Martin Galea was still alive when contact was last made with his captors, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this evening. But he said that as he spoke he could not know whether the person was still alive at that particular moment.
Speaking in Parliament, Dr Muscat said the government is being very cautious on the situation and not all details can be given so as to not compromise Martin Galea’s safety.
Dr Muscat said the Maltese government was informed about Mr Galea’s abduction last Sunday. The incident was first reported by a colleague and then by Mr Galea’s wife.
“Our first priority is to ascertain that Mr Galea is healthy and not in danger. The police and Diplomatic Service staff immediately tried to make contact with the man’s captors.”
Dr Muscat said information given to him suggests that the captors have been identified but the group will not be named for obvious reasons. “There are ongoing contacts on a political and security level to negotiate the release of Mr Galea.”
The Prime Minister said the government did not announce Mr Galea’s abduction so as to not jeopardise his safety. “I have been informed that during the last contact it was ascertained that Mr Galea was alive.” Later, pressed by the Opposition Leader, he said he could not guarantee that he was alive as he spoke.
The Prime Minister appealed to both sides of the house to exercise caution.
On why the government has not called for an evacuation of Maltese citizens from Libyayet, Dr Muscat said the EU heads of mission in Tripoli have advised that the time has not yet come for that. There is also an agreement for all EU nationals to pull out together if an evacuation is ordered.
“We are nonetheless helping all those who want to leave the country. We have the contact details of all Maltese who are still in Libya.” Dr Muscat added that all who are still in the country have stayed there “out of their own free will.”
PN Leader Simon Busuttil expressed solidarity with Mr Galea and his family and pledged the PN’s full support to the government. He asked, however, why the government had kept the issue hidden from the public and if the Prime Minister could assure that Mr Galea is still alive. Why had that government accused the Opposition of exaggerating when it now turns out that someone was kidnapped? What is the government doing exactly? Has the embassy been evacuated? Is the ambassador still there and helping out?
And did PM ask for help from other countries that might have assets or a diplomatic presence in Libya?
In reply the Prime Minister said he would be holding back from passing political remarks. “I hope Dr Busuttil is not implying that we are not doing everything in our power to save the man.”
He insisted that Mr Galea was abducted a number of days after the press conference addressed by Dr George Vella. Dr Muscat also said he could not give any guarantee that Mr Galea is still alive at the time he was speaking but said there were indications that the man was alive when last contact was made with the people holding him. “There is a particular person from a sub-group of a particular mititia who is preventing Mr Galea from being released. I will not name any names as I do not want to put Mr Galea’s life in jeopardy.”