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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Pope call to Italy over migrants | Pope call to Italy over migrants |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Pope Benedict XVI has called on Italians to respect the rights of illegal migrants. | Pope Benedict XVI has called on Italians to respect the rights of illegal migrants. |
| It comes after a wave of violence against African farm workers in southern Italy which left some 70 people injured. | It comes after a wave of violence against African farm workers in southern Italy which left some 70 people injured. |
| Police have evacuated hundreds of Africans by bus from the town of Rosarno, in Calabria. | Police have evacuated hundreds of Africans by bus from the town of Rosarno, in Calabria. |
| Correspondents say the problem is closely related to organised crime in the region. | Correspondents say the problem is closely related to organised crime in the region. |
| Pope Benedict XVI spoke out strongly in favour of the rights of poor African farm workers, who have been the target of violence in recent days. | Pope Benedict XVI spoke out strongly in favour of the rights of poor African farm workers, who have been the target of violence in recent days. |
| About 70 people have been injured, including migrants, local residents and police officers trying to restore order. | About 70 people have been injured, including migrants, local residents and police officers trying to restore order. |
| "An immigrant is a human being, different only in where he comes from, his culture and tradition," he told pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square at the Vatican. | "An immigrant is a human being, different only in where he comes from, his culture and tradition," he told pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square at the Vatican. |
| I invite everyone to look in the face of those nearby and see their soul Pope Benedict XVI | I invite everyone to look in the face of those nearby and see their soul Pope Benedict XVI |
| "He is a person to respect and with rights and responsibilities, and should be respected particularly in the working world where there is an temptation to exploit." | "He is a person to respect and with rights and responsibilities, and should be respected particularly in the working world where there is an temptation to exploit." |
| "We have to go to the heart of the problem, of the significance of the human being," the Pope said. | "We have to go to the heart of the problem, of the significance of the human being," the Pope said. |
| "Violence must never be a means to solve difficulties. | "Violence must never be a means to solve difficulties. |
| "The problem is a human one, and I invite everyone to look in the face of those nearby and see their soul, their history and their life and say to themselves: it is a man and God loves him as God loves me." | "The problem is a human one, and I invite everyone to look in the face of those nearby and see their soul, their history and their life and say to themselves: it is a man and God loves him as God loves me." |
| Mafia link | Mafia link |
| The BBC's David Willey in Rome says many of the migrants from north and west Africa have been earning starvation wages as fruit and vegetable pickers - backbreaking work which Italians do not want. | The BBC's David Willey in Rome says many of the migrants from north and west Africa have been earning starvation wages as fruit and vegetable pickers - backbreaking work which Italians do not want. |
| Many of the migrants have been living in squalid temporary camps | Many of the migrants have been living in squalid temporary camps |
| The labour market is controlled by the local mafia, called the 'Ndrangheta, which is believed to employ ever growing numbers of illegal seasonal day labourers. | The labour market is controlled by the local mafia, called the 'Ndrangheta, which is believed to employ ever growing numbers of illegal seasonal day labourers. |
| The workers live in sordid conditions and are paid very low wages, out of which they have to pay kickbacks to their bosses, says our correspondent. | The workers live in sordid conditions and are paid very low wages, out of which they have to pay kickbacks to their bosses, says our correspondent. |
| Wages are handed out in cash, labour laws and safety and health regulations are ignored, and no taxes or welfare contributions are ever paid. | Wages are handed out in cash, labour laws and safety and health regulations are ignored, and no taxes or welfare contributions are ever paid. |
| The Calabrian mafia has become one of the most powerful criminal organisations in Italy in recent years, controlling much of Europe's narcotics trade. | The Calabrian mafia has become one of the most powerful criminal organisations in Italy in recent years, controlling much of Europe's narcotics trade. |
| Italy's Interior Minister Roberto Maroni prompted a storm of criticism from the leftist opposition by suggesting that the violence was the result of not addressing the issue of illegal workers in the country. | Italy's Interior Minister Roberto Maroni prompted a storm of criticism from the leftist opposition by suggesting that the violence was the result of not addressing the issue of illegal workers in the country. |
| "There's a difficult situation in Rosarno, like in other places, because for years illegal immigration - which feeds criminal activities - has been tolerated and nothing effective has ever been done about it," he said according to Italy's La Repubblica newspaper. | "There's a difficult situation in Rosarno, like in other places, because for years illegal immigration - which feeds criminal activities - has been tolerated and nothing effective has ever been done about it," he said according to Italy's La Repubblica newspaper. |
| Opposition leader Pierluigi Bersani said: "Maroni is passing the buck ... We have to go to the root of the problem: mafia, exploitation, xenophobia and racism." | Opposition leader Pierluigi Bersani said: "Maroni is passing the buck ... We have to go to the root of the problem: mafia, exploitation, xenophobia and racism." |