Writing in these columns (TMID, 6 May) J. Bartolo asked me a number of questions. Let me, for the sake of argument say only that the answer to all those questions is: the Nationalist Party.

So what? Is it a crime to be against the introduction of income tax? Is it a crime if you think that your bishop should never be taken to court? Or that women should not vote?

Nothing criminal in that, but I ask the correspondent, and I expect an answer: Who used to destroy our clubs, disrupt all our political activities with monotonous regularity? Who burned the Progress Press, destroyed the Curia, the law courts, the MUT premises?

Who disrupted a marriage ceremony in Zejtun and fired shots at the PM? Who tortured and murdered innocent citizens at the Police HQs? Nardu Debono, Lino Cauchi, Wilfrid Cardona? Who murdered Ray Caruana and framed an innocent Pietru Pawl? Who suspended the constitutional court, assaulted Nationalist members of parliament and threatened judges?

Who locked out any worker who tried to defend what was his? Teachers, doctors, bank employees, fitters afloat, architects, Marsa garage employees? Who ordered the teachers to declare in writing that they would ignore their union’s directives? Who expelled the Blue Sisters as if they were criminals? Who quarreled with everyone including the faithful privileged union? Who governed against the explicit wishes of the absolute majority? And who has been condemned to the opposition benches since 1981 – 28 whole years. Do your party a favour, J. Bartolo. Do not try to defend its atrocious past because no one can do it.

Giov. De Martino

Mosta