Justice Minister Warns Activists: ‘You Can’t Just Claim A National Monument For Daphne Caruana Galizia’
Justice Minister Owen Bonnici warned activists that they are breaking the law by erecting a makeshift memorial to Daphne Caruana Galizia at the Great Siege Monument without a permit.
“I proceeded with caution because I know it’s a very emotional issue, but now some people are insisting they have a unilateral right to arbitrarily turn the monument into a memorial to Caruana Galizia,” Bonnici told Lovin Malta. “National monuments deserve respect and you can’t just claim them… maybe someone will claim the Sette Giugno or Independence monument next.
“If they want to erect a memorial for Caruana Galizia, then they must apply for a permit like everyone else, but not on a national monument.”
Activists have been using the Great Siege Monument as a makeshift memorial to Caruana Galizia since the journalist was assassinated in October last year. However, the authorities only clamped down on it earlier this month when stains were discovered on the monument after the makeshift memorial was cleared to make way for the Victory Day ceremonies.
“The stains were clearly the result of candle wax, but I won’t get into the argument as to whether the stains were caused by people opposing the memorial who knocked the candles down,” Bonnici said.
The makeshift memorial before it was cleared last night
Following Bonnici’s instructions, officials from the Cleansing Department removed the banner, as well as candles and flowers that were placed at the foot of the makeshift memorial, two nights ago.
However, the police ordered the department to return the items to blogger-activist Manuel Delia after he filed a report for theft.
The makeshift memorial was reconstructed by Occupy Justice activists but was removed again late last night, with a Heritage Malta banner promoting the Great Siege monument going up in its stead.
Bonnici said he treated the reconstruction of the memorial as he would any other protest.
“When people organise a manifestation, they usually clear the site after making their message clear,” he said. “When they don’t, we’re obliged to clear it ourselves at the end of the day. If the activists want to erect a banner for Caruana Galizia for an extended period of time, then they need to apply for a permit.”
The Minister confirmed he has deposited the banner, flowers and candles in court as evidence in a case instigate against him by Manuel Delia, who is calling on the government to stop removing the makeshift memorial on the grounds that such action breaches his right to free expression.
The courts have turned down Delia’s request for a temporary injunction on the clearing of the memorial and have scheduled a sitting for 5th October.
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