On the fifth anniversary of Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination we should appreciate more investigative journalism’s contribution to supporting democracy. Investigative journalism contributes immensely towards accountability through greater transparency. ADPD – The Green Party Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo made this point at a press conference in front of the Great Siege monument that has also become an ad hoc memorial for Daphne Caruana Galizia.
ADPD – The Green Party Deputy Chairperson Sandra Gauci emphasized that five years from Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination the situation has not changed much, with justice moving at a snail’s pace. Malta is known worldwide as the country where not only was a journalist killed in the most brutal manner, with the alleged involvement of people close to political circles but that after five years justice has not been meted out. The jury of some of those involved in the case just started yesterday. It was primarily thanks to the involvement of the FBI and Europol that the case has progressed.
The delayed justice is not surprising though when one considers that it is well known that institutions have been compromised through their close relationship with those in whose interest is that justice is not served. How could one have expected that justice is carried out swiftly when the lead investigator of the case, Deputy Police Commissioner Silvio Valletta was found to have had a close relationship with Yorgen Fenech, who allegedly commissioned the assassination? We have heard repeated instances over the past months of how those accused would be given advance notice of police action, days before this was carried out: indeed they were even aware of the day in which they were going to be arrested!
The evidence in the multiple cases in our law courts dealing with the assassination to date reveal how the state failed to ensure that Daphne continues to carry on with her work. It is a failure of the institutions which have been hijacked into servicing the criminal world rather than safeguarding the citizen, concluded Gauci.
Carmel Cacopardo stated that on this fifth anniversary of Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination it is imperative to appreciate more than ever that journalism that speaks without fear or favour is essential for a healthy democracy. A chapter in the report of the public inquiry into what led to the assassination, a report that the authorities repeatedly try to ignore, is aptly entitled “investigative journalism’s value in a democratic society.”
Nothing is sacred for investigative journalism. It is a unique tool to hold accountable not only political authorities but also economic and religious ones. In this context journalism is the cornerstone of a democratic state. Investigative journalism should be protected in every possible manner because it shines a light on those dark corners of public administration that may breed corruption.
The reform in the media sector should also analyze the financial and business interests influencing media, including digital media. There is always the risk that financial and commercial interests’ covert agenda is behind certain ‘stories’, with intent of deceptively influencing public opinion. Open and wide consultation among all stakeholders is necessary. We are pleased that the government, albeit reluctantly, has accepted to go down this route.
Carmel Cacopardo also highlighted the negative contribution to the public sphere by political party media. Although we appreciate the scenario in which this had been developed, we must now understand that political media is not journalism but simply serves as a means of propaganda. We need more journalism that challenges the powers-that-be whether they are political, financial or religious so that this country moves forward and strengthens the Republic’s democratic foundations. Investigative journalism is the most effective means to check abuse of power.
After yesterday’s dramatic developments it is now expected that the politicians who may have been involved both in Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination and the Qormi HSBC hold-up attempt are identified. The former ministers which have been mentioned are Chris Cardona and Carmelo Abela, together with others. After yesterday’s sentencing the police should investigate anew their possible involvement so that hopefully this dark chapter in Malta’s history is closed forever.
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Ġustizzja tard: istituzzjonijiet dgħajfa għax kompromessi
Fil-ħames anniversarju tal-assassinju ta’ Daphne Caruana Galizia għandna napprezzaw iktar il-kontribut tal-ġurnaliżmu investigattiv lejn it-tisħiħ tad-demokrazija. Il-ġurnaliżmu investigattiv jagħti kontribut kbir biex titwettaq il-kontabilità permezz ta’ trasparenza dejjem ikbar. Dan ġie emfasizzat minn Carmel Cacopardo Chairperson ta’ ADPD-The Green Party waqt konferenza stampa quddiem il-monument tal-assedju l-kbir li qed iservi ukoll ta’ mafkar għal Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Sandra Gauci, Deputat Chairperson ta’ ADPD emfasizzat li fil-ħames anniversarju tal-assassinju ta’ Daphne Caruana Galizia ninsabu kważi fl-istess punt li konna fil-bidu, b’ġustizzja miexja b’pass ta’ nemlu. Il-fama mad-dinja kollha hi li f’Malta mhux biss ġiet assassinata ġurnalista b’mod brutali u li allegatament hemm l-involviment ta’ nies qrib il-politika iżda wkoll li wara ħames snin għadha ma seħħitx ġustizzja. Il-ġuri ta’ uħud minn dawk involuti beda lbieraħ, wara kważi ħames snin!
M’hemmx għalfejn nistagħġbu bid-dewmien meta illum nafu li l-istituzzjonijiet huma kompromessi bir-relazzjonijiet mill-qrib ma’ dawk li l-interess tagħhom hu li l-ġustizzja ma sseħħx. Kif setgħet issir ġustizzja fil-ħin meta id-Deputat Kummissarju tal-Pulizija Silvio Valletta li kien qiegħed imexxi l-investigazzjoni dwar l-assassinju nstab li kellu rabta mill-qrib ma’ Yorgen Fenech, implikat fl-istess assassinju? Smajna kontinwament matul dawn l-aħħar xhur kif dawk akkużati kienu jkunu jafu minn qabel b’kull mossa tal-Pulizija, minn ġranet qabel ma din seħħet. Saħansitra kienu jafu bil-jum tagħhom tal-arrest! Il-każ mexa ‘l quddiem primarjament minħabba l-involviment tal-FBI u l-Europol.
Dak li ħareġ fil-qrati tagħna minn dakinhar tal-assassinju sal-lum juri biċ-ċar kif l-istat falla li jassigura li Daphne tibqa’ tagħmel xogħolha. Ix-xhieda li nstemgħet s’issa hi ċertifikat ta’ kif l-istituzzjonijiet ġew maħkuma biex iservu lil kriminali minflok biex iħarsu liċ-ċittadin, temmet Gauci.
Carmel Cacopardo qal li f’dan il-ħames anniversarju tal-assassinju ta’ Daphne Caruana Galizia huwa xieraq li nirrealizzaw dejjem aktar illi l-ġurnaliżmu b’saħħtu u li ma jibżax hu essenzjali għal demokrazija b’saħħitha. Fir-rapport tal-inkjesta pubblika dwar iċ-ċirkostanzi li wasslu għal dan l-assassinju, rapport li l-awtoritajiet kontinwament jippruvaw inessu, hemm kapitlu sħiħ intitolat ‘il-valur tal-ġurnaliżmu investigattiv f’soċjetà demokratika’, li jemfasizza propju dan il-punt.
Għal ġurnaliżmu investigattiv, xejn ma hu sagru. Hu għodda indispensabbli biex inżommu f’kontabilità ta’ għemilhom mhux biss lill-awtoritajiet politiċi imma ukoll lil dawk ekonomiċi u reliġjużi. Hu f’dan il-kuntest li nqisu l-ġurnaliżmu bħala pedament ewlieni tal-istat demokratiku. Il-ġurnaliżmu investigattiv jitfa’ dawl fl-irkejjen mudlama tal-amministrazzjoni pubblika fejn tista’ titkattar il-korruzzjoni u allura għandu jiġi protett b’kull mod possibbli.
Ir-riforma fil-qasam tal-media għandha wkoll tixtarr l-influwenza tal-interessi finanzjarji u tan-negozju fuq il-media, inkluż dik diġitali. Hemm dejjem il-periklu li l-promozzjoni ta’ interessi finanzjarji u tan-negozju jkun moħbi wara stejjer li filfatt huma mezz ta’ influwenza fuq l-opinjoni pubblika b’mod qarrieqi. L-importanti f’dan l-istadju hija li ssir konsultazzjoni miftuħa u mifruxa kemm jista’ jkun. Aħna sodisfatti li fl-aħħar, il-Gvern, avolja bit-tqanżieħ, aċċetta dan ukoll.
Huwa mportanti ukoll, żied jgħid Carmel Cacopardo li nindirizzaw il-kontribut negattiv tal-media politika. Filwaqt li nifhmu iċ-ċirkustanzi li fihom din żviluppat huwa essenzjali li nifhmu ukoll li l-media politika mhix ġurnaliżmu iżda għodda ta’ propaganda. Għandna bżonn iktar ġurnaliżmu li jisfida lill-poter politiku, finanzjarju u reliġjuż biex dan il-pajjiż jimxi ‘l quddiem u jsaħħaħ il-pedamenti demokratiċi tar-Repubblika. Il-ġurnaliżmu investigattiv hu l-iktar kontroll effettiv li jista’ jkollna fuq l-abbuż tal-poter.
Fl-aħħarnett, wara l-iżviluppi drammatiċi tal-bieraħ issa nistennew li jkunu identifikati l-politiċi li setgħu kienu involuti kemm fl-assassinju ta’ Daphne Caruana Galizia kif ukoll fl-attentat ta’ hold-up fuq l-HSBC f’Ħal-Qormi. Qed nirreferu għal dak li ntqal tul ix-xhur dwar l-ex-Ministri Chris Cardona u Carmelo Abela u oħrajn. Wara s-sentenza tal-bieraħ nistennew li l-Pulizija teżamina l-possibbli involviment tagħhom mill-ġdid biex forsi jingħalaq kapitlu ikrah fl-istorja ta’ Malta.
