The phone remained silent. Nobody from Rome called Armanda Trentini to reveal the institution’s closeness to him, one year after his son’s kidnapping. Nor did it convince him that the Government was doing everything possible to repatriate Alberto. That’s a signal: not disinterest. Instead of being embarrassed, because many are sure they won’t get to this point. That Alberto, a year later, would return.
In the handling of the Trentini case, as shown by the woman herself together with her lawyer Alessandra Ballerinithere is a before and after. The first was the first hundred days of detention, during which the government did not move much: relations with Maduro’s government were too tense, they said. Any move would be considered an acknowledgment by the Venezuelan executive. And American pressure is too strong to let this happen without any repercussions.
Trentini, Colombo: “Now the government must hurry”
by Gherardo Colombo
Then something changed: even in the face of pressure from public opinion, Italy understood that without political intervention, the situation would not only not be resolved, but could worsen at any time. Case Cecilia Sala — geographically different but politically similar: Italian citizens held hostage by a foreign country — are somehow frightened. But for Trentini, the time wasted was too much. Deputy secretary Alfredo Mantovano he moved personally, sending people fromOuch in Venezuela. At the same time, Farnesina activated her channel: the presence of the ambassador yesterday at the press conference in Milan Luigi Vignalicommissioner for Italians in Venezuela being appointed by the Government, is no coincidence. The “second phase” of the Italian management is reassuring to the Trentini family – who, unsurprisingly, have remained silent in recent months – but the belief remains that more can be done in the first months.
Now it remains to understand what will happen. In a telephone call home, as seen by our ambassador during the visit, Alberto reassured his family by saying that he was in good health. However the report that came from El Rodeo Prisonreported by other European prisoners who had been released – especially the Swiss nationals who were with him Republic talking – describes an inhumane situation, where prison guards often play the role of torturers.
The same Italian intelligence made it clear that the situation could worsen at any time, so much so that house arrest seemed just a step away a few weeks ago, when our Government took one of the steps requested by the Venezuelan people. There are still mediators on the ground who have not kept their promises and are now hiding behind the statement: “The fault lies with America, which showed a tough stance towards Maduro.” “Not all doors are closed, but we must work in silence,” they said Republic source close to the file. Which puts great faith in some channels that reopened a month ago: on October 19 Pope Leo XIV canonized the first two Venezuelan saints, José Gregorio Hernández and Sister Carmen Rendiles. Maduro’s stance has arrived in Rome and there have been meetings at all levels. At this hour, their phones – at least their phones – started ringing again.
