Repubblika condemns the decision of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to reject the Opposition’s request to discuss the Ombudsman’s report on the prison situation.
We are concerned that the people’s representatives are not allowed to discuss a serious matter that affects fundamental rights. In addition, the decision once again sends the message that Parliament does not attach importance to the work of the Ombudsman, who is an Officer of Parliament, unanimously appointed by the members, precisely to investigate shortcomings in the public administration.
Such decisions remind us of others that history has shown to be wrong, such as the decision in 1980 that Parliament would not meet to discuss the murder of Nardu Debono at the Police Depot. Fourteen years later, the Police Commissioner involved was found guilty of his murder.
However, yesterday’s decision by the Speaker worries us more because it is one of a series of decisions by the Speaker which in our opinion are leading Parliament to be Government’s rubberstamp rather than the institution where the Government’s work is scrutinised. The Constitution of our country provides for Parliament to be the watchdog over the Government and not its protector; Parliament is sovereign; the Government is only a servant.
Saying that Parliament is the highest institution of the country and the guardian of democracy and the well-being of everyone living in our country would all be empty words if it Parliament is not allowed to do its duty of watching over what the executive does.
There is another disturbing aspect to the Speaker’s decision because it confirms that Parliament is systematically ignoring the inhuman and degrading treatment of categories of people who have been deprived of their liberty for one reason or another: in addition to people serving prison sentences, there are others awaiting trial, irregular immigrants held in detention centers, and patients at Mount Carmel Hospital. Very often the public learns of ill-treatment or degrading and inhumane conditions in these facilities.
Custody systems that violate the dignity and rights of those they are supposed to protect are a sign not only of maladministration, but also show that the State has embarked on the path towards a general denial of fundamental human rights and a violation of civic rights. What happens today in a prison, in a detention center, or in a mental hospital, tomorrow becomes the norm for everyone. Therefore, we urge people not to fall into the trap of thinking that what happens in prison should not concern them. We also appeal to all MPs who care about human dignity to reiterate the request that Parliament discuss the Ombudsman’s report.