2019–2020 Maltese protests
| 2019 Maltese protests | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Protests of 2019 | |||
| File:Civil society protest at Castille Place Valletta, November 2019.png Protests in front of the PM's Office, Auberge de Castille, Valletta | |||
| Date | 20 November 2019 – present (4 years, 7 months and 4 weeks) | ||
| Location | |||
| Caused by |
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| Methods | Protests, Demonstrations, sit-ins, civil disobedience, online activism | ||
| Status | Ongoing | ||
| Parties | |||
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| Lead figures | |||
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| Casualties | |||
| Death(s) | Casualties | ||
| Injuries | 2 policemen slightly injured[2] [3] | ||
The 2019 Maltese protests are an ongoing series of protests that consisted of demonstrations, marches, sit-ins and civil disobedience. They started on 20 November 2019, a date which was set by civil activists on social media, affecting mostly the central administrative hub of Malta around the capital Valletta and Floriana, to protest years of corruption, alleged business and political links in a plot to assassinate journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, and to defend Malta's institutions. The Maltese government has been accused of using intimidation tactics against protesters and journalists. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced on 1 December that he would resign on 12 January 2020.[4] This decision is contested by protesters, opposition parties, NGOs, various civil society groups, industrial organisations, and organised business and labour unions.
Prelude
Keith Schembri's decision not to testify on 17 Black proceedings
On 11 November 2019, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's chief of staff, Keith Schembri dropped a libel case against Simon Busuttil to avoid testifying about 17 Black, a shell company owned by power station investor and Tumas group heir Yorgen Fenech,[5] after being forced to do so by the courts.[6] Muscat supported Schembri's decision not to testify,[7] saying that he had also sat down with the Caruana Galizia family to reach an agreement on a public inquiry into her assassination. Muscat
Middleman arrested, businessman flees
On 19 November 2019, Muscat announced that he had written to an alleged middleman in the Caruana Galizia assassination case, offering him a pardon,[8] after his arrest during the previous week on a separate case. Muscat claimed that this was "the beginning of the end"[8] of the investigation. Early on 20 November 2019, a prominent Maltese businessman, Yorgen Fenech, was intercepted at sea by an AFM patrol boat, while allegedly attempting to flee the country.[9] Fenech was linked with 17 Black, a secretive company with plans to pay €5,000 a day to two Panama companies owned by Chief of Staff Keith Schembri and Minister Konrad Mizzi.[9][5]
Protests
21 November protest
On 20 November, civil society groups led by Repubblika, Occupy Justice, and manueldelia.com, announced a protest in front of the Prime Minister's Office, Auberge de Castille, calling for Joseph Muscat’s resignation.[10] In their statement, the groups said that Muscat should have forced out Schembri and Mizzi when their names first appeared in a Panama Papers leak back in 2016.[10] At the end of the protest, the protestors then walked to the makeshift memorial to the late journalist at the foot of the Great Siege Memorial. They lit candles and shared memories of the late journalist and her work. Many of those present then gathered outside Parliament where they chanted 'barra, barra' (out, out) and 'Mafia, Mafia' at Government politicians. At the same time as the protest was unfolding, opposition MPs walked out of Parliament over Muscat's failure to dismiss Schembri and Mizzi.[11] As pressure for their resignations mounted, Muscat insisted he was protecting no-one.[12] Muscat insisted there was no indication linking politicians to the Caruana Galizia assassination, although he admitted that Schembri’s “business plans” with Fenech were legitimate.[11] Protesters also assembled around the New Parliament buildings, heckling and blocking a number of ministers' cars from leaving the area. Justice Minister Owen Bonnici's car was targeted by protesters as it left parliament, with the Minister describing how he stood by the police force, two of whom were injured in the course of doing their duties.[2][3] In a statement, Speaker Anġlu Farrugia said steps ought to be taken against those who exceeded limits and manifestly breached the law, including through the use of violence.[2]
22 November protest
On 21 November, another protest was called for 22 November in front of Castille. The organising groups stated that Muscat needed to shoulder political responsibility because had Muscat not failed to have chief of staff Keith Schembri and Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi removed, "Daphne Caruana Galizia would still be alive."[13] The groups said that “to protect his friends, Joseph Muscat [...] suffocated the rule of law, allowed impunity to be sown and as a result seen Malta reaping violence." Honest MPs on both sides of Parliament were asked to remove “the corrupt and the accomplices of murderers” while embarking on a “cleansing of public life” in Malta.[13] Thousands of protestors met in front of the Auberge de Castille, renewing calls for Prime Minister Muscat to resign, saying that justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia was being stifled.[14] Organisers appealed for calm, after a police officer was injured on Wednesday during a similar protest.[14]
25 November protest
Another protest was called for 25 November 2019.[15] On that day, pressure continued to mount for Mizzi and Schembri's resignation,[16] with cabinet members commenting publicly on the need for the country not to protect murderers and money launderers,[17] while Malta's reputation was suffering "almost irreparable" damage.[18] Faced with the pressure, Mizzi insisted "I stand tall... I have nothing to do with this case,"[19] while Schembri refused to comment.[20] Protesters stood in the wind and rain in a demonstration against the political paralysis in the wake of revelations concerning Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder. Fake €5,000 banknotes were thrown at Parliament, while peaceful protesters chanted “barra” [out] and “ħallelin, postkom huwa ġo Kordin” [thieves, you belong in prison].[21] Three rows of steel barricades kept protesters away from Parliament, while Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was booed as he exited parliament following Monday evening's parliamentary session.[21]
26 November protest
As the investigation into the Caruana Galizia murder continued, following further pressure, first Schembri[22] and then Mizzi resigned from office.[23] Schembri then faced questioning by police over allegations of his involvement in the Caruana Galizia case.[22] Another minister, Chris Cardona, suspended himself in the wake of other police investigations.[23] Prime Minister Muscat thanked Schembri, saying "I thank Keith for his hard work, he played a crucial role."[22] A protest was held next to Parliament, hours after these political resignations.[24] Parliament descended briefly into chaos as opposition MPs shouted "mafia" at Government benches, Foreign affairs minister Carmelo Abela and parliamentary secretary for the elderly Anthony Agius Decelis were restrained by fellow Labour MPs after they crossed the floor. They had been riled by opposition Nationalist MPs shouting “robbers, thieves, mafia”. The most vocal were Karol Aquilina and Marlene Farrugia. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat attempted to calm MPs, but the chaotic scenes escalated when he entered parliament.[25] Hundreds of people gathered outside cried "shame on you" and "killers", with the angry crowd pelting ministerial cars with eggs and coins as they left. Muscat was shielded by security officers as he exited on his way to a Labour executive meeting in Ħamrun. Protesters carried banners, flares, drums, megaphones and flags to get their message across and shouted: "Daphne was right". The protest then moved from outside parliament to Castille Place, where protesters were addressed by Manuel Delia, one of the organisers, and other speakers.[24]
27 November protest
Another demonstration called for Wednesday 27 November began as a protest march, ending in front of Castille.[26] This was the fifth protest in less than a week.[26] Following the disturbances of 26 November, steel barricades were placed in front of parliament, Auberge de Castille and on Merchants' Street, as police beefed up security ahead of the 27 November planned protest.[27] On the day, both major political parties announced mass meetings for 1 December, with various civil society members and Caruana Galizia family members asking people to stay away from rallies organised by political parties.[28] Both events were eventually cancelled.
28 November protest
An impromptu protest was held on 28 November, following the release of the Prime Minister’s former chief of staff Keith Schembri from arrest.[29] Murder suspect Yorgen Fenech claimed Mr Schembri was behind Caruana Galizia's assassination in October 2017.[29]
29 November protest
Protesters started marching at 6.30 pm, carrying Maltese flags and posters in another protest against the way the government was handling the investigation.[29] The protest followed news earlier in the day that Joseph Muscat, who protesters have been asking to resign, was to do so imminently. The protest was organised by Repubblika, Occupy Justice and manueldelia.com. When it ended, the crowd switched on their phone torch lights and sung the national anthem. Following the protest, during which speeches were given by Josef Vella, Manuel Delia and Ms Caruana Galizia's niece Amy Mallia, a small crowd gathered in front of the Daphne memorial beneath the Great Siege Monument where they placed flowers and candles.[29]
30 November protest
Moviment Graffiti organised a protest in the morning, with organisers saying that there was "nothing socialist, leftist or progressive about what the government had allowed to happen over the past few years, despite the fact that the Labour Party was supposed to hold true to these values."[1] Protesters reiterated calls for Muscat to resign following the Caruana Galizia probe, and they were joined in their protest by author and activist Immanuel Mifsud, and Arnold Cassola, amongst other politicians, NGOs, academics and activists.[1]
1 December protest
Thousands of people descended on Valletta on Sunday, 1 December demanding Muscat’s resignation.[30] Marching to shouts "Daphne was right," "Justice," and "Assassins," people called out Muscat, insisting that he was not their prime minister. Protesters filled Republic Street in Valletta. A march started in front of Parliament at 4pm and moved to the square in front of the law courts, where protesters were addressed by activists.[30] The protest was the largest one so far, with the pressure mounting on Muscat to step down. The protest came hours after an emergency meeting of the Labour Party parliamentary group gave Muscat free-reign to decide on his exit. The crowd was addressed by anthropologist Ranier Fsadni, a 16 year-old student, and former Nationalist Party president Mark Anthony Sammut.[30]
Late in the evening on 1 December, Muscat announced his resignations on national television.[31][32] In an unprecedented move, Muscat chose to stay in office for a further 42 days, with critics fearing that Muscat's insistence to remain in office vitiated the search for justice on people close to him.[31]
2 December protest
On Monday, 2 December 2019, access to Valletta’s Freedom Square was heavily restricted as a activists began to gather in front of parliament for the evening protest.[33] In an anticipation of the protest, police also asked shops on Republic Street and Ordnance Street to close at 3 pm. Authorities laid out hundreds of metres of steel barricades in the square in front of parliament in the afternoon, considerably limiting the area in which civil society activists were able to protest.[33] Furious protesters blocked MPs from leaving Parliament during the demonstration demanding the immediate resignation of outgoing Prime Minister Muscat. Protesters threw eggs and carrots - a reference to Caruana Galizia murder suspect Yorgen Fenech - at government MPs including Gozo minister Justyne Caruana.[34] While trapped in Parliament, some Government MPs began taking selfies and communicating with their supporters on social media. Protesters were demanding the Prime Minister take political responsibility for the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.[34] Unable to exit from the main streets around Parliament, some MPs were forced to escape via tunnels linking Parliament with the Valletta Ditch.[35]
Later, the Office of the Prime Minister at Auberge de Castille was also egged.[34]
All three of Daphne Caruana Galizia’s sons were present at the protest.[35] Protesters blocked all exits from Parliament, trapping MPs for two hours behind the barricades between Freedom Square and Ordnance Street in Valletta.[34] Protesters taunted the PM to come out, while Muscat was making his last speech in parliament ahead of stepping down in January 2020. One of the organisers then moved the protest to Castille, with the MPs allowed to leave Parliament by the crowd.[34]
A journalist was assaulted by Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Clint Camilleri’s staff as she attempted to ask him if he thought the Prime Minister should resign immediately.[35] In a sign of the increased tension, Labour MP Clifton Grima and Nationalist MP Karol Aqulina started pushing each other, although they were quickly separated by people surrounding the two men.[34] They shook hands afterwards.
Some kilometres away from the protest, government supporters turned up in Ħamrun, in front of the Labour Party's headquarters, in an unofficial rally in support of Muscat.[34][36]
3 December protest
Protesters gathered outside police headquarters in Floriana on Tuesday evening.[37] They called on the police to arrest and interrogate the prime minister's former chief of staff Schembri as part of the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder investigation.[38] A large printout of a letter written by the alleged middleman in the murder plot was attached to the closed gates of the headquarters. In it, the middleman named Schembri along with businessman Yorgen Fenech as being involved in the plot.[39] Protesters held Maltese and EU flags and occasionally shouting out "mafia." They also threw fake €5,000 notes and yelled "interrogate Joseph Muscat", "arrest Keith Schembri", while a group of police officers guarded the gate.[38]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Arena, Jessica (30 November 2019). "Activists take to the streets once again". Times of Malta. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ a b c "Justice Minister calls out protesters". Times of Malta. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ a b Martin, Ivan (20 November 2019). "Police officer injured after protesters block justice minister's car". Times of Malta. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ Grech, Herman (1 December 2019). "Muscat to step down as Prime Minister after January 12". Times of Malta. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ a b Borg, Jacob (9 November 2018). "17 Black owner identified as local power station businessman". Times of Malta. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ Martin, Ivan; Brincat, Edwina (11 November 2019). "Keith Schembri drops 17 Black case after being forced to testify". Times of Malta. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
- ^ Borg, Jacob (17 November 2019). "'I want all the facts to emerge in Daphne Caruana Galizia murder'". Times of Malta. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ a b Martin, Ivan (19 November 2019). "has written to alleged middleman offering pardon". Times of Malta. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Daphne murder: 17 Black owner Yorgen Fenech arrested on yacht". Times of Malta. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Protest on Wednesday calling for Joseph Muscat's resignation". Times of Malta. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ a b Micallef, Keith (20 November 2019). "Opposition walks out of Parliament over PM's failure to dismiss Schembri, Mizzi". Times of Malta. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ Borg, Jacob (20 November 2019). "'I am protecting no-one' Muscat insists as resignations pressure mounts". Times of Malta. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ a b Arena, Jessica (21 November 2019). "Civil society groups planning another protest". Times of Malta. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ a b Martin, Ivan (20 November 2019). "Thousands fill Castille Place to demand political resignations". Times of Malta. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ "Protesters to gather again in Valletta on Monday". Times of Malta. 23 November 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ "Minister Evarist Bartolo says Schembri and Mizzi should go". Times of Malta. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ "Evarist Bartolo: Country cannot protect murderers, money launderers". Times of Malta. 24 November 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ "Chris Fearne: Damage to Malta's reputation 'almost irreparable'". Times of Malta. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ "Konrad Mizzi: 'I stand tall... I have nothing to do with this case'". Times of Malta. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ Borg, Jacob; Martin, Ivan (25 November 2019). "Keith Schembri's "no comment" as resignation pressure mounts". Times of Malta. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Protesters toss fake banknotes at parliament in third demonstration in a week". Times of Malta. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ a b c "Keith Schembri resigns as Prime Minister's chief of staff". Times of Malta. 26 November 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Konrad Mizzi resigns, Chris Cardona 'suspends himself'". Times of Malta. 26 November 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ a b Caruana, Claire; Conneely, Vanessa (26 November 2019). "'Joseph Muscat must go' - angry protesters hurl eggs and coins at MPs". Times of Malta. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ Micallef, Keith (26 November 2019). "Chaos in parliament as opposition shouts "mafia" and ministers react". Times of Malta. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ a b Hudson, David (27 November 2019). "Updated | Repubblika to hold national protest this evening and on Sunday". MaltaToday. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ Micallef, Keith (27 November 2019). "Barricades outside Parliament, Castille and Merchants Street in Valletta". Times of Malta. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ "PL, PN to mobilise their supporters on Sunday". Times of Malta. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ a b c d Arena, Jessica (29 November 2019). "Large crowd gathers in Valletta for protest". Times of Malta. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ a b c Azzopardi, Karl (1 December 2019). "Protest in Valletta: As PM holds on to power, thousands demand his resignation". MaltaToday. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
- ^ a b Vella, Matthew (2 December 2019). "Muscat working out his notice… reactions to the PM's decision to stay on for 42 days". MaltaToday. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
- ^ Garside, Juliette (1 December 2019). "Malta's PM quits in crisis over Daphne Caruana Galizia murder". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Freedom Square lockdown: barricades limit access to anti-Muscat protest". Times of Malta. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g Arena, Jessica (2 December 2019). "Protesters block MPs from leaving parliament, amid politicians' altercation". Times of Malta. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
- ^ a b c "Parliament under siege as protestors turn the tables on MPs". The Shift News. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
- ^ Carabott, Sarah (2 December 2019). "Thousands of Labour supporters in mass rally for Joseph Muscat". Times of Malta. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
- ^ "Protesters affix banner at police HQ telling Commissioner to arrest Keith Schembri". The Malta Independent. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Calls for Keith Schembri's arrest in protest outside police HQ". Times of Malta. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
- ^ Borg, Jacob; Grech, Herman (3 December 2019). "Middleman's letter links Schembri and Fenech to Daphne murder". Times of Malta. Retrieved 7 December 2019.