The murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia shows that "hatred in Malta still kills," PD Deputy Leader Timothy Alden said in a video message posted on Tuesday.
"Some people want to manipulate what goes on in our public space. Instead of free speech, some people want fear".
Alden made the statement after referring to the "gruesome" murders of Karin Grech and Raymond Caruana, in 1977 and 1986 respectively.
"I am part of a generation that only knows about Karin Grech and Raymond Caruana through the history books," said Alden. He said that up until the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia he believed that the country had "moved on".
"Daphne's murder showed that we need to start afresh," added Alden.
Alden pleaded for "closure" in each of the three cases and argued for a "truly independent" Truth and Justice Commission to be established, along the lines of proposals presented by Partit Demokratiku in Parliament on 6 December.
Alden, said that the party's vision is to build "lasting change" in Malta. "We want a real public space where we can all debate our ideas freely, without fear or control."
Partit Demokratiku presented proposals in Parliament on 6 December for the establishment of a Truth and Justice Commission headed by the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe. The Commission would carry out three separate public inquiries into each murder. The Commission will be assisted by a legal panel of Malta's most senior judges in conducting its work and will have the ability to summon witnesses and recommend presidential pardon to key witnesses only if the interests of justice so require and the legal panel advises in favour.
"This Commission will not replace the police. We support the police," highlighted Alden, explaining how the Truth and Justice Commission will seek to answer broader questions surrounding each murder.
Under the proposals, relatives of the victims will be actively involved in the proceedings and will be able to review and comment on the final report prepared by the Commission before it is published.
Parliament is expected to vote on this proposal on 12 December.
"Encourage your MP to vote in favour. Let's build a better Malta, together," concluded Alden.