Repubblika president Robert Aquilina is seeking protection from the police following threats he receives and continues to receive especially after the publication of a book about an alleged cover-up.

In a letter to Prime Minister Robert Abela and police commissioner Angelo Gafa sent yesterday, Aquilina’s lawyer Therese Comodini Cachia asked for “sufficient protection” Aquilina to “exercise his right to freedom of expression without fear, harassment, or threats.”

Aquilina published his book, “Pilatus: A Laundromat Bank in Europe”, on 15 April, alleging that there was a “cover-up” and showing that the Attorney General issued an order not to charge Pilatus Bank officials.

Aquilina is no stranger to online threats, however, since the publishing of this book, during a political speech last Sunday, Abela belittled the publication and said “have fun with your blogs and books you entertain yourselves with… we will reply by creating more employment, investment and wealth.”

In the letter, Comodini Cachia wrote: “It is hereby being brought to your attention that an intimidating and hostile environment is being created against Dr Aquilina, due consideration of which is not being made by State authorities assessing whether Dr Aquilina and his family are deserving of protection.”

“No one can dispute that the polarised political culture is ongoing.”

She said that Aquilina has not only been harassed and dehumanised online – portrayed “as the enemy or traitor of government” – but his work has also been dismissed during political activities.

She noted that in the context of the attacks he faces and how they are being dealt with, there is not “sufficient” protection being provided for him and his family.

“It seems that the authorities would only be willing to protect Dr Aquilina when there is clear evidence of a real and immediate risk of a specific attack on his life. This effectively means that the authorities would only be willing to protect Dr Aquilina only when the knife is already metaphorically at his throat.”

She pointed out that Aquilina’s activism and publications are protected by the right to freedom of expression and right to association, which is found in the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which is found in Malta’s domestic laws in Chapter 317.

“The European Court of Human Rights has established that the State’s obligation is not only to refrain from interfering with the effective and genuine exercise of the freedoms, but also to take positive measures of protection.”

She added that not only does there need to be a system which protects authors or journalists, but also a safe environment which allows them to “express their opinions and ideas without fear, even if these go against those represented and defended by the official authorities or by a significant part of public opinion, or which are irritating or shocking.”

Comodini Cachia also quoted the obligations listed in the Council of Europe which all promote the protection and safety of journalists and the strengthening of the protection and the role of human rights defenders.

Then, she referred to the public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, which recognised “the combination of the hostile, dehumanising, and intimidating environment against Daphne Caruana Galizia, targeting her for her publications on matters of corruption, financial crime, and impunity, in a highly polarised political culture which exposed her to such risks against which the public authorities ought to have acted.”

In a statement, Repubblika said that it is a shame that Aquilina is put in a position where he has to publicly seek protection for himself and his family so that he can continue to work without fear.

Repubblika reminded Abela and Gafa of the inquiry into the murder of Caruana Galizia, which pointed out that disgraced Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and former Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar “among others were responsible for her murder because of what they did and did not do by leaving her without protection.”

“We are again seeing the same behaviour from the authorities who make anyone who exposes or criticises them, an enemy of the country. We condemn their behaviour and reiterate that they must immediately fulfil their duty and protect Robert Aquilina and his family.”