Standing up to fear

Icondemn unreservedly the murder of a human being, whoever it might be, or whatever one may think of him or her. God forbid we resort to murder when we do not share the same opinion. I also condemn whoever commissioned and carried out this obscene act, whoever it is, wherever he or she may be.

The Lord is judge; he will be the one to judge. Although everyone has the opportunity to change his or her life and to ask for the forgiveness of sins, we cannot escape justice, be that earthly justice or God’s. God is indeed merciful, but he is also just.

I pray for Ms Caruana Galizia’s family, for her husband, her three sons, her parents and her sisters.

At this critical moment, we must also show solidarity with all our journalists and we entreat them not to be slaves to their paymasters, but servants of liberty and truth.

We need the service of journalists if we are to remain a free nation, as they are the ones act- ing in our name whenever they investigate abuse of power, public spending, and the general state of our country. Their loyalty must not be to any political party, but to the common good and respect for fundamental human rights, as enshrined — at least on paper — in the Constitution of the Republic of Malta.

It is no longer acceptable that the authorities routinely refuse to answer questions by the press on the grounds that such information is ‘sensitive’, or that a mockery is made of Parliament when it is presented with blotted-out contracts. It is also unacceptable that accountability and transparency in this country exist only on billboards. We demand facts, not empty words.

The brutal execution of Daphne Caruana Galizia, irrespective of what she wrote, is a defeat for our country. I was alarmed and saddened to see that the vigil on the University campus honouring Daphne Caruana Galizia and highlighting the freedom of speech was so poorly attended. How is it