Gaetano Speranza

in Léo Matarasso, Seminario del 6 dicembre 2008, Cedetim, Parigi

I knew René De Schutter in the sixties, he was the powerful secretary of the FGTB trade union in Brussels. I cannot speak about his strictly trade union activity, but I have memories of his political action in initiatives that gave me the opportunity to know him and to work closely with him.
At that time the Turkish, Spanish, Portuguese, etc. immigration movements were trying to organize themselves and also to find links between them; René was the catalyst of these attempts.
The first battles concerned the social and political rights of immigrants, and the first beginnings of the participation of immigrants in Belgian political life led to the creation of the Communal Consultative Councils, an experiment that was not conclusive, but which served to create a strong link between all the political representations of immigrants.
René had a very clear political vision and he played a decisive role both in the solidarity between all the movements of the different nationalities and between them and the Belgian authorities.
He was a rather secretive man, but very determined and ready to make enemies. In fierce debates, we had found ourselves in agreement several times, and our political solidarity gradually turned into a deep friendship.
At the beginning of the seventies René once again played a major role in the actions against the dictatorships in Latin America and, very concretely, in the decision of the Belgian government to receive political refugees from these countries. After this historical decision, the reception of these people had to be organised, and René was still at the centre of the complex organisation that found accommodation and work for the hundreds of people who had escaped from prison.
René was a very determined but modest man, and few people know how many persecuted people have escaped prison and death thanks to him.
In 1973 Lelio Basso decided to hold in Brussels the session of the Russell Tribunal against the crimes of the Latin American dictatorships, once again René was the linchpin of the whole organization, with his usual discretion and unfailing efficiency.
Two personal memories:
– When a bombing was announced at an Inti Illimani concert, Rene made the difficult decision not to announce it, fearing that the panic might do more damage than the bomb itself. We still feared the worst and were relieved when a small amount of smoke came out of the theatre’s toilets without further damage.
– During the debates of the Russell Tribunal, an important personality, who had escaped the death sentence in his country and who was to make a much-awaited intervention, disappeared without a trace. René, who was responsible for security, decided to wait a while before notifying the Belgian services. Two days later, the personality in question showed up whistling and explained to an angry René that he had made a sentimental runaway.

René was one of the few activists I have known who combined a very solid practical sense that allowed him to take concrete decisions quickly and a capacity to theorize a coherent political vision.
I was his best man at the wedding with Pila, which was followed by a big party with music and food from five continents.
His house in Tuoro, Italy, where he spent long periods of time with Pila, was a place where his many friends met and stayed. He loved this house and decided to die there. René is buried in a small flowery cemetery overlooking Lake Trasimeno.

Speranza, Gaetano

in:

<strong>Léo Matarasso,
Seminario del 6 dicembre 2008, Cedetim, Parigi
Milano, maggio 2009</strong>