In the News March 23

Ukraine-Related News

Italian Union Refuses to Load Weapons Disguised as Humanitarian Cargo

Italian workers demonstrate at Galileo Galilei Airport in Pisa, March 19, 2022. Banner reads: “From Tuscany — Bridges of Peace, Not Flights of War!”

The Tuscan branch of the Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), one of Italy’s biggest trade unions, blocked arms shipments to Ukraine disguised as humanitarian aid. About 2,000 people participated in a protest in Pisa, Italy on March 19 against the government shipment. Airport workers at Galileo Galilei Airport in Pisa revealed that under the guise of a humanitarian cargo, boxes with weapons and ammunition were sent to Ukraine. They refused to load them, local media reported.

“The airport workers said the goods inside the aircraft weren’t food or clothes. There were weapons. So they said it isn’t their work. And they didn’t prepare the cargo,” union representative Cinzia Della Porta, said.

The union pointed out that, according to safety standards, such cargo cannot be sent from a civilian airport, which is dangerous for workers. “There is also a military airport nearby, but this simply could not have happened by mistake,” Cinzia said. She said the protest was also held in support of peace and against NATO. “We don’t agree to send weapons because we risk a third world war,” Cinzia noted.

The USB issued a statement which said: “We strongly condemn this blatant deception, which cynically uses the guise of ‘humanitarian aid’ to further fuel the war in Ukraine.” Humanitarian measures, such as sending aid supplies and accepting refugees are not enough to end the war – and in this case they even served as a cover for militarism, Cinzia noted.

Mario Carrai, chairman of Toscana Aeroporti, who manages the Pisa airport, has since assured that there will be no more arms shipments through Pisa airport.

(agencies)

TML Daily, posted March 23, 2022.