Why is Malta delaying justice in murdered journalist case, Dutch politician asks

Why is Malta delaying justice in murdered journalist case, Dutch politician asks | INFBusiness.com

As the sixth anniversary of the assassination of Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia draws near, Pieter Omtzigt, Dutch representative and rapporteur at the Council of Europe and critical rapporteur, has called on ministers to push Malta to close the investigation and bring those involved to trial.

Caruana Galizia was murdered in October 2017 when a bomb in her car was remotely detonated shortly after she left her home in Bidnija, Malta. Yet almost six years later, the alleged mastermind, a local businessman close to the ruling Labour Party government, Yorgen Fenech, is yet to face trial.

In a written question to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Committee of Ministers, Omtzigt, who led a report into the assassination and whether the Maltese government could have prevented it, calls for more action quickly.

“When will the Committee of Ministers take action to encourage Malta to complete the implementation, to international standards, all of the recommendations of the public inquiry, ensuring transparency at all stages of the process and to ensure Malta is making sufficient progress in bringing the accused to trial without delay?” Omtzigt asked.

A public inquiry into the murder was launched only under significant pressure from the CoE and the EU, as the Maltese government said there was no need for one. While the criminal proceedings initiated by the Maltese authorities solely focused on identifying those criminally responsible, the Public Inquiry took a broader approach and considered the circumstances of DaphnOmtzigt as integral in pushing for the inquiry and, as author of the report, made several recommendations “to address organised crime and corruption and to protect the lives of journalists and strengthen public interest in journalism.”

But Malta has not implemented the recommendations, he said.

“Yorgen Fenech, who has close ties to many leading political figures in Malta including former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, was detained as the alleged mastermind but has still not faced trial by jury.”

The inquiry found significant issues, including entrenched impunity for Daphne’s murder and the crimes she exposed, which went to the top tiers of local government. The government had created a culture of impunity that led to her murder, and they must bear responsibility. 

It also found little in the way of protection for journalists and whistleblowers and several gaps in the criminal justice system that can be used to abuse them.

On Twitter, Maltese MEP David Casa also commented on the situation, stating that justice is not attained until every recommendation from the inquiry is implemented in full.

“The Maltese government’s talk is cheap, but the lack of results is clear as day. The rights at stake belong to all Europeans, so Europe will continue pushing for justice for Daphne.”

But it is not just politicians who have criticised Malta for their failures. In its most recent report, the Council of Europe’s Platform for the Safety of Journalists said the government has failed to implement “in good faith” the public inquiry recommendations established after the journalist’s murder.

(Alice Taylor | EURACTIV.com)

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