We condemn without reservation the government’s oppressive and intimidating attack on Chief Justice Emeritus Silvio Camilleri which is an act of cruel and unjustified retaliation and an act of intimidation against anyone who dares to say that they disagree with the government.
Minister Jonathan Attard yesterday described remarks made by Judge Camilleri as partisan and unworthy of a former judge. Not everyone who thinks the government is doing something wrong has partisan motives.
Judge Camilleri throughout his career faithfully served the Maltese state without ever looking at anyone’s face, without ever leaning towards any party, and without ever leaving any doubt about his integrity and professionalism. Today, since his retirement, Judge Camilleri has no personal ambition, and our country and the government would do well to listen to his experienced and mature advice.
The government is not obliged to agree with the arguments made by Judge Camilleri. But it is obliged, if it does not agree, to address his arguments with other arguments, not to personally attack him through Parliament and on Labour Party television with insults and character assassination.
The government is hereby warning anyone who disagrees with them that only they understand and only they know what is right. Anyone who disagrees with them is a partisan and only fit for disposal. This absolutism and this intimidating violence are fascist tactics that have no place in a democracy.
We thank the Honourable Chief Justice Emeritus Silvio Camilleri for his valuable contribution to this subject and we hope that persons of his calibre will not let this psychological violence perpetrated on them by the government scare them from also making their voices heard according to their experience and conscience.