Belgium: Trade unionists before court
01 November 1998
Trade union organisers Roberto D'Orazio and Silvio Marra are amongst those facing charges following the closure of the Clabecq steel works. In riots following the closure the Belgian rijkswacht (gendarmarie) suffered damage to vehicles and 2 water cannon. Although neither D'Orazio or Marra are accused of any criminal damage they are being prosecuted under incitement laws dating back to the 19th century.
The incident began with the threatened closure of Clabecq in December 1996. There were assorted incidents in the year following the closure of the plant that culminated in a riot that closed a nearby motorway and attracted national headlines. It was following these riots that D'Orazio and Marra were charged under common purpose and incitement laws created in the aftermath of riots in the Charleroi area in 1887. Jan Fermon, the lawyer representing D'Orazio, Marra and eleven others, who are now known as the "Clabecq thirteen", has condemned the case against them claiming that "this political trial is a continuation of the campaign against the steel workers of Forges Clabecq"
Solidaire, 25.11.98.