Almerigo Grilz

Almerigo Grilz.

Almerigo Grilz ( Trieste March 11,1953 – Caia, May 19, 1987) was an Italian right wing politician, and an independent war correspondent.

During his youth he was a leader of the “Youth Right Front “– Fronte della Gioventù – and in the Italian Social Movement–National Right Movimento Sociale – Destra Nazionale of Trieste. He also held a seat in the Municipal Council of Trieste. In 1977 Almerigo Grilz was the leader of Trieste FDG , becoming the Deputy National Secretary by a direct appointment of then secretary Gianfranco Fini.During this time he was also a member of the Journalist order of Trieste and cooperated with the Dissenso, the official journal of the FDG.

Index1. Politician and war journalist 1.1 Albatros 1.2 Death.2. Micalessin documentary on GRILTZ death.3. The Trieste paradox .4. Sources.4.1 Terra.5. External links.

Politician And War Jornalist

Grilz had two passions in his life- Politics, and the war correspondence in the field, as a freelance war journalist , in the hot spots. In the mid80’ he became a full time freelance war journalist, resigning his seat in the Trieste Municipal council. His job kept him away from home for 10 months per year. He witnessed all the conflicts from mid70’, from the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan to the Israeli’s operation in Lebanon; the conflicts between Druses and Christian Maronites; and the Myanmar-Thailand border war, between Keren minority and Myanmar regulars. His reportages were sold all over the world and bought by CBS, France 3 and NBC. These important network would subsequently hire Griltz as correspondent in other part of the world. On direct NBC request Griltz follow the Communist Philippine Guerrilla, and the elections that lead to the fall of the late Philippines dictator Ferdinando Marcos and the subsequent election of Corazon Aquino.

The Albatros press agency

In 1983 together with Gian Micalessin and Fausto Biloslavo, he founded the “ Albatros Press Agency”. This agency would produced reportages, documentaries and articles, from every part of the world, were revolutions and war were fought. The agency sold a lot its productions to foreign television networks, in particular to US and UK; even in Italy Albatros managed to sell its product to important networks, such a the Panaroma weekly magazine and the Italian 1st TV channel news or TG Uno , this despite the high prejudice of the major Italian network for those who were considered culturally close, to the MSI-DN right party.Death

On May 19, 1987 in Mozambique, while witnessing a battle between “Renamo’s” militiamen and the regular Army, Griltz was struck by a stray bullet. His body was never recovered and he was buried close to where he was killed.The news of Almerigo Griltz’s death, due the already cited prejudice, did not a big echo loudly into the Italian press world. Only in the late 90’ he would be listed as an Italian press agent, fallen in war zone.The “ Unità” the Communist official newspaper wrote of the death of a “mercenary” when referring to GrilzAn exception was Tg Uno that, thanks to Paolo Frajese, that remembered Griltz, even against the opinion of directors; Renato farina a writer for the weekly magazine “ Il Sabato” and Ettore Mo, also a special corresponded in the hot spots, for the major Italian newspaper “ Corriere della Sera” and a fellow journalist who went to various world hot spots remembered the death and life of Almerigo Griltz.

Micallessin Documentary Of Griltz Death

In 2002 Micallessin a co-founder with Griltz of the Press Agency Albatross, longed to see the place where Griltz lived his last moments ,and also keen to know the whereabouts of his remains realized a TV Documentary , in which he included the last scenes shot by Griltz just before his death.

The paradox of Trieste

Almerigo Griltz was born and raised in Trieste. This town that has always seen struggles for ideals, politics and ethnic tensions, and now must be added the following paradox: Almerigo Griltz was the first Italian Journalist to die in a war theatre and, remains the only Triestino journalist that has fallen but does not have a commemorating him in the Trieste Journalist Association House. At the same time Griltz is the only one, of Trieste’s fallen journalists who had a city street named after his. At this it appears clearly that he has not gotten the recognition that he rightly deserves.

Sources

Italian Television reportage “ Terra” by Tony Capuozzo dedicated a story on Griltz on May 20,2007.Cimok78