Jesuits' cars 'torched'

The fire that destroyed seven vehicles belonging to the Jesuits on Sunday night was no accident, preliminary police investigations have shown.

Speaking to The Times yesterday, Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that although a magisterial inquiry still has to explain the dynamics of the incident, police investigations have confirmed suspicions that the cars parked at St Aloysius College in Birkirkara were torched.

"There is no doubt that the vehicles were deliberately set on fire," Dr Borg said, adding that Police Commissioner John Rizzo, who the minister had been in touch with, was personally monitoring the case, given its seriousness.

Though the intentions behind the arson attacks have not been established yet, the main thesis being followed by the police is that they were related to the Jesuits' public stand against racism and xenophobia, Dr Borg said.

"There has been a pattern pointing at this, given the previous attack on the Jesuits' property last November, which also came days after they broadcast their views in favour of tolerance", he said.

Jesuit provincial Fr Paul Chetcuti said on Monday there were common elements linking the Sunday fire with a similar incident on the night of November 15, 2005, when two cars and a motorcycle belonging to the Jesuit community in Tal-Qroqq, Msida, were destroyed by fire. Fr Chetcuti said both incidents took place immediately after a press conference given by the Jesuit Faith and Justice Centre.

Dr Borg said yesterday that inciting racial hatred was a grave crime. Whatever the motives behind the attack, arson was a most serious crime punishable by harsh prison sentences.

Assuming that the attack is related to the Jesuits' stand on racism and xenophobia, Dr Borg added, it was disturbing as it had no real precedent.

"In reality, it is very shocking. What worries me is that such sentiments never became explicitly manifest in violence or, in this specific case, damage to people's property," he said.

Dr Borg, who was abroad when the attack took place, expressed solidarity with the Jesuits, promising that the authorities would do their utmost to round up the perpetrators.

He appealed to anybody having information about the attacks to pass it on to the police.

The incident has been condemned by President Eddie Fenech Adami who visited St Aloysius College on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday wrote to Fr Chetcuti to express solidarity with the Jesuits and to condemn the "premeditated acts of violence" against them. Dr Gonzi said he hoped the incidents would strengthen the Maltese people's traditional respect for human dignity and dialogue.

The Nationalist Party published a letter that party secretary general Joe Saliba sent to the Jesuit provincial saying that the help given by the Jesuits to immigrants was a living example of solidarity and social justice. These were values the PN believed in and the party condemns racism in the strongest possible way, he said.

The Curia said Archbishop Joseph Mercieca contacted Fr Chetcuti by telephone to express his backing and that of the Church after the arson attacks.

"The Church would like to emphasise its appreciation for the work carried out by the Jesuits which is beneficial for both the Church and the community at large," the Curia said.

The Maltese Dominican Province also condemned the attacks and expressed sympathy with the Jesuits "particularly in their commitment towards justice and peace".

The European Network Against Racism-Malta, said the acts of violence and arson appear to be linked to the issues surrounding asylum seekers.

It expressed its support to the victims of the attacks, and urged the authorities to take all necessary steps to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice in the shortest time possible.

The Old Aloysians Association, the Birkirkara local council and the Social Assistance Secretariat within Catholic Action also condemned the attack.