Denise Pipitone's mother Piera given award for courage.

Piera Maggio's, "war." A petition to support Piera Maggio, mother of Denise Pipitone, who disappeared on September 1st, four years ago, in her "war." This document is circulating on the Web. It introduces the, "Document of Trust." Promoted by the Let's Find Denise Association, it asks women and mothers for their moral support for activities in aid of children.

This document asks for the expression of an act of trust so that this is not only Piera's "war," but a battle for the right to a peaceful life for all children. The petition has been sent to more than 200 women's associations, amongst them professional, cultural and humanitarian groups. In Catane, last Sunday, Piera was awarded the special prize, the, "Maugeri-Amenano" Silver 2008 for the courage she has shown in the four years of searching for her daughter Denise.

Enfants Kidnappés 16/11/08

More about Denise can be found on the above web site.

Denise Pipitone's eighth birthday is October 26th.

There will be a release of balloons for Denise at the Marie-José park, Avenue Joseph Baeck, in Brussels at 3pm on that day.

Denise disappeared from outside her home in Sicily on September 1st, 2004, where she had been playing with her cousins. When the children were called in for lunch, Denise never arrived at the table.

For details and a map, please visit Enfants Kidnappés

It's not Denise! Non è Denise Pipitone!

The results of DNA tests show that the little girl, found on the Greek island of Kos, is not Denise Pipitone. In fact, they show that the Albanian woman she was with, who claimed to be her mother, actually is her mother. The child was reported to be speaking fluent Italian, but thanks to a poster on the 3 Arguidos site, we learn that an Italian lawyer in Palermo has said the child speaks only a few words of Italian, enough to sell her trinkets to the Italian tourists.

"A report is now set to be handed to a Greek prosecutor investigating the case who is expected to rule in favour of the Albanian mother, who had originally been arrested for kidnapping."

It's sad news all round, isn't it? Very sad for Piera, Denise's mother, but then she has apparently been through this many times since Denise disappeared on September 1st 2004 and wasn't getting her hopes up too much. It's also quite sad and worrying that the child's natural mother was arrested and charged with kidnapping, before DNA results were obtained.

It's sad too, that little Denise has been referred to as, "Italy's Madeleine McCann," and the McCann spokesperson has, of course, been asked to comment. He said that the McCanns were praying for Denise and her family and that this case proved that an abducted child could be found safe and well, years later. Well, there are too many differences between these cases for me to list them, but the most obvious is the circumstances under which the girls disappeared: Denise was playing outside her house; Madeleine was apparently asleep in an unlocked apartment in a foreign country, with no adult supervision. Denise is not, "Italy's Madeleine McCann." She is Denise Pipitone, but then, would we have heard of her at all from the British media without all the hoo haa about Madeleine? Probably not.

And speaking of the McCanns' spokesperson! No comment about little Rose, whose remains were found in a suitcase, which had been tossed into a river by the grandfather who murdered her. Well, Clarence, that case appears to be another example that bears out the sad statistics: most small children who disappear are actually harmed by a family member or someone close to the family. No comment?

Enfants Kidnappés 11/09/08: Is Denise Pipitone in Greece?

An 8 year-old child, with a great resemblance to Denise Pipitone, has been located on the Greek island of Kos. The Greek authorities have spoken to the child, who speaks perfect Italian and the police have also questioned the woman who was accompanying her. The woman, in her thirties, maintained that she was the child's mother. She was finally arrested because of the many contradictions during her questioning. Analyses of DNA samples taken from the woman show that she is not the child's mother and exclude any familial relationship. The woman, of Romany origin, finally confessed to not being the child's mother, but refused to say any more, according to the police.

A photo of the child has been sent to the Mazzara police. Denise's mother, Piera, has confirmed the resemblance between the child and her daughter. "The shape of the eyes is the same as Denise's." she said, but the mother wants to keep her feet on the ground for the moment.

Only complete DNA tests can dispel the doubt. A sample has, in fact, been taken from the child, who was found in Greece and has been sent to Italy in order to be compared with that of Piera Maggio to establish with certainty if this is or is not Denise.

The child was pointed out to the police by a tourist who bought a bracelet, and who was struck by the resemblance to Denise, especially as the little girl was speaking Italian.

Denise Pipitone may have been found!

With thanks to Kizzy at the 3 Arguidos forum for this news.

It would be so wonderful if this were to be Denise and she could be returned to her mother.

Europe News

Sep 11, 2008, 12:23 GMT

Greek police believe they have found missing Italian girl 'Denise'

Athens - Greek police on Thursday believe to have found missing 8-year-old 'Denise' who was abducted outside of her home in Sicily more than four years ago on an island in the Aegean.

Authorities were led to the little girl after an Italian tourist visiting the Dodecannese island of Kos was sold a bracelet by the little girl, who spoke fluent Italian.

Police on the island informed Interpol who immediately arrested the 30-year-old female companion of the little girl. The woman claimed she was the mother of the 8-year-old girl but she herself could not speak a word of Italian.

DNA tests which have been conducted in Greece have shown no blood relation between the little girl and her adult companion. Officials in Greece have shipped a DNA sample of the little girl by plane to Italy determine if she is indeed the missing 'Denise'.

Denise Pipitone was abducted from the garden of her home on September 1, 2000 at noon in Sicily, Italy and her abduction had shocked the country.

Source: Europe News

Note: I think that date should be September 1st, 2004, because Denise has been missing for four years.

Enfants Kidnappés 01/09/08: Denise Pipitone - abducted four years ago today.

http://www.kidnapping.be/denise/denise.html

It's four years.

September 1st 2004

It's the morning of September 1st 2004 in Sicily, in Mazara del Vallo to be exact. The holidays are drawing to a close under the heat of the Sicilian sun and Denise, aged three and a half, is playing outside with her cousins, while her mother, Piera, is on a professional training course, leaving the little girl in the care of her grandmother.

Late morning, "Nonna," calls the children to eat. The cousins go running while Denise follows them, walking, and carrying on quietly with her games.

But Denise never arrives at the lunch table.

She has just been kidnapped.

There are anniversaries that we would wish never to have to celebrate.

There are cursed days, whose recurrence in the calender only crushes you a little more each time.

Today, September 1st, 2008, it is exactly four years.

4 years since Denise Pipitone disappeared, abducted right outside her house in Mazara del Vallo, in Sicily.

4 long years of anxious waiting, of disappointed hopes, of doubts, of sleepless nights, of inability to understand, of tears, of anger, for her family, for her mother.

4 years of nightmares for Piera, where her mind could not stop imagining the worst horrors that a human being is capable of, where time going by, second by second, makes her heart fluctuate between despair, the worst fear, then finally, this hope, unrealistic to be sure, which brings her back up and which becomes an objective and her only reason for living, if she wants to escape from madness.

Piera put on this hope like a coat, armed herself with courage and every day took up her struggle again so that her daughter's face and her daughter's name was not added to the list of the forgotten.

She created an association (Ass. To find Denise Onlus); with her lawyer, she set up a legal project to propose a reform to the archaic law for the protection of minors in Italy: in effect, there was a, "legal gap," concerning the abduction of children not followed by ransom. Abduction was then given no more consideration than the theft of an orange.

She is also a member of an Italian media association, which set up the Charter of Trévise: "The journalists of the Italian press and television adopted a voluntary code of conduct, the Charter of Trévise of November 5th 1990, which obliges them to maintain the anonymity of children charged with or victims of crime by not publishing details which, even indirectly, might lead to their being identified and in the violation of child protection as someone may be upset by publicity of which she was the object, including association with events which were not constituents of offences. (suicides, issues of adoption and family placement) Furthermore, in cases where personal details and photographs are necessary (for example kidnapping or disappearance of children) the Charter invites journalists to obtain the prior consent of parents and the judge responsible for guardianship orders."

But every year, when the holidays gently draw to an end beneath the heat of the Sicilian sun, Piera's heart becomes heavy, and she thinks, as she often does, of Denise's angelic face, of her childish little laugh, of their loving moments. She tries to imagine her daughter, now aged 7 and a half years; she must have changed a lot.

And she wonders, how much longer...

And she cries for her dreadful and unbearable loss.

And she relives with anguish and confusion the day when this tragedy began, the terrible day of Denise's disappearance.

It was September 1st 2004...Exactly 4 years ago.


To find out more about Denise please visit these sites :

www.associationrita.org

www.cerchiamodenise.it

www.cerchiamodenise.org

http://denisepipitone.skyrock.com

http://associationrita.mabulle.com

01/09/08

Enfants Kidnappes: the McCanns travel to Strasbourg on Tuesday 17th June.

The McCanns in Strasbourg.

Enfants Kidnappés

16 juin 2008

Les parents McCann se déplacent au Parlement Européen.

Les parents de Madeleine McCann se déplacent, demain, au Parlement Européen à Strasbourg afin d'essayer de convaincre 182 eurodéputés de soutenir la création d'un système d'alerte européen pour enfants disparus. "Jusqu'à présent nous avons recueillis 211 signatures. Précisons qu'il faut 393 signatures de députés européens afin d'atteindre la majorité simple au Parlement" a avancé le porte-parole de Kate et Gerry McCann, Clarence Mitchell.

Madeleine McCann's parents travel to the European Parliament in Strasbourg tomorrow, to try to convince 182 Euro-deputies to support the creation of a European alert system for missing children. "We have so far gathered 211 signatures, and we need 393 signatures from Euro-deputies to reach a simple majority in the Parliament," Kate and Gerry McCann's spokesperson, Clarence Michell stated.

Dans une visite d'un jour, le couple va s'entretenir avec quelques députés en privés et ils vont lancer un appel afin que ceux qui n'ont pas encore signé le fasse, en finissant la journée par une conférence de presse. "Kate et Gerry sont confiants. Ils pensent réussir à réunir les 182 signatures qui manquent" a ajouté le porte-parole. La déclaration écrite avait déjà été présentée par les McCann et un groupe d'eurodéputés le 10 avril dernier à Bruxelles et exhortait les États membres de l'UE d'adopter un système d'alerte pour enlèvement d'enfants au niveau européen, similaire au système en place aux États-Unis. Les forces de l'ordre pourraient ainsi lancer une Alerte Enlèvement en utilisant les médias et si des accords sont établis avec les pays voisins, permettre une réponse rapide au niveau transfrontalier en cas de disparition inquiétante. Les députés n'ont plus que deux sessions parlementaires pour souscrire au projet et signer le document.

During a one-day visit, the couple will meet with a few deputies in private and they will launch an appeal for those who have not yet signed, to do so, ending the day with a press conference. "Kate and Gerry are confident. They think they will get the 182 missing signatures," their spokesperson added. The written declaration had already been presented by the McCanns and a group of Euro-deputies on April 10th in Brussels, urging the EU's member Sates to adopt, at European level, an alert system for abducted children, similar to the system in place in the United States. Police forces could thus launch an Abduction Alert, using the media and if agreements were reached, with neighbouring countries, allowing a rapid response at cross-border level in the case of a worrying disappearance. The deputies have only two more parliamentary sessions to support the draft and sign the document.

Les McCann n'ont strictement rien à voir dans le projet d'Alerte Enlèvement Européen.

Soyons clair, les parents McCann n'ont strictement rien à voir dans ce projet. Il s'agit purement et simplement d'une tentative de récupération médiatique. La déclaration présentée le 10 avril dernier au Parlement Européen n'a pas été rédigée ou suggérée par le couple McCann. Les initiateurs de ce projet sont: Edward McMillan-Scott, Roberta Angelilli, Glenys Kinnock, Evelyne Gebhardt et Diana Wallis. Le document invite les États membres à conclure des accords de coopération avec tous les États frontaliers afin de se donner les moyens d'agir et de réagir rapidement. Les parents de Madeleine ont obtenu le droit d'associer leur nom à un noble projet pour lequel ils n'ont pas apporté la moindre pierre à l'édifice!!!

The McCanns have absolutely nothing to do with the draft European Abduction Alert.

Let's be clear, the McCann parents have absolutely nothing to do with this draft. It is purely and simply an attempt to recapture media attention. The declaration presented to the European Parliament on April 10th was not drafted or suggested by the McCann couple. The originators of the draft are: Edward McMillan-Scott, Roberta Angelilli, Glenys Kinnock, Evelyne Gebhardt and Diana Wallis. The document calls on the member States to complete their agreements of cooperation with all neighbouring States in order to give themselves the means to act and to react rapidly. Madeleine's parents obtained the right to associate their name with a noble project for which they have not added the smallest stone to the building!!!

Contenu de la Déclaration écrite sur la coopération d'urgence pour retrouver les enfants disparus:

Le Parlement européen,

• vu l'article 116 de son règlement,

A. considérant que l'enlèvement d'enfants compte parmi les plus inhumains des crimes,
B. considérant que de tels crimes sont de plus en plus nombreux en Europe et qu'ils peuvent entraîner le franchissement de frontières par les victimes,
C. considérant que les chances de sauver la vie d'un enfant enlevé diminuent avec le temps,
D. considérant qu'il n'existe ni système d'alerte européen pour les disparitions d'enfants ni systèmes locaux ou nationaux dans une bonne partie de l'Union européenne,

Contents of the written Declaration on immediate cooperation to find missing children.

The European Parliament.

• Regarding article 116 of the procedural rules,

A. Whereas child abduction is amongst the most inhuman of crimes,
B. Whereas such crimes are becoming more and more numerous in Europe and they can involve the victims' being taken acroos borders,
C. Whereas the chances of saving the life of an abducted child decrease with time,
C. Whereas there exists neither a European Alert system for missing children nor a local or national system in a good part of the European Union.

1. invite les États membres à mettre en place un système d'alerte pour les enfants disparus, dont le déclenchement impliquerait l'envoi immédiat aux médias concernés, à la police des frontières, aux douanes et aux services de police, des renseignements suivants:

• l'identité de l'enfant disparu, ainsi qu'une photo, dans la mesure du possible,
• des informations concernant la disparition et le ou les ravisseurs soupçonnés,
• un numéro de téléphone de contact et des informations (le 116 000 s'il fonctionne);

2. invite les États membres à conclure des accords de coopération avec tous les États frontaliers afin de se donner les moyens de lancer l'alerte rapidement sur les territoires concernés;

3. demande la mise en place d'une organisation commune chargée d'aider et de former les organismes nationaux;

4. charge son président de transmettre la présente déclaration, accompagnée du nom des signataires, à la Commission et au Conseil.

1. Calls on the member States to put in place an alert system for missing children, for which the triggering would involve the immediate sending to the appropriate media, the border police, customs, police forces, the following information:

• the identity of the missing child and where possible a photo.
  

• information concerning the disappearance and the suspected abductor or abductors.

• a telephone number and contact information (116 000 if this is operational)

2. Calls on member States to complete an agreement of cooperation with all bordering States, in order to give them the means to rapidly launch the alert in the appropriate areas.

3. requests the setting up of a common organisation responsible for helping and training national bodies.

4. instructs its president to place the declaration, accompanied by the names of the signatories, before the Commission and the Council.

Denise Pipitone

Le 10 avril dernier, alors que le couple McCann s'adressait à la presse après avoir discuté avec quelques députés européens, le Commissaire pour la Justice, la Liberté et la Sécurité, et vice-président de la Commission Européenne, Franco Frattini, tenait une réunion dans une salle voisine de celle où se trouvait le couple McCann portant sur les enlèvements d'enfants. L'exemple cité fut celui de Denise Pipitone, kidnappée en septembre 2004, et dont les kidnappeurs ont probablement voyagé à travers tout le pays avant de quitter ses frontières. Notons que dans ce cas-ci, la petite Denise est probablement toujours en vie. Il s'agissait d'une conférence sérieuse portant sur la coopération entre États membres. Franco Frattini étant un fervent défenseur d'un système d'Alerte européen. En 2006 déjà, le Commissaire faisait référence à un outil de coopération européen en la matière. Il a proposé un système d'Alerte européen à établir par chaque pays membre de l'UE au lieu d'une législation du Parlement européen.

Denise Pipitone

On April 10th, while the McCann couple were addressing the press after having discussions with a few European deputies, the Commissioner for Justice, Liberty and Security, and Vice-president of the European Commission, Franco Frattini, was holding a meeting in an adjacent room to the McCann couple, about child abductions. The example cited was that of Denise Pipitone, kidnapped in September 2004, whose kidnappers probably travelled the length of the country before crossing its borders. We note that in that case little Denise is probably still alive. It was a serious conference bearing on the cooperation between member States. Franco Frattini is a fervent defender of a European Alert System. In 2006, the Commissioner was already referring to a mechanism for European cooperation on the subject. He proposed a European Alert system be established by each member country of the EU instead of legislation by the European Parliament.

Franco Frattini a souligné que l'abolition des frontières en Europe ne devait " pas signifier l'abolition des frontières pour les criminels ". Il a ainsi ajouté que " l'Europe sans frontière " devait " protéger les victimes, les enfants et garantir une justice rapide et efficace ". Le vice-président de la Commission Européenne a souhaité que le dispositif "Alerte enlèvement" français devienne "un système européen". Ayant salué publiquement l'initiative française, Franco Frattini a demandé à Rachida Dati "de présenter le modèle français dans quelques semaines aux autres pays" de l'UE, afin qu'ils " puissent adopter le même système " a-t-il conclu. Le ministre de la justice française a affirmé le souhait de bâtir " un espace judiciaire européen plus concret et plus efficace ". L'adoption du futur traité simplifié en 2009 devrait faciliter cette construction par le développement des " équipes communes d'enquêtes " qui permettent " des interpellations et des investigations plus importantes, plus efficaces et plus rapides ", a précisé Rachida Dati.

Franco Frattini stressed that the abolition of borders in Europe must, "not mean abolition of borders for criminals." He also added that, "Europe without borders," must, "protect the victims, the children and guarantee rapid and effective justice." The vice-president of the European Commission hoped that the French, "Abduction Alert," system would become, "a European system." Having publically recognised the French initiative, Franco Frattini asked Rachida Dati, "to present the French model to other countries of the EU within a few weeks," so that they,"can adopt the same system," he concluded. The French Justice Minister confirmed the wish to build, "a more solid and effective European judicial area." The future adoption of the simplified treaty in 2009may facilitate this construction by the development of, "joint investigation teams," making, "interrogations and serious investigations more efficient and more rapid," stated Rachida Dati.

Comme on peu le voir, les parents de Madeleine n'ont pas placé la moindre virgule dans ce projet. Nous aurions préféré qu'ils fassent pression sur leurs "AMIS" afin qu'ils participent à la reconstitution demandée par la PJ plutôt que d'assister à un show médiatique. Je me demande si Piera, la maman de Denise, trouverait inutile, absurde ou déplace de faire une reconstitution 4 ans et 9 mois après l'enlèvement de sa fille avec tous les acteurs impliqués permettant de voir qui faisait quoi, où, comment et de quelle manière ?!!

As might be said, Madeleine's parents have not placed a single comma in this draft. We would have preferred them to put pressure on their, "FRIENDS," to participate in the reconstruction requested by the PJ rather than attend a media show. I wonder if Piera, mother of Denise, would find it useless, absurd or misplaced to do a reconstruction, with all the involved players, 4 years and 9 months after her daughter's abduction, allowing it to be seen who did what, where, how and in what way? !!