ANR condemns Journalists Committee statement

The Republican National Alliance (ANR) has condemned the press release issued by the Journalists' Committee in connection with ANR's "allegedly unjustified attacks on journalists" that occurred during its anti-immigration demonstration of June 8.

ANR said in a statement that it feels the Committee's claims are both unfounded and potentially libellous as can be seen from video footage of the event.

The statement said that ANR's speaker, Paul Salomone, did not attack "the" Maltese media but two members of the media because the movement believes there are many honest journalists who do their jobs properly and that is why it would never engage in such sweeping statements.

The ANR said its comments were not an incitement to violence "but a fair, strong reaction to attacks made by members of the press against ANR where ANR was unjustly accused of using 'terrorist actions' and of being a racist movement".

The ANR said it is currently taking legal steps to open a number of libel cases against those journalists spreading such unfounded allegations.

Regarding the Committee's press release which claimed that the speech brought out "the real intolerant and anti-democratic nature of ANR" and that ANR was "spreading hatred towards people of different cultures and nations and those who give them a voice", it said it was very surprised at such claims "which are again totally unfounded".

The ANR said its statute, actions, writings and speeches have always shown the full respect for Malta's democratic system and even made a scathing attack against arsonists who torched journalists' residences.

ANR said it is against all forms of illegal immigration, no matter if this is from Africa, Asia or Europe.