Meeting debate on the foibe and the use of history held in Rome at the Nomentano high school in Rome yesterday afternoon, October 12, with an audience largely composed of teachers. Participants Eric Gobetti (author of the justificationist pamphlet “And then the foibe?”), Tomaso Montanari (new rector of the University for Foreigners of Siena but recent protagonist of statements contrary to the Day of Remembrance and justificationist) and Marino Micich (Society of Fiumani Studies – Historical Archive Museum of Fiume).

In essence, Gobetti and Montanari reiterated their well-known position on the foibe, on the Julian Dalmatian exodus and above all, for a good part of the conference, the two aforementioned guests were very keen to advance strange hypotheses of State revisionism that have been ongoing for years on these events, which then led to the institution of the Day of Remembrance in 2004. Obviously, for Gobetti, the tragedy on our eastern border must be scaled down and narrated differently, placing border fascism at the centre of every issue that occurred. For both Gobetti and Montanari, the totalitarian communism of Tito's regime is anti-democratic and would have a secondary role in the issue of the foibe and the exodus and, in any case, the conduct of the Yugoslav communists was an understandable reaction to fascist imperialism. Despite having shown sensitivity for the Julian Dalmatian population, this in true synthesis was the perception of their interventions. After all, it is enough to read the declarations of a few days ago on the subject that were published in the press...

Law 92/2004 establishing the Day of Remembrance for Montanari should essentially be abolished because it has been shifted to the right. A rapid-fire police unit was deployed outside the high school hall to protect public order and avoid any possible scuffles. Marino Micich, who spoke on a personal level and on behalf of the Society of Fiumani Studies, confirmed the tragic story of the Julian Dalmatians and denounced the horror of the foibe and the arbitrary killing methods of the Yugoslavian communist liquidation units. For Micich, the foibe were not a simple reaction to fascism, but were above all a disastrous expression of the seizure of power by the Yugoslavian communists in that territory, who established a very serious and repressive dictatorship until 1991, when the former Yugoslavia began to disintegrate. A regime, that of Tito, which with its violent methods pushed the exodus of approximately 300.000 Istrians, Fiumani and Dalmatians. For over 70 years, Micich said, Italian school textbooks have censored the tragedy of the exiles. This is another injustice.

Micich then firmly defended the law of the Day of Remembrance voted in favor by 505 deputies (only the 14 communists of Diliberto and Rizzo were against) and the Presidents of the Republic who honor it every year at the Quirinale, also recalling the last meeting of friendship between presidents Mattarella and the Slovenian Pahor at the Basovizza foiba. A meeting welcomed and shared by most of the associations of exiles who are fighting to strengthen a path of peace with Slovenia and Croatia, but which does not forget the rights denied to the exiles, many of whom are not yet perfected and, above all, their sacrifice. The exiles paid for all Italians an unjust war and further paid dearly for the wrong policies of the dictatorships of the 900th century. Despite the wrongs suffered, most of their associations are an example of civilization and spirit of collaboration for all. Micich reminded an audience unaware of this lively associative reality, that in 2016 the Archive Museum of Rijeka was visited by the then Ambassador of Croatia and in 2018 by the Croatian mayor of Rijeka. Micich also recalled the excellent activities with schools promoted by the Table established by the Ministry of Education and the associations of exiles for the history of the Eastern Border. This means dialogue.

Much more has been said, but the positions between Gobetti and Montanari on one side and those of Micich on the other were and have remained distant. The sad thing was to see all that police around and at the entrance to the school. Thanks go to Councilor Raimo for his civil balance and for wanting to give voice to the Society of Fiumani studies in this difficult context.

Who benefits from rekindling the Cold War climate? Certainly not the exiles!

Society of Fiuman Studies