Mafia Puts New Fear Into ’Quake Victims

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31586, 25 January 1968, Page 11

Mafia Puts New Fear Into ’Quake Victims

f.V.Z. Press Association-Copyright) PALERMO, January 24. The Mafia moved in on Sicily’s earthquake victims with first the hand of help and then the black hand of “protection,” according to newspaper reports.

A report from Sicily by the Rome Newspaper “Il Messaggero,” said the “Picciotti” distributed bread, opened pharmacies and dug out victims from the debris. Only a few days later, however, the Mafia withdrew the “Picciotti” and sent in muscle men who forced the refugees to pay money to leave the danger zone quickly to obtain a better tent or for other aid. A farmer in the stricken village of Camporeale, asked about this, said: “That was a very good thing. No, I don’t know who they were. I don’t know if I saw them before. When someone comes to help, you don’t ask.” The fear of earthquakes is only occasional in the prov-erty-ridden hills of Western Sicily. The fear of the Mafia is continuous. A local official, asked about the Mafia aid-raid reports, preferred to discuss other topics. “For Heaven’s sake, let’s think about helping the 'quake victims now. That’s more urgent,” he said. Eight days of tremors destroyed or damaged a dozen towns and villages in Sicily, leaving about 42,000 persons homeless in the hills which | to the Mafia are home. The official death toll stands at 212. ! “11 Messaggero" said the ; Mafia racketeering was still i spreading. Immediately after I the worst tremors, the Mafia [loaded bread on carts and

mules, and handed it out. They forced chemists to open for business, and themselves got to work with shovels. “This lasted only two or three days,” the paper said. “Now those who are leaving the disaster area and need a little money are forced to sell

I their small fields or vineyards I for a third of their real .'value. i “Relief financial aid which has been promised by the ■ Government is being advan-) ; ced by Mafia men at an ini terest rate of 30 or 40 perj cent.”