No Need For Public Inquiry Says Malta's PM While Pursuing Libel Case Against Murdered Journalist and Her Family
No Need for a Public Inquiry into Daphne’s Death
It’s been almost a full year since Maltese investigative journalist and blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia had her life snuffed out in an instant by a powerful bomb planted under her car.
Real Journalism Gets You Killed
The outspoken writer and blogger was a continuous thorn in the side of the Maltese government whom she frequently accused of corruption.
A year after her assassination, the inquiry into her death has stalled and we’re no closer to solving her murder than the day her life was taken. However, the government of Malta would have the public believe otherwise.
Calls for Public Inquiry
The Galizia family, including her two sons Mathew and Paul, have been calling for a "full public inquiry" to find those responsible for their mother’s murder for several months now.
Malta’s PM has also been quoted in an interview with BBC Four saying:
“I would also think that investigators need to be given the space to investigate and I’m not too sure that a second public inquiry – whatever that means – can lead to a better result or not”.
The Shift News
The "results" the PM is referring to are the December 2017 arrests of ten suspects during a predawn raid by Maltese authorities. Three of the men are facing charges in connection with Daphne’s murder. While the Maltese government have claimed victory in hunting down the assailants, the family remains unconvinced that the low-level arrests were the masterminds of the mafia style execution of a harsh government critic.
The problem is there’s been no public inquiry and thus far only a magisterial inquiry. The Galizia family does not have confidence a thorough and impartial investigation is possible considering the targets of much of Daphne’s reporting were top ranking Maltese officials including the PM, Joseph Muscat.
Lawyers representing the Galizia family point out that a public inquiry would investigate the more serious issue of state involvement while the criminal proceedings and magisterial inquiry are unable to do so. Such a public inquiry would be conducted by the judiciary and, it is hoped, by international representatives.
There are rising concerns across Europe that Mr. Muscat and his administration are attempting to block the inquiry into the journalist’s slaying.
Court Rules Investigator Must Step Down
In a recent development, Malta’s Deputy Police Commissioner Silvio Valletta has been ordered to remove himself from the investigation.
The court of appeal has confirmed that Deputy Police Commissioner Silvio Valletta must desist from taking part in the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder investigation, declaring his presence had breached a fundamental right of the journalist's family.
The Times of Malta
The ruling supports the claim by the Galizia family that Valletta had a conflict of interest in the case being married to Minister Justyne Caruana and his position as a board member of the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU).
Libel Suits Against Galizia Family
As I reported previously, there are numerous ongoing posthumous libel suits against Galizia relating to corruption allegations she reported in her popular blog.
Torrent of Loathsome Libel Suits Brought Against Assassinated Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia
A libel suit against the slain journalist is still being pursued by Prime Minister Muscat, on top of dozens more. The PM intends to pursue an additional libel suit against Daphne's son, Matthew Galizia, for libel as well.
Despite calls from the Committee to Protect journalists (CPJ), an organization dedicated to press freedom, the Prime Minister presses forward with his disgusting attack on a murdered journalist and her family.
Sources
http://theshiftnews.com/2018/05/04/cpj-urges-muscat-to-drop-lawsuit-against-daphne-caruana-galizia/
http://theshiftnews.com/2018/09/22/no-need-for-public-inquiry-into-daphnes-death-pm/
https://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/
Great work and indeed diligence in keeping this story in the public arena. Bearing in mind your other posts on this disturbing and tangled web .. it's been particularly vomit-inducing hearing the crypto crew fawn over Muscat. This is a dangerous time to speak the truth, but alas the stakes have never been higher and the world needs to hear it. I can only hope that Daphne’s family find the truth and justice they're looking for.
Yeah, I've seen a few crypto enthusiasts fawning over Muscat who is clearly as corrupt as they come and likely is linked to the killing of this journalist. It really is sickening that people are willing to turn a blind eye to the criminal elements connected to this government as Malta attempts to brand itself as a leader in blockchain. People only want to focus on how they'll personally profit from lax tax laws and oversight in Malta. There are some serious pitfalls for crypto here, I think that's clear to those who are paying attention.
Yes that one of the key issues I have with the direction we're taking as a society. If someone makes a statement or action that fits the narrative of the collective then they're prepared to overlook the insidious skeletons in the closet. Equally, if someone says something that goes against the narrative/general consensus it's if all their previous good work counts for nothing and they are thrown on the scrapheap. I've even seen people sharing McCain quotes because hey if he didn't like Trump then surely he was a good guy .. wasn't he?
She was a legendary investigative reporter and her legacy will live on. Investigating reporting is a tough job and if you're doing it right, it's a perilous path that can cost you your life. Exposing the corruption of big guns in a government is the riskiest thing as this system protects them and the worst part is, even after giving your life, nothing happens to the culprits. Luckily, in my country, after Panama Leaks, our corrupt Prime Minister who had distributed wealth and important ministries among his relatives and thus put country in the abyss of debts that can't be paid. So, as a result US puts sanctions and heavy interest rate on our country that causes inflation to a level where life for a poor masses is worse is like living in hell. I salute the people who expose the corruption without caring their lives. Nice write up @v4vapid.
Thanks for your comments here. The Panama Papers certainly shook things up and embarrassed a few wealthy people. Some did lose their positions but for many of these criminals there were no repercussions. We need brave reporting to bring these abuses to light but, it's very risky and the stakes are very high, too high for most.
It happens a lot when a journalist condemns and publicize a corrupt government official it is just easy to kill the journalist @v4vapid because there are many instances that it happened here in my country. The real culprits were never caught.
You are doing great work @v4vapid.
In my guess, this kind of report shows us the meaning of the decentralized press.
Good point @slowwalker
The perfect line as the republic fiction
Smells like a cover up of the worst kind. I bet you that government investigation is going yo come up short, and eventually the case will be buried. It isn't even synonymous to Malta, A lit of nations cover up their dirty linen like this.
Truth will out eventually, I choose to believe so
I think you're absolutely correct that the government investigation will show no government involvement in her murder. I think we can count on that.
I think it's quite obvious what will happen here. Just like in many other similar cases where people get disappeared , so does the evidence and any whiff of justice. Throw out a few pawns and patsies, and the job is done. Well done, for keeping this story in the public spotlight.
Well, it does look like the Maltese government are ready to embrace crypto afterall...
Online gambling was insanely popular with the Italian mafia in Malta...what could possibly go wrong?
And people think we are ahead of the game.
I was thinking such dirty political games are only played in Africa. I think children should continue to put pressure on the government.
This is a good decision by the court, at least it's still bent on passing correct judgement. In my country, even the supreme Court is own and manipulated by the government.
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