A Protest Against Keith Schembri Will Be Held In Valletta This Weekend: ‘The Crooks Must Pay’
A protest calling for the resignation of Keith Schembri will be held in Valletta this weekend after the Prime Minister’s chief of staff suddenly dropped a libel suit he had instituted two and a half years ago over corruption accusations.
Pressure groups Repubblika and Occupy Justice and journalist-blogger Manuel Delia announced the protest for the evening of Saturday 16th November, timed to coincide with the 25th month since Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated.
“On the 16th of every month we organise a vigil to remember Daphne Caruana Galizia and to call for truth and justice for her and for her journalism. We will continue to do this until truth is known and justice is served,” they said in a statement. “But with all that is happening in our country, we want to clearly tell the government they should not think this is a memorial that has nothing to do with them.”
“On Saturday 16 November, apart from the monthly vigil we are holding a protest march. We call upon civil society organisations and the entire community to join us in a protest that aspires to clear and explicit aims.”
Schembri yesterday dropped his libel suit he had instituted against former PN leader Simon Busuttil after being forced by the courts to undergo a cross-examination. The Prime Minister’s chief of staff argued that his testimony could prejudice ongoing magisterial inquiries into accusations his Panama company had been set up to launder money from 17 Black, a Dubai company owned by businessman Yorgen Fenech, and Macbridge, a Dubai company whose owner remains unknown.
Repubblika, Occupy Justice and Manuel Delia argued that while people have every right to plead their personal rights to avoid testifying in court, such behaviour is in contrast with Schembri’s high-ranking public role.
“Keith Schembri should immediately resign or the prime minister should dismiss him,” they said.
“Daphne Caruana Galizia fought for justice. The best way to honour her memory is to convert sorrow into protest. The crooks must pay for what they’ve done.”
The protest will start near Pjazza Teatru Rjal at 7pm and arrive at Great Siege Square, where at 7:30pm a protest vigil will be held.
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