(supersedes previous)Convicted
murderer and leftwing journalist Adriano Sofri on Tuesday
declined to take up a position as consultant for a new prison
reform advisory board amid protests from guards' unions and the
widow of the police commissioner whose death he ordered.
Sofri has decided to turn down the job "in order to
preserve the Estates General (on jail reform) from the deforming
weight of improper readings," sources said.
"I've had enough of nonsense in general and promotional
nonsense in particular," said the 72-year-old intellectual and
convict.
The former head of autonomist movement Lotta Continua,
Sofri was convicted of ordering a 1972 hit on Luigi Calabresi in
revenge for the death of an anarchist who fell out of a police
station window in unclear circumstances.
Sofri, who has served 22 years, has steadfastly proclaimed
his innocence.
Prison guards' union Sappe and Calabresi's widow have come
out against his involvement.
Gemma Calabresi said Tuesday that Sofri's appointment
"seems incomprehensible to me".
Justice Minster Andrea Orlando named Sofri to the panel as
a consultant on instruction and culture, a fact the union said
is "very serious and unacceptable".
The head of a the new prison reform panel denied that Sofri
had been appointed.
Glauco Giostra said Sofri was merely part of "the promotion
of a public debate on the prison issue".
The president of prisoners' rights association Antigone,
Patrizio Gonnella, said the controversy over Sofri's appointment
is unwarranted.
"Sofri is an undisputed personality in Italian and European
culture. His contribution...will enrich everyone, including
prison personnel," Gonnella said.
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