A victim of circumstances

Carmelo Borg Pisani - for some a traitor, for others a hero. Borg Pisani was sent to the gallows at the age of 28 after being tried and found guilty of treason in 1942.

About the Borg Pisani case much has been said. I strongly believe it is a mistake continuing to look at this idealist the way people looked at him 61 years ago.

Borg Pisani was a victim of circumstances. I maintain that he acted against the British, not against Malta - perhaps one can argue that Malta was under the British rule and, so, what he did to the British he did it to Malta. True.

To draw a conclusion, one has to read his story and try to make a detailed study of his true intentions.

He was a "Black Shirt", a Fascist, because he could not do otherwise. To him, Fascism represented Italy and Italy was the country he aspired to unite his native country with - and at that time Italy was governed by Fascists. To him, had there been Giuseppe Garibaldi instead of Benito Mussolini, Borg Pisani would have been for sure a Garibaldi's "Red Shirt".

The Maltese authorities never took this subject seriously.

Now it is discovered that the remains of Borg Pisani have been removed from the original location. I am sorry to say but this is something one should be ashamed of. Borg Pisani was no common criminal. Why have his remains been thrown in a common grave at the Addolorata cemetery?

Requests to the Maltese government have often been made by Italian cultural and historical societies to have the remains of this young artist and idealist transported to Italy for a decent burial. The Maltese government must commemorate Borg Pisani, if diplomatic decencies permit it. After all he is a son of Malta and what he did was for the good of his country, in the way he thought it was best.

In his last work about the Borg Pisani case, Lawrence Mizzi mentions the fact that when an Italian criticised the Italian government for ignoring Borg Pisani the answer was; 'Prudenza', questa è la parola d'ordine all'ambasciata Italiana di Malta quando si cerca di parlare di Carmelo Borg Pisani: ('Prudence', this is the key word of the Italian embassy in Malta when speaking about Borg Pisani; Il-Kaz ta' Borg Pisani Sittin Sena Wara 2003).

Both governments are reluctant to take the first step in doing this. Why, because Borg Pisani belonged to an extremist movement? Who knows. What I know is that, after all, he was Maltese and he wanted the best for Malta.

I admire those who in some way commemorate Borg Pisani who is now considered an important figure in the history of Malta in World War Two. I do not wish to be labelled a "Fascist". This is just an appeal for justice for a victim of circumstances.