Repubblika deplores remarks made by the Department of Information in a statement (ref: PR241796) where, to do away with an appeal to implement the recommendations of the Daphne Caruana Galizia inquiry, the government said that “it would be good that as a nation we look at other aspects which represent the whole society.”
Freedom of expression is of interest to the whole society.
First of all, we reiterate our frustration that the government shows total contempt for Parliament. This government statement from the Department of Information violates any form of ethics for our Parliamentary life. The government is reacting to a motion put forward in Parliament by two Members. Instead of answering them in Parliament, the government answers them with a statement from the Department of Information. Worse than that, it violates the ethical rules regarding the behaviour of Ministers and forces the Department of Information to make a partisan statement to criticize a political party.
But what is most regretful is that in its response the government once again dispels hope of keeping a promise it made years ago: (1) to implement the measures recommended by the Daphne Caruana Galizia inquiry; and to (2) publish a white paper for effective consultation on the reforms needed to ensure freedom of the press.
Freedom of the press is not a privilege of a small sector of society. When it threatens and stifles journalists, the government deprives the entire society of everyone’s right to be informed.
We express our support for a Parliamentary resolution which, if passed, will remind the government of its commitment to implement the reforms recommended in the public inquiry.
But this is a country where the government ignores Parliament and treats it with contempt and ignores a public inquiry that it set up itself after a journalist was killed and discards its recommendations. We therefore don’t hold much hope that this government is ready to protect the freedom of speech of those who investigate and criticize its actions.
The government’s contempt for free journalism was found responsible by a public inquiry for the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. Today it is responsible for continuing the same intimidating behaviour.