Silanus, the former mayor beaten and doused with petrol: "I was afraid of dying"

"Two hooded and armed men attacked me from behind: for five or six minutes I feared they would take the gesture to its extreme consequences. I tried to resist and make them think but it was not possible . logic is simply not there ".

This is the story of Luigi Morittu, the former mayor of Silanus, a 67-year-old surveyor, beaten yesterday on his farm in Tanca Noa, a few kilometers from the town. "I feel like a punched boxer - he explains - I have some broken ribs and bruises everywhere , but this is the last thing that worries me. I want to understand what happened because I was attacked without ever hurting anyone : kicks, and punches , then they tied me to the gate, doused with petrol and threatened to set me on fire. When I managed to free myself and reach a nearby sheepfold, I realized I was safe. "

Morittu, like every morning, had gone to his farm to look after the horses before going to the studio. But as soon as he got out of the car, two hooded men stood in front of him, one armed with a pistol. Then hell.

"I've thought about them all but I still can't understand - he continues - maybe I arrived in front of the gate of my company, where I was attacked, at the least opportune moment, maybe I disturbed something they were carrying out. Or they just wanted to take away mine suv (on which they escaped, ed) and when they realized that it was equipped with GPS and a mobile phone connected to bluetooth, they abandoned it in the first useful parking lot so as not to be chased by the police ".

From the current mayor Gian Piero Arca to the parliamentarians and regional councilors, dozens of messages of solidarity are coming to him in these hours : "I really thank everyone, I was overwhelmed by a huge affection from the beautiful part of Silanus' society and from all Sardinia. This violence takes place outside our local contexts, in our communities certain gestures are unusual ".

Between today and tomorrow he will be interrogated again by the investigators, in the hope of resuming his life as soon as possible: "I will continue to go to my company in the morning as I have always done - he assures - I have the hobby of horses and I intend to carry it on. fear? More than fear, I ask myself what I must be afraid of : I want to understand what happened, yes, and also quickly for my peace of mind and for that of the whole community ".

(Unioneonline / D)

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SOLIDARITY FROM THE ACLI SARDINIA

Support from the Acli for the commitment of all local administrators who have to face episodes such as the one of which Luigi Morittu is the victim. “It is unbearable violence and without any justification. We are close to Luigi Morittu and to anyone who suffers violence or threats as a local administrator ”. Clear the comment of the regional president of ACLI Franco Marras regarding the attack on the former local administrator.

“This umpteenth violence towards those who deal with or have dealt with public affairs, as well as the threats to which the new mayor of Perdasdefogu Bruno Chillotti has been subjected, once again signal one of the forgotten problems of those who administer the small towns of Sardinia. In addition to the many objective difficulties, for too many years there has been a brutality that manifests itself in many ways and that makes the life of those who make themselves available to their communities complicated. Almost ten years have passed since Graziano del Rio, then president of the national ANCI, met Cristiano Erriu, regional president of ANCI and the community of Sardinian mayors in the municipality of Cagliari and even then one of the elements that emerged from the discussion was widespread violence towards the local administrators: the shots on the doorstep, the intimidation, the vines being cut down. It is no longer acceptable and is a further sign of decay in the quality of social relations. It is urgent to go to the aid of those who make politics in small towns, to show how important this action is and how essential it is so that our territories are not increasingly deprived of any service and completely lose the sense of community. This violence must be felt as personal, by anyone, whether administrator or volunteer of the third sector, who participates in public life. And they must be fought in every way, to give signals of unity and presence in all the territories of our island ".