Il-kliem tal-Prim Ministru fuq il-bżonn li jiżdied l-infieq fuq id-difiża jirrifletti l-importanza li għandha tingħata d-difiża f’dan il-mument kritiku. L-impenn li jiżdied l-investiment fid-difiża tal-pajjiż juri li fl-aħħar bdejna nirrealizzaw li aħna wkoll nitsgħu nispiċċaw vittmi ta’ attakki, li għalkemm mhux bilfors ta’ natura militari, xorta waħda jistgħu jġibu lill-pajjiż għarkupptejh. Hemm bżonn li nkunu lesti għal kull sfida li tista’ tinqala’ u li biha l-pajjiż ma jkunx jista’ jiffunzjona, irrispettivament min-natura tagħħa. Dan għandu jsir b’rispett sħiħ lejn in-newtralita ta’ Malta kif imħarsa fil-Kostituzzjoni. Dan qalitu ċ-Chairperson ta’ ADPD-The Green Party Sandra Gauci fi stqarrija.
Fid-dinja tal-llum, id-difiża tal-pajjiż tista’ tieħu diversi xejriet. M’humiex biss l-attakki militari li jistgħu iġibu lill-pajjiż għarkupptejh; sabutaġġ fuq il-provvista tad-dawl li kulma jmur qiegħda tiddependi aktar fuq Sqallija, kif ukoll cyber attacks fuq sistemi u networks jistgħu jistaġnaw lill-pajjiż. Hemm bżonn li iva nkunu ppreparati għal dan it-tip ta’ attakki. Ma nistgħux nibqgħu inqisu l-infieq fid-difiża tal-pajjiż bħala xi ħaġa negattiva jew ta’ importanza biss fi żminijiet ta’ gwerra. Għandna nħarsu lejh bħala investiment biex il-pajjiż ikun jista’ jibqa’ jiffunzjona.
Dan id-dibattitu għandu jkun regolarment fuq l-aġenda tal-pajjiż. Ma nistgħux nibqgħu ngħixu ġo bozza u naħsbu li aħna żgħar wisq biex jindunaw bina. Għax żgħar nistgħu inkunu l-medjaturi f’kunflitti u nużaw n-newtralita tagħna bħala strument ta’ paċi. Bħala pajjiż imsieħeb fl-Unjoni Ewropea, nistgħu xorta waħda nagħtu l-kontribut tagħna għaż-żamma tal-paċi, mhux biss bl-għajnuniet umanitarji li diġa’ nagħtu u li għandna nibqgħu nieħdu sehem fihom; imma wkoll billi nkunu kredibbli fir-rwol tagħna ta’ medjaturi fejn dan ikun meħtieġ.
Il-kunċett tan-newtralità ta’ Malta għandu jiġi aġġornat għar-realtajiet tal-lum. Filwaqt li nemmnu li f’Malta la għandu jkollna bażi militari u lanqas ma għandna nassoċjaw ruħna ma’ xi blokk militari, dan ma jfissirx li Malta għandha tibqa’ gallarija. Għandna d-dritt u d-dover ċivili li fejn ikun hemm l-abbuż, il-mibegħda u l-moħqrija jkollna pożizzjoni ċara. Ma nistgħux inżommu s-silenzju quddiem l-atroċitajiet bl-iskuża tan-newtralita’. Hemm bżonn li l-gvern jieħu pożizzjoni ċara quddiem abbużi kontra d-drittijiet tal-bniedem u ma jibzax isemma’ leħnu. Issa aktar minn qatt qabel, irridu nuru x’fibra morali għandna u nikkundannaw dan it-tip ta’ aġir. Is-sitwazzjoni attwali f’Gaza hi l-iktar ezempju kurrenti ta’ dan.
M’għadux aktar iż-żmien li rridu nintogħġbu minn kulħadd. Imma fl-istess li t-tmexxija tal-pajjiz tipprietka l-paċi, s-sena l-oħra saret membru Assoċjat tal-Assembleja Parlamentari tan-NATO kważi bil-moħbi tan-nies, imma bil-kompliċita tal-Partit Nazzjonalista fil-Parlament. Ħadd ma qal xejn fuq xi ħaġa ta’ importanza nazzjonali bhal din, li tikkuntrasta ma’ dak li tgħid il-Kostituzzjoni. Il-poplu Malti għandu dritt ikun jaf eżattament x’tinvolvi din is-sħubija u mhux bi press release ta’ malajr. Eżattament għalxiex daħħluna? U ż-żieda fl-infieq fid-difiża għandu x’jaqsam ma’ din is-sħubija? Għandna d-dritt li jkollna r-risposti għal dawn id-domandi.
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Malta needs to place greater importance on its defence spending
The Prime Minister’s recent emphasis about the need to increase defence spending reveals the importance that this matter should be given at such a critical moment. Committing to an increase in the defence budget shows that we are finally waking up to the realisation that we as a country may bring our country to its knees, even if they are not of a military nature. We must be ready to face any challenge that would possibly compromise the functioning of our country. irrespective of its nature. This has to be done in full respect of Malta’s neutrality as enshrined in our Constitution. This was said by ADPD – The Green Party Chairperson Sandra Gauci in a press statement.
In today’s world, a country’s defence may take a number of different routes. Military attacks are not the only way a country can be brought to its knees. A country’s electrical supply can be sabotaged, keeping in mind that we are becoming more and more dependent on Sicily for our energy supply. Cyberattacks on a country’s systems and network can also bring a country to a halt. It is extremely important that we are prepared for such attacks. We cannot treat defence spending as a negative issue or as necessary only in times of war. We need to view this as a form of investment in our country so that it may continue to function.
This debate should regularly be on our country’s agenda. We cannot live as if we are not at risk or think that we are too small to be of any concern to anyone. As a neutral small island state we may be mediators in conflict and make use of our neutrality to work towards peace. As an EU country, we can still work towards maintaining peace, not only in terms of humanitarian aid which we already do and should continue to do, but also in being credible and capable mediators when necessary.
The concept of Malta as a neutral country must be aligned with today’s realities. Whilst we believe that Malta should have neither a military base nor be associated with any military block, this does not mean that Malta should remain passive. We have the right and a civil duty to take a clear position whenever faced with abuse, hatred, and cruelty. We cannot remain silent claiming neutrality whilst witnessing atrocities. There is the need for the government to take a clear stance and voice its objection when there are violations of human rights. Now more than ever, we must show our moral stance and condemn any such abuse. The current situation in Gaza being a case in point.
We are now past those times when we wanted to please everybody. Yet, while the leadership of the country was preaching peace, the Maltese Parliament was unanimously deciding in favour of Associate Membership within the NATO Parliamentary Assembly during last year. This went largely unnoticed, and with the PN Opposition party complicit. Nobody mentioned anything on this issue of national importance, which is in stark contrast with what is outlined in the Constitution. The Maltese people have a right to know what this associate membership entails, instead of being presented with a quick press. This raises several questions. For exactly what reason have they asked for this associate membership? Will the increase in defence spending have anything to do with this membership? We have a right to answers to such questions.
