Karin Grech was a victim of intolerance that was current during her time and that is still evident today. It has led to other murders such as that of Raymond Caruana (1986) and Daphne Caruana Galizia (2017), ADPD- The Green Party Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo said when commemorating the 45th anniversary of the assassination of Karin Grech on 28th December 1977.

At a press conference during which flowers were laid at the monument dedicated to Karin Grech in San Ġwann, Cacopardo said that these sad occasions remind us of what intolerance leads to. This intolerance is still evident today, albeit showing up in different – sometimes subtle – ways. Undoubtedly, this is mainly due to the political tribalism that still divides us and leads to violence manifesting itself both verbally and psychologically.

Karin Grech’s assassination has never spurred us on looking introspectively at our country: indeed, partisanship and intolerance bound together have unfortunately led to other murders such as those of Raymond Caruana and Daphne Caruana Galizia. We are all duty bound to say out loud and clear: violence is never acceptable independently of who is the victim.

Even in recent weeks we have witnessed intolerance raising its ugly head again when those who expressed their opinions publicly in the current debate over abortion were the target of anonymous letters and even vandalism. “When are we going to accept that we can have a clash of ideas without being insulting or offensive – when one focuses on the argument and not on who is saying it?” asked Cacopardo.

Misinformation that is deliberately broadcast fans intolerance and foments division. When one creates fake news or spreads information knowing that it is not factual one is contributing to weakening the concept of a healthy debate based on facts and researched studies.
This is especially evident on social media where many a time personal attacks are carried out with the anonymity offered by the keyboard. Coupled with the liberty to express one’s opinion there is the duty to speak in a measured manner without insulting or offending. Everyone should understand that one can criticise constructively without insulting anybody. To this end one notes with satisfaction that our Law Courts are finding guilty those who are using social media to attack individuals in an intolerant manner.

Differing opinions presented in a civil manner strengthen the political debate and the democratic process in our country. Exaggerated rhetoric that appeals to one’s emotions should be avoided. This does not enable political debate one iota: it simply fans the flames of intolerance that have led to the cases like the one we are commemorating today.

Karin Grech’s commemoration should lead all those in public life to seriously reflect on the need to drastically reduce – preferably eliminate – intolerance in our country. The gracious speeches and reciprocated greetings should not only be reserved for the festive season but all year long, concluded Cacopardo.

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L-intolleranza li qatlet lil Karin Grech għadha magħna

Fiċ-ċirkustanzi li fihom għexet Karin Grech kienet vittma ta’ intolleranza li f’pajjiżna illum tkompli tirrenja u tul is-snin wasslet għall-qtil ta’ persuni oħra, fosthom Raymond Caruana (1986) u Daphne Caruana Galizia (2017). Dan qalu iċ-Chairperson tal-ADPD – The Green Party il-Perit Carmel Cacopardo li flimkien ma’ delegazzjoni tal-partit fakkru il-45 sena mill-qtil ta’ Karin Grech fit-28 ta’ Diċembru 1977.

F’konferenza stampa qabel it-tqegħid ta’ bukkett tal-fjuri quddiem il-monument u b’tifkira ta’ Karin Grech f’San Ġwann, Cacopardo qal li dawn huma okkażjonijiet ta’ dieqa li jfakkruna fil-konsegwenzi tal-intolleranza. L-intolleranza għadha magħna, anke jekk timmanifesta ruħha b’mod differenti, u xi drabi b’mod iktar sottili. Kawża ewlenija ta’ dan bla dubju ta’ xejn jibqa’ it-tribaliżmu politiku li għadu jnissel qasma u vjolenza kemm verbali kif ukoll psikoloġika fis-soċjetà tagħna.

Sfortunatament il-każ ta’ Karin Grech qatt ma xpruna eżami tal-kuxjenza għal pajjiżna: il-partiġġjaniżmu u l-intolleranza, minsuġa flimkien, wasslu għal każijiet oħra bħal ta’ Raymond Caruana u Daphne Caruana Galizia. Aħna lkoll fid-dmir li nwasslu messaġġ ċar li l-vjolenza m’hija qatt aċċettabbli huma min huma l-vittmi.

Anke fil-jiem li għaddew reġa’ kellna inċidenti li juru l-intolleranza fostna meta wħud li esprimew l-opinjonijiet tagħhom pubblikament fid-dibattitu li għaddej preżentament dwar l-abort kienu il-vittmi ta’ ittri anonimi u anke vandaliżmu. “Meta se nibdew nifhmu li d-diskussjoni dwar l-ideat tista’ ssir mingħajr ma wieħed ikun insolenti jew offensiv fejn wieħed jiffoka fuq l-argument u mhux fuq il-persuna?” staqsa Cacopardo.

Il-miżinformazzjoni li tinxtered b’mod intenzjonat twassal biex issaħħan l-irjus u tkebbes l-intolleranza. Meta dak li jkun joħloq storja fittizja jew inkella jxerred informazzjoni li jkun jaf li hija żbaljata jkun qiegħed ikompli idgħajjef il-kunċett ta’ dibatittu san mibni fuq fatti u studji riċerkati.
Dan insibuh partikularment fuq il-media soċjali fejn dak li jkun jinħeba wara l-keyboard u ħafna drabi b’mod anonimu jattakka lil persuni oħra. Marbuta ma’ dik il-liberta’ li tesprimi l-opinjoni tiegħek hemm l-obbigu li titkellem b’mod meqjus mingħajr ma tkun insolenti jew offensiv. Kulħadd għandu bżonn jifhem li il-kritika tista’ ssir b’mod kostruttiv mingħajr ma tinsulta lil ħadd. U huwa tajjeb li l-qrati tagħna qegħdin jimmultaw lil min qiegħed juża l-media soċjali biex jattakka lill-individwi b’mod intolleranti.

L-opinjonijiet differenti meta jiġu preżentanti b’mod ċivili jsaħħu id-dibattitu politiku f’pajjiżna u l-proċess demokratiku. Ir-retorika esaġerata li tappella għall-emozzjoni għandha tkun evitata. Din xejn ma tgħin id-dibattitu politiku: sempliċiment trewwaħ il-fjammi tal-intolleranza li fil-passat wasslu għal każijiet bħal dan li qegħdin infakkru illum.

Il-kommemorazzjoni ta’ Karin Grech għandha twassal għal riflessjoni serja tant meħtieġa minn dawk kollha fil-ħajja pubblika dwar il-ħtieġa li l-intolleranza f’pajjiżna tonqos drastikament u preferibilment neliminawha. Id-diskorsi mimlija ħlewwa u l-awguri reċiproċi m’għandhomx ikunu biss f’dawn iż-żminijiet ta’ festi imma tul is-sena kollha, temm jgħid Cacopardo.