The Front ODZ has written to the Public Broadcasting Services and the Broadcasting Authority to complain that their announcement of a public protest to be held against the development of a university at Zonqor Point was not reported by the national station.
The letter was sent to Reno Bugeja, editor of PBS.
Front ODZ said that on Saturday it held a press conference during which it announced a national protest for 20 June 2015 regarding the 'American University' project at Zonqor Point. This news item was not reported and neither was the press release issued in occasion of this event, the movement said.
On the same day, 7 environmental NGOs issued a press statement indicating that they supported this protest and explaining the reason for their adhesion to it. This press statement was not reported either.
On the same day, Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party also issued a press statement in which they indicated that they would be supporting this protest. This press statement was not reported either, the letter continued.
The Front said it believed that the announcement of a national protest is an important news item which the citizens of this country have a right to be privy to. This is so they can choose to exercise their democratic right to be present at this demonstration. Thus not carrying the news item about Front Ħarsien ODZ's national protest is an act of political censorship.
We also believe that not carrying the press statement of the environmental NGOs is also an act of censorship. It is inexplicable why the public should not know that the protest is being supported by this important sector of civil society, and that these NGOs should not have their justification for supporting this demonstrations heard.
We believe that the public also has a right to know that Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party is supporting the protest. The public has a right to be informed about the position taken by a democratic political party so that this may contribute to inform their political judgement. In our opinion this is thus also another act of political censorship by the State broadcaster.
These news items were not carried on the TVM news bulletin, Radju Malta and www.tvm.com.mt, despite these news media finding ample time and space for all manner of news of a trivial character while suppressing news of an important event in the political life of the nation.
Front Ħarsien ODZ, Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party and the 7 NGOs in question are thus requesting that we are issued respective remedies and that the attached press statements are reported in a timely manner on the TVM news bulletin, Radju Malta and www.tvm.com.mt.