Delegazzjoni minn Alternattiva Demokratika iltaqgħet illum mal-Kummissjoni għar-Riforma tal-Ġustizzja, immexxija mill-Imħallef Giovanni Bonello, biex tippreżenta l-proposti tagħha dwar id-dikriminalizzazzjoni tad-droga għall-użu personali.
Iċ-Chairperson tal-AD, Prof. Arnold Cassola, qal: “L-istat mhux qiegħed jagħmel distinzjoni ċara bejn vittmi tal-abbuż tad-droga u l-barunijiet li qegħdin jisfruttaw eluf ta’ nies ġewwa pajjiżna. Jeħtieg li nagħmlu din id-distinzjoni b’mod ċar billi ngħinu lill-vittmi tad-droga u niddikriminalizzaw l-użu personali tad-droga. Min-naħa l-oħra l-istat m’għandux ikollu ħniena mal-barunijiet tad-droga.”
“Id-delitti stil mafjuz li rajna matul is-sena li għaddiet juru li miljuni ta’ ewro huma involuti. F’territorju daqshekk zgħir bħal ma huwa pajjiżna, m’għandux ikun diffiċli biex l-awtoritajiet isegwu l-flejjes, jidentifikaw stil ta’ ħajja suspettuża u jaġixxu bis-saħħa mat-traffikanti.”
Robert Callus, il-kelliem ta’ AD ghall-Politika Socjali qal: “Hemm bzonn li mmorru lilhinn mill-kriminalizzazzjoni ta’ min jieħu d-droga, għax gie ppruvat li dan ma rnexxiex, u mmorru lejn soluzzjonijiet li jaħdmu. Dak li jaħdem huwa l-użu ta’ rizorsi li minflok jiġu moħlija fuq il-prosekuzzjoni ta’ dawn in-nies għandhom jiġu użati għall-prevenzjoni, kura u tnaqqis tal-ħsara li tista’ ssir.”
“Jeħtieg li nieqfu ngħidu lil dawk li huma vittmi li qegħdin jiksru l-liġi u minflok għandna noffrulhom l-assistenza. Bħal ma wriena l-mudell Portugiż, ammont sostanzjali minnhom eventwalment jaċċettaw din l-għajnuna u nies li kieku kienu jibqgħu mitlufa fir-rabja taghħom lejn socjeta’ li tqishom bħala kriminali illum qegħdin jaħdmu biex itejbu s-sitwazzjoni tagħhom.”
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Decriminalise for personal use and hunt down the kingpins, says AD
A delegation from Alternattiva Demokratika met today with the Commission for Law Reform, led by Judge Giovanni Bonello, to present its proposals on decriminalisation of drugs for personal use.
AD Chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said: “The state is not making a clear distinction between the victims of drug abuse and the kingpins who are exploiting thousands of people in our country. We should highlight this distinction by helping out the victims and decriminalising drugs for personal use. On the other hand, the state must be merciless with the drug barons.”
“The mafia style killings of the past year show that scores of millions of euros are involved. In such a small territory as ours it should not be difficult for the authorities to follow the money, identify suspicious life styles and act forcefully with the traffickers.”
Robert Callus, AD spokesperson on Social Policy said: “We need to move away from what’s been proven to be a failure, that is the criminalization of drug users, towards what works. What works is using those resources that are being wasted in prosecuting these people for prevention, treatment and harm reduction instead.”
“We should stop telling drug addicts that they’re on the wrong side of the law and reach out a helping hand. As the Portuguese model has shown us, a substantial amount of these will actually accept the assistance and people who would have otherwise been lost in resentment towards a society that dubs them as criminals are now working to improve their situation.”