In view of yesterday’s decision by the Prime Minister, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said: “While the Prime Minister is admitting that there was a cover up, all the blame has been shifted onto the Acting Commissioner of Police, Ray Zammit.”

According to the Prime Minister, Minister Mallia, who lied through his teeth in the press conference of the day following the incident, when he said that he had got to know of the details of the case only very late when in fact he already knew everything by 2115h of the same day of the incident, has only been found guilty of being negligent when “proof reading” the press release.

Basically, nobody has taken political responsibility for this disgusting and deplorable episode that flies in the face of the principles of accountability and transparency that should characterise political behaviour.

The decision by the Prime Minister to let Minister Mallia decide whether to accept Joseph Muscat’s suggestion to resign or not, is not only the ridiculous decision of a weak Prime Minister who for some reason is scared of taking any action against Mallia and his clan, but has now led to the consequence that the Maltese people have decreased their faith in institutions of vital and cardinal importance, like the Police Force and the forces safeguarding our national security.

“Manuel Mallia is the albatross around the Muscat government’s neck and a threat to the accountability and transparency that any democratic country and people, like the Maltese people, deserve. His removal, only one hour ago instead of 19 days ago, is a result of a strong public opinion that that has forced a weak Prime Minister to react to it.”

Carmel Cacopardo Deputy Chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika, said: “The report of the inquiry is justifiably critical of Maltese politics and underlines that the concept of political responsibility on appointments made by politicians is emphasized by Maltese politicians when in Opposition only to be completely ignored when they are elected to Government. This, the report continues (in the form of a question) is evident from the fact that most appointments made are not based on competence, merit or intrinsic qualities of the appointees but on the basis of “political loyalties, nepotism, friendships and other unworthy considerations.” It is difficult to imagine a more clear and severe condemnation of the Maltese political system, which invokes sanctity and principles whilst in Opposition but then forgets all when in Government.”

The 19 day delay in arriving at a decision led the press to seek and obtain access to telephone communications passing through the Control Room of the Police HQ. Whilst AD does not in any way condemn the press which made use of such information which came its way, we have to emphasize that this has compromised the security of the state as now we have no guarantee that similar access is not available to criminal circles or foreign espionage agencies.

“In addition, the Police Force, which is made up mostly of dedicated persons, has been most damaged as a result of this ordeal. During the past 19 days those who in the police force have placed service to the community as their priority have been let down. Alternattiva Demokratika is full square behind these better elements in the Police Force, who are acting in the national interest and making their best efforts to ensure that the Police Force reacquires the public’s confidence.”

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In vista tad-decizjonijijiet tqal-Prim Ministru ‘l bierah , ic-Chairperson tal-Alternattiva Demokratika, il-Prof. Arnold Cassola, qal: “Waqt li l-Prim Ministru qed jammetti li kien hemm cover up f’dan il-kaz, il-htija ntefghet biss fuq il-Kummissarju tal-Pulizija, Ray Zammit,.

Skont il-Prim Ministru, il-Ministru Mallia, li gideb b’mod car fil-konferenza stampa tal-ghada tal-incident, meta qal li sar jaf id-dettalji tal-kaz tard hafna, meta fil-fatt sa 2115h tal-istess jum tal-incident ga kellu l-informazzjoni kollha dwar il-kaz, instab hati biss ta’ negligenza fil-“proof reading” tal-press release.

Fil-fatt, spiccajna biex hadd ma refa’ r-responsabbilta’ politika ta’ din il-hnizrija li taghmel ghajb lill-korrettezza u t-trasparenza li biha suppost titmexxa l-politika.

Id-decizjoni tal-Prim Ministru li jhalli f’idejn Mallia jilqax is-suggeriment tieghu li jirrizenja jew le, hija mhux biss decizjoni ridikola ta’ Prim Ministru dghajjef li ghal xi raguni jibza’ jiehu azzjoni kontra Mallia u l-clan tieghu, imma issa wasslet biex il-Maltin jnaqqsu l-fiducja taghhom f’istituzzjonijiet ta’ importanza kardinali u vitali, bhalma huma l-forzi tal-pulizija u tas-sigurta’ nazzjonali.

Manuel Mallia huwa mazzra m’ghonq il-Gvern ta’ Muscat u theddida ghat-trasparenza u l-kontabilita’ li jixirqu lil kull pajjiz u poplu demokratiku, bhalma huwa l-poplu Malti. It-tnehhija tieghu, siegha ilu biss minflok 19-il jum ilu, hija r-rizultat ta’opinjoni pubblika qawwija li gieghlet lil Prim Ministru dghajjef jirreagixxi ghaliha”.

Id-Deputat Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, Carmel Cacopardo, qal: “Ir-rapport tal-Inkjesta huwa gustament kritiku tas-sistema politika Maltija u jissottolineja li l-kuncett tar-responsabbilta’ politika dwar hatriet li dawn jaghmlu jissemma spiss minn politici li jkunu fl-Oppozizzjoni li izda malajr jinsew kollox meta jkunu fil-Gvern. Dan, ikompli jghid ir-rapport (fil-forma ta’ mistoqsija), johrog mill-fatt li bosta mill-hatriet ma jsirux a bazi ta’ hila, mertu jew kwalitajiet intrinsici izda a bazi “ta’ kulur politiku, nepotizmu, hbiberija u konsiderazzjonijiet ohra mhux xierqa.” Huwa difficli li nimmaginaw kundanna iktar iebsa u cara tas-sistema politika Maltija li tinvoka l-principji u l-qdusija mill-Oppozizzjoni u tinsa’ kollox meta tkun fil-Gvern.

Id-dewmien ta’ 19-il gurnata biex tittiehed decizjoni wassal biex l-istampa fittxet u akkwistat access ghall-komunikazzjonijiet telefonici li ghaddew mill-Control Room tal-Headquarters tal-Pulizija. Fil-waqt li AD ma tlumx lill-istampa li ghamlet uzu minn din l-informazzjoni li giet f’idejha, nghiduha bla tlaqliq li dan jikkomprometti is-sigurta’ tal-istat ghax ma hemm l-ebda garanzija li m’hemmx access simili ghad-dinja kriminali jew ghas-servizzi ta’ spjunagg ta’ pajjizi barranin.

“Fuq kollox l-ikbar hsara saret lill-Korp tal-Pulizija li fil-parti l-kbira tieghu hu maghmul minn persuni dedikati u ta’ servizz. Tul dawn id-19 il-gurnata giet imminata l-hidma ta’ dawk li tul is-snin poggew is-servizz taghhom lejn il-komunita’ bhala l-priorita’ ta’ hajjithom. Il-hsieb taghna tal-Alternattiva Demokratika tmur lejn dawn u nitolbuhom biex fl-interess nazzjonali jaghmlu sforz biex il-Korp tal-Pulizija jikseb lura l-istima u l-fiducja tal-pubbliku”.