The Campaign for National Independence insisted yesterday that the real reason why the authorities want to change the neutrality clause in the Constitution is because the ratified Lisbon Treaty imposes military alliances.
CNi's chairman and former Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici accused the authorities of not telling Maltese citizens the real reason why they want to amend the Constitution. He quoted a clause in the Lisbon Treaty, that was unanimously ratified by Parliament last year, which states: "If a member state is the victim of armed aggression on its territory, the other member states shall have towards it an obligation of aid and assistance by all means in their power, in accordance with article 51 of the United Nations Charter."
To Dr Mifsud Bonnici this effectively meant that Malta would be obliged to assist such countries, even through military means. As a result of this clause, Malta would have no say in the matter, Dr Mifsud Bonnici said, adding that this was in breach of the Constitution. This was why the authorities want to change the Constitution, he said.
When it was pointed out to him that the clause also stated that: "This shall not prejudice the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain member states," Dr Mifsud Bonnici said Malta had no defence policy and, therefore, this did not apply.
Following Malta's application to rejoin Nato's Partnership for Peace programme after the general election last month, the Acting Leader of the Malta Labour Party, Charles Mangion, said his party was prepared to enter into "frank discussions" on neutrality and on changes to the Constitution. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tonio Borg welcomed this stance, saying the government was "all ears".
Dr Mifsud Bonnici referred to sub-article 3 of the first article of the Constitution which specifically refers to the country's neutrality. This states that: "Malta is a neutral state actively pursuing peace, security and social progress among all nations by adhering to a policy of non-alignment and refusing to participate in any military alliance."
With regard to the policy of non-alignment, which refers to two superpowers, Dr Mifsud Bonnici said that if the authorities feel this is no longer valid in this day and age, the reference to the superpowers should remain in place but be disregarded once it has absolutely no effect on the government's decisions. The US, Russia and China can all be considered as superpowers, he said.
He said references to changing the neutrality clause in the Constitution were hazy, adding that he believed politicians were actually referring to the part of the clause pertaining to the refusal to participate in any military alliance. And the real reason why they want to change it is because the Lisbon Treaty is in breach of the Constitution, he insisted.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici said the reason given so far is part of a "deception ploy" so that people are not given the real reason why the clause has to change.
He said CNi was right in saying that EU membership was incompatible with Malta's neutrality because the EU in itself - and in view of the mentioned clause in the Lisbon Treaty - is a military alliance.
CNi was not demanding a referendum on the matter but only that the people are told the truth, he insisted.