A number of NGOs have stated in a joint statement that they are “shocked and disgusted” at comments made by the leader of the Nationalist Party Adrian Delia during a business breakfast organised by the party, with the theme “The Maltese Worker – A Long-Term Plan”.
Following Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s recent comments during his Sunday interview, where he brought up recent complaints he had received from locals living in Marsa and surrounding areas with a significant population of migrants, Adrian Delia had also taken a shot at the issues stemming from mass immigration.
Over the last couple of weeks, there have been a number of reports of fights breaking out between groups of individuals, some of them carrying weapons of the lethal variety. These happenings have caught the attention of both major parties on the island, and the NGOs are now having their say on the matter.
In their statement, they accused Delia of using “abhorrent” language “as it is intended to generate hatred, discrimination, exclusion and violence”.
“We unequivocally condemn Dr. Delia’s statements and urge him and his colleagues to refrain from resorting to such divisive discourse for the sake of political expediency.”
The NGOs continue with their statement by remarking that the hastening of social change, in spite of the nation benefitting from a “broad opening up of markets, lifestyles and commodities”, has also brought “uncertainty and growing insecurities”. They also noted that not all have benefitted from the economic boom, whilst pointing to growing inequality and abject poverty in Malta as the symptom.
They then moved on to accuse Delia of “capitalizing on such insecurities and populist sentiments”.
“He not only negates the political factors that have contributed to such human misery, but attacks various communities whose only lowest common denominator is that of being non-Maltese.”
They rounded up the above by accusing him of engaging in discourse that “not only smacks of hypocrisy, but raises serious questions vis-à-vis the Party’s commitments to international human rights obligations and to Malta’s very own Constitution.”
The NGOs demanded that all persons living in Malta be entitled to be respected and valued, and their humanity and dignity protected under all circumstances.
“This is the Malta we all want to live in,” they concluded, hoping that the Leader of the Nationalist Party “will not rubbish this responsibility for a handful of votes, but that he will promote the Constitution’s values throughout his work”.
The statement was issued by the aditus foundation, Allied Rainbow Communities, The Critical Institute, Foundation for Shelter and Support to Migrants, Integra Foundation, Isles of the Left, Jesuit Refugee Service Malta, KOPIN, LIBICO, Malta Emigrants’ Commission, Malta LGBTIQ Rights Movement (MGRM), Men Against Violence, Migrant Women Association, Moviment Graffitti, Platform of Human Rights Organisations in Malta, Richmond Foundation, SOS Malta, SPARK15, St. Jeanne Antide Foundation (SJAF), We Are, Women’s Rights Foundation.
A reflection of what people feel - PN
Reacting, the Nationalist Party said Delia’s comments about the government’s lack of planning on migration are a reflection of what people feel.
Discussing the social, economic, environmental and infrastructural impact of unplanned fast-growing migration in the context of scarce land and limited resources is the duty of a serious Opposition which seeks the national interest and the interests of all the people," the PN said in a statement.
The PN strongly rejected the claims that its leader’s speech was inflammatory. “On the contrary, at no point did he express or push forward sentiments that go against human dignity or fundamental rights.”
It said Delia had clearly stated that those at risk of dying at sea should be assisted and also condemned those who would exploit migrants and keep them in inhuman conditions on a farm. He also spoke about the foreigners who had positively integrated with the Maltese, the PN said.
At the same time, it was his duty to speak out about the new poverty stemming from fast and unplanned population growth, affecting both foreigners and the Maltese, such as high rents and poor working conditions. This poverty was leading to crime, which was worrying many people.
The PN said it is a proud guardian of the constitution, whicht the country would soon be celebrating during the Independence Day celebrations. The values of the same constitution, including our identity as Maltese, are our political values, the PN said.