Mintoff wins Gaddafi prize for human rights

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 20th 2008, 21:54

A Cassar,

I can obtain the photos of the day, which shows tear gas being fired directly at a family with push chairs and two toddlers.

I Can also obtain photos of an old man, surrounded by a group of SAG soldiers kicking him about.

Actually, I have no problem inviting you to join me if you would like and we could do some research in newspapers of the time.

The attacks on the Cospicua station came later.

I have no problem in stating facts and have condemned violence perpetratrated during teh 80's, publicly, a number of times.

You on the other hand seem to have a problem with seeing straight.

As for the perpetrator promotions, that seems to have escaped you.

As for Mintoff, no matter what the age, one cannot placing anybody from one era, and fantasise about placing him in another and expect to judge his performance. It makes no sense. Sorry.

As for success regarding Palestine and Iraq, it is the effort that counts. Racial hatred and injustices are still rife in South AFrica for example. Does that mean that Nelson Mandela's efforts were in vain?

a.cassar

Aug 20th 2008, 19:54

When tear gas was used at Vittoriosa it was against a mob who had started creating trouble since that morning when they decided to send the brigadier for a swim. the tear gas was not used against families as you say but against those persons who were tearing up the paving stones on santa Margerita and throwing them at the police. They even wrecked a luna park which was operating there and also attacked the cospicua police station from where they stole some fire arms. As for the accusation of idleness directed at the DD workers, I never made such accusations. When I asked what mintoff would have done I was not imagining mintoff now but when he was young. From the way he speaks today there doesn't seem to be much difference in his mentality! Finally, mintoff's contribution to peace in iraq and palestine doesn't seem to have had much success. If only he had spent his energy to foster peace between his fellow maltese.

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 20th 2008, 18:45

As for the tear gas...it was used on families enjoying a peaceful Sunday at the regatta, and no, Mintoff was not Prime Minister...you can verify that as well.

Ps..I hope that the officers using the tear gas in Mintoff's days were not promoted in the corp after 1987.

Failing to control things like that is bad. Rewarding perpetrators is worse.

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 20th 2008, 18:44

A cassar...

You diplomatically, well not diplomatically enough because you made it way too evident, ignored my comments connected to the prize in question.

Actually the comments ignored were those directly related to the award discussed . Strange.

As to the dock workers mentioned by your kind self, whilst no military discipline was used, the psychological black mail, and at times blatant discrimination shown to them is embarrasing to say the least.

As to your saying they won't get dragged back to the docks, well, that is a comment I Appreciate seeing the accusations of idleness and sloth directed at them by a number of blue eyed zombies.

Yes, the world today is once again going through difficult times.

If one is living in Malta, one would easlily notice this, even though the hard times were oredictable a good number of months ago whilst silly promises were being made.

However asking what a 92 year old would have done is out of line. Who would have won, Muhammed Ali or Mike Tyson? you get my point? With all due respect, your question is pointless, so stop the dreading bit, you don't have two.

a.cassar

Aug 20th 2008, 17:45

Dear jeremy
If you are alluding to the dockyard workers who opted to enter into government employment let me tell you that they are not working in a corp under military discipline. they have retained their salary, they can join any union they like, I know some of them who would not go back to their old jobs even if dragged by wild horses. And speaking of difficult times in Mintoff's time. What do you call the times we're living in today? America is in recession. large companies are going bust all over the world. oil price is in orbit. I dread to think how mintoff would have coped knowing that good old muammar had nothing more to gain from malta once we had 'kicked' out the british and he couldn't play the Us and the USSR against each other.
And another thing mintoff introduced in malta. Tear gas against his political opponents!

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 20th 2008, 16:03

Dear A Cassar.

Well, of course, although they were difficult times all across the globe, with many economies feeling the heat, Mintoff's economic tactics during the late 70's and early 80's were old fashioned, outdated, and in the end, counter productive.

As to the work corps, whilst I would never agree with military conditions being imposed on ANY worker, if I was to say that there was a group of highly skilled workers, who were told by Mintoff's government that their job was at risk, and they could opt to work in a corp, and these skilled workers were sent to clean the roads, cut down shrubs etc, would you agree with that?

Only, this did not happen under Mintoff's time, but a couple of years ago. You could easily verify.

As for this prize, once again, everyone has let his partisan instincts tale controlwhen expressing opinions on blogs.

The prize was mostly given for Mintoff's contribution in Iraq and Palestine, a contribution none can deny.

So well...Whilst it was good fun, this debate was pointless, and only went to show how short sighted we can all be, not even bothering to read the whole article! Sigh.

a.cassar

Aug 20th 2008, 13:47

Jeremy you answered Marco but you didn't answer me! Mintoff can also be remembered for introducing the military/labour corps for the thousands of unemployed on a take it or leave it basis.This was supposed to be a temporary measure but we kept getting versions of these corps up to 1986. No E.T.C. then. You either donned the soldier's uniform and started marching for a minimum wage under military discipline or you remained unemployed. the word back then was "ahjar mix-xejn" beggars can't be choosers. today the word is 'xejn hlief l-ahjar" because everyone pretends the best. the best mobile phones, the best plasma screens, the best air conditioners, telephones were at a premium and you only got one after talking to a minister's canvasser. we had to camp out in front of xandir malta to BOOK a TV set. then if you passed the exam you were awarded one for more than 400 malta liri either Grundig or Seleco, again on a take it or leave it basis. But what mintoff will be remembered for is the class division he sowed between the Maltese. something that is still felt today. Thanks for nothing perit.

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 20th 2008, 10:55

Marco..That was'nt free....

and just for the record...Mintoff wasn't Prime Minister.....Verify facts before stating them.

Marco Desira

Aug 19th 2008, 21:38

Free education MLP style ...... CLOSE DOWN THE CHURCH SCHOOLS ...
hallina Jeremy ....

nsejt haga ohra ..... xoghol mkien.... le ghandhi zball kien hemm id-dejma

tried naghmlu lista ....

a.cassar

Aug 19th 2008, 20:14

M.Gatt that's called diplomacy. at least eddie didn't tell gaddafi thathis granny and muammar's granny were related!! neither did he tell him that we were blood brothers. until the closure of the british base that is.

a.cassar

Aug 19th 2008, 20:09

The reason I told you to thank Sir paul boffa is because it is thanks to him that you got your 'free' education. but if you want to thank mintoff for something he didn't give you that's your business!

Victor Zammit

Aug 19th 2008, 20:05

At 90 + and still controversial!


This fact alone makes Mintoff a leader.

With all critics to Mintoff, we should always remember that, almost out of nothing, Mintoff manage to build Malta. Obviously, young peoples don’t recall this. While the Media in Malta is systematically demonizing both Mintoff’s era and Libya.

Only to those who read history correctly, aren’t both leaders holding the right views regarding the thuggers (USA governments) of the other side of the Atlantic? Hasn’t history proving them right?

We should never let our disliking or disagreement with both leaders ignores facts on the ground.

Had any of our leaders received a prize from our European fellows? I don’t recall!

Weren’t E F Adami Licking Gadaffi’s shoes few weeks ago?

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Aug 19th 2008, 19:42

Reading certain comments make one think how hatred sometimes overcomes common sense. Maybe some contributors are too young to know all the good things Dom Mintoff introduced in Malta. On the other hand, they might be lucky enough to have not suffered any mental violence inflicted by the PN Government through injustices with certain workers. I know what I am saying as I have personally gone through such injustices.

Well said M. Gatt. Remember how they used to call them 'tal-habbaziez'! And now we see our President hugging Col. Gaddafi. Where is consistency?

Perit, thanks for all that you have done for Malta and its citizens. You surely deserve such reward. May God be with you.

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 19th 2008, 18:58

A brincat...

You look like you're following me around..not a stalker are you? Dreaming about me...I wonder....

Actually, I know Mintoff personally....but lets forget that....

Now, there is a subject called history..and..shock horror...its written in books.

You know, books? They're leathery or cardboardy things with white pages in the middle....

These however might be subjective and open to debate, as in the case regarding Mintoff, with authors arguing for and against.
Using your argument, no one should know anything about Napolean, Alexander the Great orJesus Christ...because we weren't there..

Makes you realise how puerile your argument was?

As for writing in Maltese in the hope that I could finally understand you...Understand what? You havn't expressed any opinion! Just an excuse I'd say! : )

As for Charles Camilleri, I wouldn't mind actually, as that might even mean a good government job. You see, Party Propoganda secretary's make great government spokesman...Gordon who?

I might have a small problem however...I do critiscise the MLP, and have done even more than that in the past...but that would be telling hux? do your homework!

One last question..My oh My..so many biased contributors, and yet I'm the only one irking Him.....Strange hux?

M. Gatt

Aug 19th 2008, 18:33

No, no, this is not a joke. The joke was some days ago seeing our ex Prime Minister Dr. Eddie Fenech Adami embracing Gaddafi in Libya. I remember what used to be said to Mintoff in the 70s and 80s regarding Gaddafi and then see that magical picture on the Times... I could not stop laughing.

Ad Multos Annos Perit. May God give you all the health that you need.

Charles Camilleri

Aug 19th 2008, 18:23

Jeremy you are doing a fine full time job. Pity that "Joseph I love" you have not yet appointed you as his propaganda secretary

A Brincat

Aug 19th 2008, 18:21

@ Jeremy J Camilleri

Int fejn tafu lil Mintoff? L-anqas kont ghadek twelidt meta Mintoff warrab mix-xena politika! U qed nikteb bil-Malti ghax nifhem l-Ingliz u nirrispondik bil-Malti forsi fl-ahhar tifhimni....!

A Brincat

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 19th 2008, 17:47

I'd rather thank mintoff if you don't mind....


My oh my..they even want to tell us whom to thank....*sigh*

Dane Cauchi

Aug 19th 2008, 16:32

Even the great Napoleon was slandered and ridiculed after his fall. It was only decades later that history recognised his genius and merits.

Mintoff carried out policies that at his time no one even dared to imagine.

t. borg

Aug 19th 2008, 14:47

what a funny world!! gaddafi should give this money to the poor people he created in his country and stop insulting us with this reward.

a.cassar

Aug 19th 2008, 14:11

@Jeremy J Camilleri.
Thank Sir Paul Boffa for your free education. The last decent Labour leader nd PM in malta.

Joseph Grech-Attard

Aug 19th 2008, 13:16

Dear friends, remember always that prophets and good citizens are always rejected in their country. Is Montoff a prophet? For Malta, yes he is! Why? - e.g: he importance of China, the British rundown, the importance of the Mediterranean (Helsinki 1971), the importance of oil, the prices of water and electricity, the PN absorbing socialist beliefs in their party (pensions, minimim wage, vote for women, free education, etc), the Catholic church in malta adopting a lot of his views (the famous '5 points', removal of interdict and excommunication for socilaist ideas, freedom of speech and religion, etc), the importance of Arab countries, including friendship with our nearest neighbour, Libya, etc, etc, etc. Yes, dear fellows, Mr. Dom Mintoff deserves to be honoured. Pity, just because of, at times, the way of doing things, he is nowadays ridiculed and hated, especially by those with a huge Christian (sic) spirit who wanted to "Crucify him! Crucify him!" To thier dismay God granted him a long life. Thank you perit; you thought us what it means to help the poor and the needy.

Franco Farrugia

Aug 19th 2008, 11:57

@ victor caruana - No, my family were nobody's lackeys, quite contrary to yours, most probably, seeing as you know so much about the subject.

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 19th 2008, 11:05

Yes D Vella....A brilliant joke...Mintoff is laughing his way to the bank....

As for Il -Perit, I would like to publicly thank you for my free education, the right to avail myself to sick leave, children's allowance...and the list goes on...

Ad multos annos Perit!

victor caruana

Aug 19th 2008, 11:00

It is not a joke. You should have with him fighting colonialism stupid. Your family may have put spokes in the wheels way back then because they were british or italian lackeys.

Franco Farrugia

Aug 19th 2008, 10:59

If there is one thing that Dr Sant did well during his tenure as Leader of the MLP - and undoubtedly there were more! - was to move the Party away from Mintoff, to stand up to him and stop him from further damaging the Party. He had the gall to do that.
To this day, that same Party is still suffering defeat after defeat after defeat ... in my opinion, for no other reason than that there are people out there who are AFRAID of trusting the MLP, with visions of Mintoff and his cronies in the 70s and 80s.
Oh, I know that there will be mass hysteria over this comment - well, so be it. It's my opinion!

Franco Farrugia

Aug 19th 2008, 10:56

No, alas. It's not a joke. Or if it is, it's a very sick one!
And the joke will get even better - or worse, depending on how one looks at it - if there is some political party out there that decides to congratulate the man!

Tony Gatt

Aug 19th 2008, 10:36

Poor old Dom!
Reading yesterday's comments I suspect he will end up beinig vilified for a long time.
As Mark Antony said in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar-
"The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones-
So let it be with........"
In this case Dom! But I doubt whether he gives a fig for what anyone says.

DVella

Aug 19th 2008, 10:31

This has to be a joke . . . . . ! PLEASE somebody . . . tell us that this is a sad, sick joke!!