Kindly allow me to reply to the letter titled: Daphne: Independent columnist or part of the Nationalist Party team? by correspondent Nikita Zammit Alamango (TMID, 15 February) by asking her whether she is “independent” or whether she still forms part of Forum Zghazagh Laburisti (Labour Youth Forum).

Is she the one who was previously found to have contributed a never-ending series of supposedly independent articles by “coincidence”, all in favour of Dr Alfred Sant’s policies?

Incidentally, one wonders why, always according to your correspondent, any independent columnist (not only Mrs Caruana Galizia), has to toe the Malta Labour Party/Socialist line in order to be considered truly independent. Being independent in thought does not necessarily mean that one cannot criticise the Malta Labour Party or the Nationalist Party (or even both of them if need be).

Since this is not the first time that Malta Labour Party officials have attacked journalists, one can ask the correspondent why Dr Sant is constantly evading questions placed both by independent and by party journalists in the run-up to the 8 March general election.

Is she afraid of the free press?

Edward Torpiano

Floriana