Signs of escalation?
Pictures of former PM Dom Mintoff, Raymond Caruana and Karin Grech were yesterday put up next to the photo of Daphne Caruana Galizia on the Great Siege Monument in Valletta, in what many considered to be an act of provocation. The makeshift memorial finds itself at the centre of controversy after calls were made for its recognition and also for its removal. A vigil was yesterday evening held at the site to mark four months since the murder of the investigative journalist.
The picture of Dom Mintoff will remain at the Great Siege Memorial as a symbol that there “remain people who support corruption and political violence,” the Civil Society Network said at a ceremony yesterday evening in Valletta marking four months since the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
The picture, which was hidden behind a pot during proceedings, was placed there overnight, along with photos of Karin Grech and Raymond Caruana.
“Karen Grech and Raymond Caruana were political murders so we understand and welcome their presence on the monument. Dom Mintoff died of natural causes with no foul play. We know the picture was placed there by those whose solution would be to remove the entire memorial all together,” CSN said.
“We will not be fooled, things will not change, we demand justice.”
The burning of the Times of Malta building on Black Monday was referenced throughout all the speeches, with CSN pointing out that the 1980s in particular as evidence of the fragility of democracy.
The ceremony, which included speakers from Kenniesa, Awturi, and Occupy Justice, was attended by around 300 people.
“What kind of government would take offence to a memorial at a monument? Is it because it is a symbol of the growing anger within the country,” Occupy Justice said.
All speakers also continued to raise doubts about the ability of current Police Commissioner to find who commissioned the assassination, among the serious concerns they have over perceived institutional failings.
The crowd sang the national anthem at the end of proceedings.
Another ceremony will take place on 16 March.
Photos of Mintoff, Raymond Caruana and Karin Grech placed on Daphne’s memorial
The controversy surrounding the makeshift memorial to Daphne Caruana Galizia beneath the Great Siege monument in Valletta took a new twist yesterday morning when three more photos were placed alongside that of the slain journalist.
They are of former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff, one of Daphne’s main targets on her portal, and of Raymond Caruana and Karen Grech.
Grech was killed in 1977 when she opened a parcel-bomb addressed to her father Edwin, at the time serving as a doctor while the Medical Association of Malta was in dispute with the then Labour government.
Caruana was killed in 1986 while attending a reception at the Nationalist Party Gudja club
Controversy has been raging over the past days as there have been attempts to have the memorial to Caruana Galizia removed from what is a national monument.
A motion presented by a Labour Party Valletta councillor was turned down because the council does not have jurisdiction on the monument. A group was established on Facebook to call for the removal of Daphne's memorial from the site of a national monument.