That Didn’t Last Long. Daphne Caruana Galizia Makeshift Memorial Torn Down Two Days After Protest
Photo: Occupy Justice
A makeshift memorial to Daphne Caruana Galizia outside the boarded-up Great Siege Monument in Valletta was cleared away last night, around 48 hours after it was erected during a protest to mark the first anniversary since her murder.
Activist group Occupy Justice said that the removal of the flowers, candles and notes, ostensibly by officials from the Cleansing Department, is in sharp contrast to the government’s recent declaration that it wants justice for the murdered journalist.
“We also want justice, says the government. Yeah right by desecrating the memorial again!” it said. “Joseph Muscat what are you afraid of? A few candles and flowers? Why do you want to kill Daphne’s memory? We deserve better! Don’t let the government trample all over your fundamental human rights. We live in a democratic country not in a totalitarian one! Defend your Human Rights. Defend our Democracy.
“Go and place flowers and candles, let’s reinstate the memorial.”
How the makeshift memorial looked like two days ago
The Great Siege Monument itself was used as a makeshift memorial for Caruana Galizia for several months, but it was closed off in September, ostensibly for restoration works, which do not appear to have even started 48 days down the line. Small tributes to Caruana Galizia placed outside the monument have repeatedly been swept away by officials from the Cleansing Department.
Justice Minister Bonnici last month warned activists that they would no longer be allowed to use the monument as a memorial to the slain journalist unless they acquire a permit.
However, activists, including veteran BBC journalist John Sweeney, warned that the repeated clearing of the memorial bore similarities to Russia’s repeated removal of a shrine in Moscow to Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov.