed against you, has chosen the path of intelligence. I ask you to adapt to this intelligence: do not pursue the path of honour, which, with the death of a human being, can become a supreme dishonour".

"Leonardo Sciascia".