Authorities condemn 'cowardly terrorist attack' on Jesuits

The arson attack which led to the destruction of seven cars belonging to the Jesuits on Sunday night received outright condemnation from the authorities yesterday.

President Eddie Fenech Adami paid a visit to St Aloysius' College - his former school - expressing his solidarity with the Jesuit community.

The arson attack happened just days after the Jesuits had broadcast their views against racism and xenophobia. It turned out that in November 2005, two cars and a motorcycle were burnt outside another Jesuit residence, in Msida. The first incident had also occurred soon after a press conference by the Jesuit Faith and Justice Centre.

Speaking in Parliament, Acting Prime Minister Louis Galea expressed the government's solidarity with the Jesuits and said the government was grateful for their work for the benefit of society.

He said the police would investigate all avenues and possible motives for the cowardly attack.

The minister was replying to a question by Frederick Azzopardi (PN).

Earlier, Labour home affairs spokesman Gavin Gulia said that actions fuelled by racism and xenophobia seriously undermined democracy and the country's security.

"We cannot brush aside this malicious act as if it were a crime like any other. Nor can we let anybody foment hatred and spread xenophobia with the excuse of the 'national interest' when Malta is known for its values of compassion, hospitality and generosity," he said.

Expressing solidarity with the Jesuits, Dr Gulia appealed to the Police Commissioner to double his efforts in investigating this case so that the culprits may be brought to justice.

"Maltese and Gozitans should not confuse the national interest with ideas stemming from racism and xenophobia planted by people who are not really interested in order and security in the country. On the contrary, their only intention is to undermine Christian and democratic values through violence," Dr Gulia said.

Alternattiva Demokratika also condemned the incident saying a similar arson attack on a residence in Pembroke "had been motivated by similar sentiments".

On March 8, the police said it was investigating an arson attack on a house in Pembroke after unidentified persons placed a blazing tyre at the front of a house there. AD chairman Harry Vassallo said there was nothing more dangerous in a society than its submission to threats and assaults of this kind.

"It is not only the Jesuit community that has been attacked but all of society which witnesses these acts and is placed under threat," Dr Vassallo said, adding that the arson attack on the private residence in Pembroke could also be linked to this latest incident.

"The indications of who may have caused the damage in both instances lie clearly in the opinions expressed by the victims who have publicly denounced racism and xenophobia and also in the fact that in both cases the offenders have not felt the need to claim responsibility for these acts of intimidation," Dr Vassallo said.

He added that this kind of "bullying" should be repressed, if necessary by legal means. According to Dr Vassallo, "the country's history of political violence should have made it clear to everyone that we cannot afford to tolerate the slightest instance of this intimidation to which we are all exposed.

"A public and energetic response by the police force is absolutely necessary to deter any recurrence of these cowardly and despicable acts".

Dr Vassallo said this was terrorism and not merely a chance act of vandalism and should be dealt with accordingly.