Thousands of people gathered in a manifestation for Truth and Justice on republic street in Valletta.

The demonstration, which was organised by activist groups Occupy Justice and Awturi, comes after the allegations made by 'The Daphne Project', which has so far published emails showing links between 17 Black and the two offshore Panamanian companies owned by Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi; that Pilatus Bank was used to "move millions around Europe" by a network of over 50 companies and trusts "secretly owned by Azerbaijan's ruling elite; and that Nexia BT 'withheld' information from FIAU. 

It has also claimed that Economy Minister Chris Cardona had been seen in a bar in Siggiewi with one of the three men accused of murdering Daphne Caruana Galizia and met with the person the day prior to his arrest. 

People in the crowd held up banners with the words ‘Justice’ and ‘truth’ as they set off from Castille Square, where the Office of the Prime Minister is located, and then walked down Merchants Street.

A number of PN MPs attended the event including Leader Adrian Delia, former leader Simon Busuttil and secretary general Clyde Puli. PD MP Marlene Farrugia also attended.

Six speakers addressed the crowd.

Referencing a previous speech by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, PD MP Godfrey Farrugia said that the entire nation had begun to recognise the need for change, and urged the crowd to have the courage to break the political cycle of divisive politics.

He said that the country deserved a government which the nation was proud to serve.

“What price have we paid for economic development? What price have we paid for better civil liberties?” Farrugia asked the crowd. 

“We believe in justice, honesty, and that we can achieve a change in direction for the country.”

Farrugia said that the public would pay the price for political corruption, and said that it was clear to the groups, such pensioners, youth, and self-employed individuals had begun to recognise that the economy was not being built on solid foundations.

“Do you want to live in a country where a clique of the few reigns?” 

Quoting Caruana Galizia, Farrugia said that “there are crooks everywhere, the situation is desperate”, however, he urged the crowd to be courageous and unite in order to enact change.

PN MEP David Casa warned that the country’s reputation was being destroyed piece by piece and that a “culture of death was being strengthened by corruption."

Casa went on to say that corruption was at the very heart of the government and that individuals continued to benefit from a weakening of institutions. 

The weakening of institutions, he said, also meant that people have begun to feel unprotected and in danger.

He said that while Pilatus Bank is at its end, MEPs would continue fighting in the EP, the EU Commission, and the EU Council to ensure that justice is served.

“We will ask the Council of Europe to directly deal with Joseph Muscat. We will work with Europol, we will work with the FBI, and we will never stop.”

Pilatus Bank whistleblower Maria Efimova also addressed the crowd in a recorded message to which she urged to continue fighting for truth and justice no matter how hard it may.

“Those are the qualities I found in Daphne Caruana Galizia,” she said. 

Efimova said that there were those in Pilatus Bank who knew the truth but were too afraid to speak.

She also praised the work of ‘The Daphne Project’ and the importance of protecting journalists, saying that “there can be no justice without truth, and no truth without journalists being able to do their jobs.” 

Other speakers at the event included the general secretary of the Nationalist party youth branch (MZPN) Emma Portelli Bonnici, who said that the country needed to be united against corruption for the common good. 

She also called for the resignations of Muscat, his Chief of Staff Keith Schembri, and Ministers Chris Cardona and Konrad Mizzi. 

Alexander Hili of Awturi demand change and further investigations, while Occupy Justice Activist Rachel Williams told the crowd that while there were those who attempted to deter further protests, the attendees felt determined to show that corruption was not welcome in Malta.

Valletta anti-corruption demo 2 from The Malta Independent on Vimeo.

Photos: Net Media

Videos: Julian Bonnici