Lifeline activists are in Valletta this morning to once again protest against the government’s decision to “hold hostage” three rescue ships while Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is happy to tweet about a rescued dog “no less than seven times a day”.

The activists are in Valletta as the case against captain Claus-Peter Reisch continues in court today. Reisch, 57, born in Munich Germany, was charged with, as captain of the vessel Lifeline, entering Maltese territorial waters illegally and without proper registration and a licence. The prosecuting officers are also requesting the court to order the confiscation of the ship.

Today, activists dressed up in dog costumes made a mockery of the importance given by the PM to the rescue of a dog named Bella, which was brought in together with 58 human beings by the Armed Forces of Malta after being transferred to a patrol boat from on board the Aquarius, another NGO vessel involved in migrant rescue operations.

“In honourable statesmanlike tradition, (Muscat) did not let himself get distracted by the multidimensional complexities of asylum policy or humane values, instead using his profile to tweet about Bella no less than seven times in one day,” the group said.

While calling on the media not to ignore the dog, the group also highlighted the plight of “thousands of drowning people”. “If only they had been born dogs, instead of children, women and men; maybe then they would have been worthy of our attention”.

The government celebrates the life of a dig but is actively complicit in the prevention of mass rescue by holding NGO ships hostage.

“To Bella, we say ciao. To Dr Muscat, Bella Ciao”, the NGO concluded.