Prime Minister Joseph Muscat attacked those who made certain comments which he described as "disgusting" and "racist and intolerant" against the migrants who were onboard the El Hiblu 1.
The El Hiblu 1 made global news earlier this week after it picked up 108 migrants in the Mediterranean. Upon hearing that the migrants were being taken back to Libya, a number of them hijacked the ship and turned it around with the intention of going to Lampedusa or to Malta. The Armed Forces of Malta eventually stormed and secured the ship, at which point it was brought to Malta. Three of those onboard have since been charged with forcefully taking control of the vessel and remain detained after their request for bail was not granted.
While praising the efforts and the professionalism in the field of the AFM, Muscat expressed an element of sadness that amongst those arrested was teenagers, but added that the law was there for everyone and that it had to be abided by.
Muscat continued however to wholly condemn "disgusting" comments which he had seen, where some people had practically suggested that the boat should be shot at and sunk. He said that the level of racism and intolerance that can be shown is disgusting as well.
He said that he did not want to point fingers at those living in localities with a lot of foreigners there and who felt unsafe, adding that one must only look at Marsa to see the rise in security that the government has pushed. However, in this case, Muscat said that he had given instructions that the law should be upheld equally if it is against a Maltese or a foreigner; "the law is for everyone", he said.
Muscat said that in the past people used to discriminate against the Maltese when they went abroad, labelling them as "black" or "arab"; so it is ironic that it is the Maltese themselves who do this now.
The politics of building walls is attractive Muscat said, but once one puts up those walls the country finds itself in a prison. It would be true that nobody can get in; but the country's people then cannot get out, he said.
By falling for such racial sentiments and comments, we are betraying the whole concept of what makes us free, Muscat said.
The freedom motif featured strongly throughout Muscat's speech – something which comes as no surprise given that today is Freedom Day.
Muscat made a case for keeping each of Malta's national holidays – saying that the country's identity is intrinsically tied to each holiday. Freedom Day is no different he said. He described it as a masterpiece of international negotiation, where Dom Mintoff – then Prime Minister – managed to get, in today's money, €1.2 billion from the British, money which was then used to build the very basis of the country's infrastructure and economy. He cited Enemalta, Air Malta and the now defunct Sea Malta as examples of this, saying that this government had saved the former two. Companies like these made Malta what it is today and shifted the economy from that which prospered only in wartime to one which could prosper also in peace-time.
He said that this is why the government must keep working to strengthen the economy, and said that this is what is happening. He cited the new National Space Strategy as an example of new sectors that Malta was delving into, and the income generated by Valletta 2018 as an example of the role that culture and the arts can play in the economy.
"Whoever is saying that our economy is growing just because of construction cannot read numbers; it is growing because it has been diversified", Muscat said.
He cited the government's recent proposals for more balance in Parliament between men and women as another example of a freer Malta. "How can we accept the fact that since elections started in our country, hundreds of men were elected compared with only 27 women; that tells me that there is something intrinsically wrong in our system", Muscat said before adding that the Labour party has a clear mandate from the people to change this situation.
He said that there was one instance where he did disagree with Mintoff; in that freedom was not, Muscat thinks, written on 31 March 1979; but it was written in 1971, when Mintoff told thousands upon thousands of people who worked with the British that – essentially – they would be losing their jobs by voting for him as he was going to tell the British to leave. Mintoff however asked for the trust of the people so that he could built an economy and a country where their lives will be better. "Mintoff's electoral victory in 1971 was the best the country has ever seen, and it was the true moment of freedom", Muscat said. He said that people had voted against their personal interest and in the country's interest instead, and added that this was the change that he wanted to see continue to be captured in today's society so that Malta can continue to be free and successful.
from The Malta Independent https://ift.tt/2JUSBlZ
via IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment