Call for tougher line on racial hatred

The Diocesan Youth Commission yesterday urged the authorities to stop treating with kid gloves those fomenting racial hatred before the problem spirals out of control.

"Unless there is a clear, unequivocal condemnation of racist and xenophobic comments, I fear things are going to get worse," Fr Savio Vella warned on behalf of the commission.

KDZ has joined the chorus of disapproval and condemnation against the individual or individuals who torched seven cars belonging to the Jesuits on Sunday.

The arson attack took place just days after the Jesuits unveiled a report on racism and xenophobia. It is the second attack sustained by the religious organisation in the space of four months in similar circumstances.

KDZ voiced its concern about xenophobic currents which it fears are rapidly spreading and seem to be gaining support particularly among youths. "We encourage the Jesuits not to be discouraged from carrying on the sterling work they are doing, that is a living testimony to the Gospel values. These spiteful acts of vandalism that border on terrorism deserve to be condemned strongly," the commission said in a statement.

Speaking to The Times, Fr Vella urged fellow clergy to take the cue from last weekend's incident to use this Sunday's homily and speak out against racism and intolerance.

"We priests need to focus more strongly on the things that are happening around us. We need to be more open," he insisted.

Fr Vella said his worries were instigated by the fact that the attack on the Jesuits' cars was no isolated incident. Recently, an Eritrean youth was stalked and then punched by a group of four men in Sliema for no apparent reason.

Furthermore, KDZ condemned racist comments and expressions of hatred that have appeared on certain discussion boards on the internet. Many, Fr Vella said, were making unacceptable comments under the pretext of freedom of expression.

"Let us not be lured into this frenzy fuelled by hatred, no matter how well disguised or eloquently expressed," the Commission argued.

In the meantime, well-known far-rightist Normal Lowell issued a statement on behalf of Imperium Europa and Viva Malta saying they did not condone senseless violence or vandalism.

"Our fight is on the spiritual, cultural and political levels. We do not need such actions that, in fact, damage our movements since the media, all the media, has instrumentalised these criminal acts to besmirch our ideals," he claimed.

However, he added that such acts will inevitably escalate due to the "exasperation of our people, in the face of the continuous invasion of our country by illegal immigrants. This is simply the people responding to an outside threat since they feel abandoned by the political class."

Mr Lowell is currently facing criminal charges over inciting racial hatred.

Messages of solidarity for the Jesuit community continued to pour in yesterday.

Walter Irvine, regional representative of the UN's refugee agency, expressed his full support for the Jesuits' work in favour of refugees and asylum seekers in Malta.

"As pointed out by the High Commissioner António Guterres, confronting rising intolerance is one of the main challenges we are called to face in modern societies," he said.

Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina and her Labour counterpart Marie Louise Coleiro even issued a joint statement in a rare show of political solidarity.

"The confirmation that this act was deliberate further strengthens our dismay and disgust at such a deplorable incident which goes against the foundations of a Maltese society based on dialogue," the two MPs said.

Ms Cristina and Ms Coleiro commended the work of the Jesuit Community, saying it was inconceivable that in return it has been made a target of someone's hatred.

The two said they were sure that all citizens would voice their abomination of this violent act, aimed at fragmenting society.

"Hatred has no place in this country, whatever its source. Malta must send a clear message to the outside world that it will continue to strengthen its very foundations of respect and understanding of all forms of diversity."

In other statements the Malta Union of Teachers and The Augustinian Justice and Peace Group also condemned the attack.