A number of demonstrators this afternoon staged a sit-in protest in front of the police headquarters in Floriana.

This was the third political activity held by the civil society network in the wake of the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

CSN is insisting on the immediate removal of the police commissioner and attorney general, and for their replacements to be appointed with a two-thirds parliamentary majority. It is also seeking for proper constitutional reform.

Many who attended brought with them placards, brooms and squeezers. 

At the request of the organisers, people also wrote down messages to the police commissioner on pieces of paper that were then folded into paper planes and thrown over the HQ's main gate.

People were also urged to take pictures of their messages and upload them to Facebook.

Around 300 people took taking part, making attendance for this event much smaller than the first two demonstrations organised by CSN. Today's event also got off to a slow start.

Michael Briguglio and Manuel Delia were among the first to sit in the middle of the road in front of the police HQ. Some PN MPs, MEPs and other officials are also present.

The other protests held by the civil society network were held in Valletta and Sliema.

Addressing the crowd, Briguglio said that the Civil Society Network will not take part in the debate on constitutional reform until the Police Commissioner and the Attoney General are removed.

He said both the Chief Justice and the Ombudsman had shown that the police chief and the AG were not doing their job and, if the PM truly believes in the institutions he should remove them.

“The PM tells us that in no other country do they ask for a two-thirds majority to appoint an AG, but in which other country does a minister get caught with an offshore account and get to stay in office?”

Briguglio said those present were not traitors but had come because they loved Malta. He referred to the musicians performing at the event, adding that there were others who had been invited but declined because the feared that their participation would result in a work transfer.

He said even CSN members who worked in the public service were being threatened and were too scared to take part in the event.

Briguglio accused Mark Camilleri – the chairman of the National Book Council – from the Anti-censorship group Facebook page because of a comment he uploaded on sacked FIAU official Jonathan Ferris. The former inspector himself, Briguglio added, was being censored by the Attorney General.

Briguglio also referred to the #Occupyjustice women’s movement, which also helped organize the event. "These women are brave like Daphne Caruana Galizia was.” He then blasted the PM for not meeting the group.

"We are here because we want justice for the family of daphne Caruana Galiza's family.  We want justice for Malta, which we love. We want the Police Commissioner and the Attorney General to resign immediately.”

He also said that ‘big names’ would be coming to Malta in the coming weeks to stand up for the cause, “because Muscat only listens to big names."

Photos: Michael Camilleri