March

THE FIRST ARREST FOR CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION

Arrest of Lorenzo and Andrea Strik Lievers for distributing Radical pro-conscientious objection pamphlets in Milan.

August 1967

THE MILAN VICENZA ANTIMILITARIST MARCH

The first antimilitarist march organised by the Radical Party on the road between Milan and Vicenza. For ten days, covering 260 kilometres all on foot, there were demonstrations "against all the armies" in the cities that they marched through. First arguments and political clashes with pacifist groups who maintained that the "Communist and Democratic armies" played the main the role in the wars for liberation in Vietnam and Africa. The march was to take place every year in August, until 1972, on the same route.

September1968

THE RADICAL PARTY JOINS THE "WAR RESISTERS' INTERNATIONAL"

The Radical Party joined the international objectors' organisation, "War Resisters' International" (WRI), based in London. In the sphere of an initiative promoted by the WRI in all the Eastern European capitals, Radical militants, including Radical Secretary Marco Pannella, demonstrated in Sofia, Bulgaria against the military occupation of Czechoslovakia. They were arrested, held for a few days, then expelled.

November 1968

THE CONGRESS PROCLAIMS THE DUTY TO DISOBEDIENCE AGAINST MILITARISM

The Congress promoted conscientious objection. In the motion approved by the Radical Congress it was affirmed that "conscientious objection should be promoted together with every other form of battle which aims to counteract the oppressive function of the military organisation".

February 1971

FROM RELIGIOUS TO POLITICAL OBJECTION

The first collective declaration of conscientious objection in Italy with political motives, by 7 antimilitarist Radicals. Until then motives had been mainly religious or "moral".

February 1972

RADICAL SECRETARY IN PRISON

Roberto Ciccomessere, ex-Secretary of the Radical Party, arrested for conscientious objection. In Italy there was an increase in the ranks of those who wanted conscientious objection to be legally recognised.

August 1972

TRIESTE AVIANO ANTIMILITARIST MARCH

The sixth antimilitarist march was moved this year to the route between Trieste and Aviano (NATO nuclear base) on the boundary, where the military concentration of NATO in Italy is greatest; it ended outside the military prison of Peschiera del Garda, where various conscientious objectors were being held.

November 1972

38 DAYS OF HUNGER STRIKE FOR A LAW THAT RECOGNISES CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION IN ITALY TOO

The hunger strike of Marco Pannella, Secretary of the Radical Party and Alberto Gardin, Deputy Secretary, ended with the President of the Chamber, Sandro Pertini, writing the proposal for a law for the recognition of conscientious objection on the agenda. Among the enrolments received in support of non-violent action, were those of Boll, Grass, Ginsburg, Sartre, Monod, Montale and Silone.

December 1972

THE ITALIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES

The law to recognise conscientious objection was approved by the Italian Parliament.

January 1973

ITALIAN OBJECTORS FORM A LEAGUE

In Italy the League for Conscientious Objectors (LOC), in federation with the Radical Party, came into being. The first Secretaries, Roberto Ciccomessere, currently Euro MP of the Radical Party, and Rosa Filippini, currently Member of Parliament for the Greens in the Italian Chamber of Deputies, were elected.

August 1976

ANTIMILITARIST MARCH, METZ-VERDUN

The Radical Party promoted the lengthening of the traditional Trieste Aviano march on the Franco-German border, along the Metz-Verdun route. The march was then transferred to Sardinia, to demonstrate against the installation of the nuclear submarine base in La Maddalena. It lasted 30 days, covering over 400 km on foot in Italy and France. The basic theme of the march was the conversion of military expenses and structures to civilian.

October 1977

SPAIN, HUNGER STRIKE BY MARCO PANNELLA FOR CIVIL RIGHTS FOR SPANISH OBJECTORS

On October 2, 1977 in Madrid, Marco Pannella ended his hunger and thirst strike begun on September 20 in Barcelona, to support the civil rights of conscientious objectors in Spain. The conclusion of Pannella's strike, which he undertook with 17 other conscientious objectors, coincided with the Spanish military authorities' decision to release a Basque conscientious objector jailed in Bilbao.

October 1979

RADICAL SECRETARY JEAN FABRE ARRESTED FOR "INSOUMISISON"

The Secretary of the Radical Party, Jean Fabre, was arrested in France, for "insoumission". He had contested the French law which prevents opting for civilian service in the sector of the fight against extermination by hunger. In the Genova Congress in November 1979, he was elected President of the Radical party, while held in the prison of Fresnes.

November 1984

OBJECTOR ARRESTED IN THE CONGRESS: ARMIES TO FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER

After having begun his speech at the Radical Party's Congress in Rome, Sandro Ottoni, conscientious objector, was seized by the Italian police.

He refused national civilian service, and asked to be employed within military or civil structures to combat "extermination by hunger" in the south of the world. He was sentenced to 1 year in jail.

July 1985

LUXEMBURG, FIRST CONVENTION ON THE AFFIRMATION OF CONSCIENCE

International convention in Luxemburg on conscientious objection and affirmation of conscience, organised by the Radical group at the European Parliament. The objectors affirm their rights-obligations-contribution to the community's security in a non-military way.

July 1985

AN EEC-LINE ON CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION, A PETITION WAS PRESENTED

A petition was presented at the European Parliament, which requested a community line to set up legislation of the member States on conscientious objection. Signed by 27 thousand citizens of all the EEC countries, it was delivered by the Federal Secretary of the Radical Party, Olivier Dupuis to the Vice President of the European Parliament, Lady Ellis.

October 1985

OLIVIER DUPUIS:

THIRD RADICAL SECRETARY IN PRISON FOR THE AFFIRMATION OF CONSCIENCE

Olivier Dupuis, member of the Radical Party's Secretariat, arrested during a demonstration outside the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels (see article on page 37).

January 1986

BRUSSELS: PLIUSC AND BOUKOWSKY TESTIFY IN FAVOUR OF OLIVIER DUPUIS

Brussels: Olivier Dupuis sentenced to two years of prison by the military tribune. Testimonies in favour of Dupuis from the Russian dissidents, Pliusc and Boukowsky, and the French priest, Cardonnel.

June 1986

Warsaw:

DEMONSTRATION FOR POLISH OBJECTORS

Radical demonstration in Warsaw for the liberation and recognition of Polish conscientious objectors. Radical militants, including Senator Corleone, were arrested, and after two days sentenced and expelled from the country.

June 1986

STRASBOURG: 2ND CONVENTION FOR THE AFFIRMATION OF CONSCIENCE

The second International Convention for the Affirmation of Conscience and Conscientious Objection, promoted by the Radical parliamentary group at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The most important denouncement was of the dramatic situation of Greek objectors, sentenced to many years of imprisonment.

June 1987

FOUR YEARS OF PRISON FOR THE GREEK OBJECTOR, MARAGAKIS: PRIME MINISTER PAPANDREOU CONTESTED IN BRUSSELS

Radical campaign to release Maragakis, the Greek conscientious objector sentenced to four years in jail by the military tribune in Thessalonika. In Brussels, Radical militants occupied the hall of a convention where the Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou was supposed to speak.

August 1987

MOBILISATION IN GREECE FOR RECOGNITION OF CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION

Radical demonstrations in Athens to ask for the Greek Parliament's approval of a law recognising the right to conscientious objection.

December 1987

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: RIGHT TO CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION EVEN IN THE EAST

The European Parliament approved an emergency resolution presented by the Radical parliamentary group, in which recognition of conscientious objection in the Eastern European countries was requested.

February 1988

ATHENS: GENERAL VIVIANI TESTIFIES FOR THE OBJECTOR MARAGAKIS

General Viviani testifies in favour of the Greek objector Maragakis, during the appeal trial in Athens. Viviani, ex-commander of Italian counter espionage and of "Folgore" the paratroopers brigade, he is the Radical Party's reserve deputy. Before the military court, he maintained that freedom and democracy could not be defended from external enemies if the country itself was not capable of affirming and defending them.

Maragakis' sentence was reduced to 26 months.

September 1988

EVEN IN GREECE, A LAW ON CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION

The Greek Government announced its presentation of a proposal for a law recognising conscientious objection. During the discussion at the Commission, petitions from the European Parliament on conscientious objection were presented by Olivier Dupuis, and the Greek Government showed the text of the law project which at last recognised the right to conscientious objection and civilian service.