Sponsored by the Municipality of Raša and the "Giuseppina Martinuzzi" Italian Community of Labin, in collaboration with the People's University of Trieste, a solemn commemoration was held last Saturday in Raša to mark the 86th anniversary of the mining tragedy of February 28, 1940, which claimed the lives of 185 miners and injured 146 others, leaving an indelible mark on the history of the town and the entire region. It was an intense day, marked by shared memory and international cooperation, which renewed the historical, cultural, and human bond between Italy and Croatia.

The initiative was attended by numerous and enthusiastic civil and institutional authorities, representatives of local communities, Italian and Croatian delegations, as well as citizens and students. The ceremony opened in the SACO Rudar hall with remarks by the Mayor of Raša, Leo Knapić, the co-organizers, and the guests of honor, including the Italian Ambassador to Croatia. Paolo Trichilo, the Plenipotentiary Minister Daniele Rampazzo and the President of Federesuli Renzo Codarin.

“In speeches” – says the President of the People's University of Trieste, Edvino Jerian, present at the ceremony together with the Secretary General Fabrizio Somma – “the value of memory was underlined as the foundation for building a future based on respect, cooperation, and the protection of human rights, particularly the right to safe work, a more timely issue than ever.
The cultural moment performed by the students of the Ivan Batelić Elementary School of Raša and the Choir of the Italian Community "Giuseppina Martinuzzi" of Labin, conducted by teacher Denana Levak, was particularly touching. This was followed by the 185 tolling of the Alma Mater Dolorosa bell, marking one of the most intense moments of the morning, in a silence filled with emotion.
The day continued with a memorial mass in the church of Santa Barbara, patron saint of miners, and a social gathering, an opportunity for participants to meet and talk.

"In the afternoon, in the former cinema in Piazza della Repubblica," Jerian concludes, "the play "262 Hanging Clothes" by Alessandro Idonea and Maria Elise Corsaro was performed, inspired by the 1956 Marcinelle mining tragedy. It was an intense and moving performance, which explored the dreams, hopes, and tragedies of those who lived through the mine, bringing workplace safety as a fundamental human right back to the forefront. The production, supported by numerous Italian and Croatian institutions and accompanied by Croatian subtitles, was greatly appreciated by the audience."

The commemoration concluded with a guided tour of the Arsia mine, allowing guests to experience firsthand the symbolic sites of a tragedy that continues to resonate with our consciences, urging us never to forget.

Source: People's University of Trieste