16 maart 1978: Rode Brigades ontvoeren Aldo Moro (KAT)

Aldo Moro





by

Michelle Wehling





Aldo Moro was an influential figure in Italy both in his life and in his death. He was a law professor, an Italian Statesman, and leader of the Christian Democratic Party who served as premier of Italy five times. In the following pages I will take a brief look at the life and the death of Aldo Moro.



Aldo Moro was born September 23, 1916, in Maglie in the southeastern region of Puglia and was active in Italian politics until his death May 9, 1978. He graduated from the University of Bari in 1940 and after graduating he also taught there. As a professor of law at Bari he published several books dealing with legal issues and served as the president of the Federation of Italian University Catholics and the Movement of Catholic Graduates.



After World war II Aldo Moro was elected to the Constituent Assembly in 1946 and helped draft Italy's new constitution. He was elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1948 and was head of the Christian Democrats in the chamber between 1953-1955. After the collapse of the fascist regime in 1943 he helped organize the Christian Democratic Party in Puglia. He then held several cabinet posts including under secretary of foreign affairs, minister of justice, and minister of public instruction.



He took the position of secretary of the Christian Democrats in 1959 at the time when a crisis threatened to split the party. As leader of the party he favored a coalition with the Socialists and helped bring about the resignation of conservative Christian Democrat prime minister Fernando Tambroni in July, 1960.



In 1963 he was invited to form his own government and he assembled a cabinet including some socialists. He resigned after being defeated on a budget issue on June 26, 1964, but on July 22, 1964 he formed a new cabinet much like the old one and after Amoitore Fanfani's resignation in 1965 moro temporarily became his own prime minister and renewed his pledge to Nato and the United Nations.



Italy's years of inflation and failing industrial growth prevented Moro from initiating many of the reforms he envisioned which angered the Socialists who effected his defeat in January 1966. In February he formed a new government and after the general elections in 1968 he resigned as was customary.



He became foreign minister from 1970-1972. In November of 1974 he became premier with a coalition government, but the government fell on January 7, 1976. Moro was again premier from February12 through April 30 and remained in office as head of a caretaker government until July 9, 1976.



In October 1976 he became president of the Christian Democrats and remained a powerful influence even though he held no public office. Although Moro was opposed to a formal role for the Communists in the government he was instrumental in bringing about the arrangement in 1976 by which Communists were given an unofficial voice in government and important parliamentary posts in return for agreeing not to vote against the Christian Democratic party in Parliament. Later he was instrumental in overcoming the Christian Democratic resistance to continued cooperation with the Communists.



Moro was generally regarded as the next president of Italy, however, on March 16, 1978, Aldo Moro was kidnapped in Rome by Red Brigades terrorists while on his way to a special session of Parliament. After officials repeatedly refused to release thirteen members of the Red Brigades on trial in Turin, Moro was murdered in or near Rome on May 9, 1978.



As influential as Aldo Moro was in his lifetime , his death and the cover up that followed has also been influential. At this point I would like to take a look at what has come to be known as the Moro Affair. I will begin with a chronology of the fifty four days from his kidnapping to his execution. March 16, 1978, Aldo Moro president of the Christian Democratic Party, the ruling party in Italy, is kidnapped in Rome and his five bodyguards are murdered. The Red Brigades then announce that Moro is in their hands. Parliament empowers Giulio Andreotti backed by a new majority, a five party coalition, which includes the Communists for the first time in Italian history. The communists immediately adopt an intransigent position against the communist Red Brigades and prevent negotiations. March 17, Andreotti meets with the party chiefs of the new majority and they agree on stern measures against political terrorism. March 18, the Red Brigades issue their first message that Moro is being held prisoner and is to be tried as a political prisoner and they release a photo of him. March 19, One of the cars used for the kidnapping is found. March 20, the states trial of Red Brigades chief Renato Curcio, and fourteen others resumes in Turin after a series of delays imposed by the terrorist actions. March 21, the Andreotti government increases police power extending the most massive manhunt throughout Italy . The press, which has been urged by the government to use caution, debates the wisdom of self censorship. The U.S. house of representatives unanimously votes to support the Andreotti government. March 24 , in Turin the Red Brigades attack Giovanni Picco, a Christian Democrat and former mayor of Turin. March 25, the second message is sent from the terrorists stating that his interrogation is under way by a people's tribunal and a list of the charges against Moro is included. March 29, three confidential letters written by Moro are delivered by the Red Brigades in an attempt to set up a two way secret hot line. The Red Brigades make public, along with the message three, the letter Moro wrote to Interior Minister Cossiga in which Moro spoke of a prisoner exchange to be made by the Vatican. March 30, Andreotti assumes a no negotiation stance and the press portray Moro as a man under tortured mind altering drugs. March 31, the Vatican announces its availability as a mediator but backs down when this creates difficulties.



April 1, It is rumored that Nicola Rana, Moro's secretary, has received a letter. The next day his family is also said to have received a letter. April 2, Pope Paul VI appealing publicly for Moro's life begins to develop a position independent of and in contrast to that of the Vatican. April 3, the police carry out house to house searches and arrests among members of the extreme left, but within forty eight hours nearly all are released. April 4, message four is delivered with a letter from Moro to the Christian Democratic party citing evidence that Moro's position on prisoner exchanges predates his capture and cannot be considered as forced on him by the Red Brigades.



April 5, Il Giorno publishes a letter from Elenora Moro to the editor in the hope that the Red Brigades would show it to her husband. April 6, Moro writes a letter to his family asking for a situation report. April 7, the family replies by writing another letter in the Il Giorno.



April 8, Moro writes back outlining his war plans. The message is intercepted by the police, but is kept secret both by the family and government. April 10, message five arrives containing a handwritten note from Moro attacking his ex-interior minister. April 11, the Red Brigades assassinate a Turin prison guard branded as torturer. April 12, it is said that Cossiga, Rana and family have received more letters. April 14, Jimmy Carter sends Andreotti personal letter with full backing. April 15, message six proclaims Moro's guilt and the people's tribunal sentences him to death. April 17, the U.S. State Department reaffirms complete support of Rome's stance. Amnesty International appeals to Red Brigades seeking to discuss Moro's release. April 18, unathenticated message seven announces Moro's execution. April 19, the family disregards message seven in petition to open negotiations signed by internationally renowned personalities and church figures. April 20, the Red Brigades assassinate the head of the Milan prison guards. Verified message seven released with photo of Moro reading of his death. The Christian Democrats are given a forty eight hour ultimatum to indicate willingness to negotiate prisoner exchange. April 21, Moro writes a letter urging the party to break their hard line stance. April 22, the ultimatum expires at 3 p.m..



April 24, message eight containing a list of thirteen communist prisoners in exchange for Moro. April 25, Secretary General Waldheim goes over the heads of the Italian Government and speaks to the Red Brigades by satellite television. April 26, Christian Democratic Rome leader is kneecapped. Il Giorno publishes letter from family assuring Moro of support. April 27, FIAT executive kneecapped by Red Brigades. April 28, Andreotti reaffirms hard line stance. April 29, Moro writes several letters to key persons in power in a final attempt to bring about a grass roots revolution of his party. April 30, the family breaks with Christian Democratic leadership charging them with obstructing initiatives to release Moro.



May 1, the Socialists meet with Red Brigades convinced that their plan for one on one exchange will provide for Moro's release. May 2, the Socialists meet with the Christian Democrats to gain support. May 3, Andreotti repudiates the one for one proposal. May 5, message nine arrives announcing the executing sentence along with a letter to Moro's wife. April 6, the family joins the Socialists to bring all pressure to bear on the Chief of State. May 7, Fanfani is forced to speak out publicly hoping to signal Red Brigades that new moves are on the way. May 8 , Fanfani himself attempts to signal but holds back his main thrust for private talks with Andreotti the next morning. The family is reassured by Leone that he will sign pardon, but he buckles under Andreotti. May 9, while Fanfani argues the case against a hard line stance, news arrives that Moro has been found dead in a car in a street midway between the headquarters of the Christian Democrats and t