The death of the investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia brings the authorities in Malta in distress. Who are the men behind, the family and members of the European Parliament questions. From Valletta’s Bernd Riegert.
Grief in Malta: MEP Giegold light a candle for murder victim Daphne Galizia
On the steps of a monument opposite the court buildings in the old town of Valletta, about two dozen protesters colorful flowers to create bouquets and kindle red grave lights. The construction fence that surrounds the monument, more recently, have placed the activists from the group of #occupy justice, a picture of the murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. At this point, close to the Ministry of justice, the remembrance of the people of the formerly most-read blogger in Malta. Eleven months ago, she was blown up in your car in the air. For eleven months, believing the activists of the #occupy justice, to be deported to the investigations of the judiciary. Therefore, you want to remember with posters, photos and flowers, and Dunning. Don’t like the authorities in Valletta, apparently.
Already 17 Times the makeshift memorial of the urban workers and the garbage was cleared out. “But we come again and again,” says Pia Zammit, the group of activists defiantly. “The only reason why you take down our signs and flowers, is that they’re afraid of what we say. In a democratic state, in Europe, people should have the right to protest against anything.” Daphne Caruana Galizia has uncovered corruption and financial machinations of members of the government wrote. You had a lot of enemies and alone more than 40 libel lawsuits on the neck. Many would have had a motive to clear them out of the way, he says Zammit your girlfriend, Pia. “She wrote about people she has written about corruption and it has revealed things that were good for you. These people were not even asked once about a possible motive in connection with the murder of police officers. I’m sorry, but this is not a thorough investigation,” says the feisty actress in an interview with DW.
Protest to the Minister of justice: Pia Zammit (re.) with a portrait of the Journalist Galizia
Members of the European Parliament in support of activists
18. Time, so the small memorial will be rebuilt. This time also members of the European Parliament Sven Giegold from Germany and Roberta Metsola, Malta. Sven Giegold observed the handling of Malta with corruption, money laundering, shell companies and shady financial transactions. He lights a candle for the journalist Daphne Galizia and speaks a silent prayer. He believes that the investigation will be deported. It was very suspicious that the investigating state has promoted attorney in the case, Daphne Galizia recently and upstairs before he could finish his investigation. “After what happened here, I have of course no more faith in the Maltese authorities,” said Sven Giegold of the DW in Valletta. “In the case of money laundering, the severe cases were not detected by the authorities in Malta, but by information, especially from the United States.” Car bombs and organised crime have existed for a long time before the murder of Daphne Galizia. “If the press published, new cases of corruption or organised crime, the police, no investigation. We have spoken with the chief judge, the attorney General and the police. No one really feels responsible,” says Sven Giegold, the States to Malta.
Justice Minister rejects allegations
Giegold is part of a Delegation from the European Parliament, which is already for the second Time in Valletta, to learn about the legal procedures in Malta. The conclusion of the Delegation is clear. The rule of law was in danger, it is said of the members at a press conference after numerous discussions, including with the Minister of justice Owen Bonnici. The Minister of justice is also give as the only representatives of the authorities is ready, the DW Interview. The police and the public Prosecutor’s office rejected our requests. Owen Bonnici does not understand all the excitement and also the evaluation of the members of the European Parliament. “The police are doing their Best to this heinous murder. I congratulate her on the fantastic job you power”, takes Owen to his officials.
Bonnici: We work Overtime to find the men behind the
In fact, should be brought against three alleged bomb-maker in the soon to be prosecution. The police known Criminal from Malta should have blown up the car by Daphne Caruana Galizia with a very powerful remote-controlled bomb as they drove from her house in the direction of Valletta on a country road. However, they have no recognizable motif. Who could have given up the murder in order, is also eleven months after the fact is not clear. “We work Overtime to try to go all the way to the bottom. We have committed ourselves to the full,” says justice Minister Bonnici of the DW. “We have the police, with international assistance, with the help of European authorities. We also have the judicial authorities to investigate, and which are here in Malta are completely independent. I have full confidence in these institutions and I hope that you will go very soon.” Each stone will turned around to apprehend the real killer.
The Malta police do not follow all the traces, criticize members of the European Parliament and the family
The family of the victim calls for more pace
The representation of the Minister of justice, the family of the Murdered major doubt. The family’s attorney, Jason Azzopardi, don’t believe that really “be turned over every stone”. “That’s simply not true,” says Azzopardi. He urged, in conversation with members of the European Parliament from Brussels a public investigation hearings by more and competent prosecutors. The judicial authorities reject the past. The state, the lawyer of the victims family, suspected of a desire to make his client’s silence: “There was a climate of intimidation and threats against Daphne and her family. And this goes on after her death until today. The people make very close to the government, to Daphne and her family tried to dehumanize and to demonize. The government insists on the lie that the claims of the family were not after justice, a critique of the state, which is the case in a democratic society, of course.”
The Maltese justice Minister Owen Bonnici is contrary to the representation of the lawyer. He resists, that will be done, as if the whole of Malta was involved in the rackets or organized crime. “The case, Daphne is quickly driven forward. We listen to witnesses from all corners of the world. To come to Malta and tell. The investigations are going well, to find the Principal of the murder,” says Owen to the DW. The members of the European Parliament Sven Giegold remains skeptical. Previously, the Maximum had not been in the investigation. It is in need of further pressure on the government to act against corruption and money laundering. The European Parliament will remain vigilant, promises to Giegold.
The scene of the crime on the road: Here was fired eleven months ago the bomb
“We do more”
A further memorial for the murdered journalist was built on the site where the bomb detonated eleven months ago. There, on a field in the village of Bidnija, in the Daphne Galizia lived in an old farmhouse, is a large Suite decorated with flowers portrait of her. This memorial has not yet been cleared, because it flows far away from the tourists and the Powerful in Valletta is located, suspect that the #occupy justice protesters. Here you have written what you desire. In large letters on a wooden sign: “We want justice and we want to know who did this.” The investigative work of the blogger Daphne Galizia is led by the “Daphne project” from international media and also of Maltese journalists. One of them is Manuel Delia, who writes the Blog of his mentor, Daphne is: “We try to follow Daphne in this dark cave in which she was already very deep inside. So deep that she is caught in a deadly trap. We know that there are Traps that we know of. But that doesn’t stop us from searching further.”