Privilege case settled

A year-old breach of privilege case instituted against John Zammit, secretary of the Malta Divorce Movement and The Malta Independent by Nationalist MP Michael Bonnici was settled yesterday with a declaration by the respondents that they had no intention of hurting or insulting Mr Bonnici, but would still hold on to their views on abortion.

Mr Bonnici had felt aggrieved with the publication of a letter by Mr Zammit in The Malta Independent on July 4, 2001, following an adjournment speech he had made in parliament against plans by a Dutch doctor to perform abortions on board a ship outside Maltese territorial waters.

Mr Bonnici accepted that the transcript of what was said at yesterday's meeting of the House Privileges Committee constituted a declaration that satisfied his interests and restored his public image.

Fr Noel Grima, then editor of The Malta Independent, said he was convinced of Mr Bonnici's commitment to his parliamentary duties. Although he disagreed with the views of the Malta Divorce Movement on abortion he could not let his friendship with Mr Bonnici stand in the way of freedom of expression.