Partit Demokratiku on Saturday reiterated its full support to the conclusions of lawyers Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC and Tony Murphy on behalf of the Caruana Galizia family and invited all Members of Parliament of goodwill to work together in delivering a truly independent public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia that satisfies the “progressive” standards set out in the legal opinion.
“Our party always wanted truth, justice and lasting change. We never wavered,” said PD Leader Godfrey Farrugia. “The murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia exposed the failures of the state to protect human life and had a chilling effect on media freedom in Malta. We must change. A public inquiry based on the model recommended by Gallagher and Murphy is a progressive solution and is the best route to deliver lasting change,” Farrugia explained.
In their legal opinion, Gallagher and Murphy, a barrister and solicitor specialised in human rights, recommend a public inquiry that is truly independent of the Maltese police, government, and politicians, and be conducted by a panel composed of individuals with no political or government links, such as respected international judges.
“Gallagher and Murphy suggest a truly independent public inquiry that operates on transparent and comprehensive terms of reference. The inquiry would protect sources and witnesses and strike the right balance between the public’s right to know and the burning need for justice and closure on the part of the victim’s relatives,” explained Farrugia.
PD Member of Parliament Marlene Farrugia said that “our party would have preferred the Prime Minister to establish such an inquiry right away, after all he promised the country that he would ‘leave no stone unturned’”, noting how the government has stalled on efforts of the family and local and international civil society to establish such a public inquiry.
Referring to the Nationalist Party’s motion to discuss the establishment of a public inquiry on the matter scheduled to be debated on Thursday 6 December, Godfrey Farrugia noted how the “proposal before the House of Representatives is for the Prime Minister to appoint such a board of inquiry. We have no faith in the Prime Minister establishing an inquiry that will deliver truth, justice and lasting change. Even Gallagher and Murphy note the risks of such an arrangement in their legal opinion.”
“As it stands, we are opposed to the PN’s motion because it falls short of the required standard, but remain committed to identifying solutions. We will be making our own proposals over the course of the coming days. We also publicly invite all members of Parliament of goodwill to come forward so we work together in a spirit of national unity and deliver the lasting change that this country needs”, Godfrey Farrugia concluded.