(Dr Muscat's full address added)

The “national manifestation of courage” called by the Labour Party when the government announced new water and electricity rates is being held next Sunday at 3.30 p.m. in Valletta.

Labour leader Joseph Muscat told supporters in Msida this morning that this was not a protest but a manifestation because Labour was not just saying no but was also giving its vision for the future.

It was not a party but a national activity and it was a manifestation of courage because Labour did not want people to lose hope.

The invitation was open to everyone and rather than party flags, participants should carry the country’s national flag which united the people, he said.

“If you see people who are not our supporters welcome them... We will not let anyone provoke us... This will be a peaceful manifestation as the MLP’s have been in the past years,” Dr Muscat said.

The Labour leader said that the country had been shocked by the government’s proposals in the past days so the budget tomorrow would be sweet.

“But budgetary gimmicks will not affect us.”

Labour would judge the government’s budget on three points - the withdrawal of the proposed water and electricity rates; no introduction of new taxes; and the implementation of all income tax reductions promised before the election.

Dr Muscat said that the government had already said there was no way it would withdraw proposed tariffs. However, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had also said that the new rates would not be backdated to last October 1.

But Prime Minister Austin Gatt, Malta’s second PM, was of a different opinion. After Dr Gatt confirmed that the rates would be backdated to October 1, the government issued a statement saying that this had been agreed with representatives of industry.

But when these people, who in the government’s statement were mentioned by name, were approached by journalists, they denied they had agreed that tariffs should be backdated.

Dr Gonzi, Dr Muscat said, had a lot of explanations to do. He either did not know what was happening or he was not saying the truth.

Dr Muscat also referred to last week's court ruling that former prison warder Anthony Mifsud had been tortured by two former police superintendents during interrogation. He said that on being elected leader of the MLP, he had said that the political parties had to shoulder the burden of their past.

The Nationalist Party had a lot to shoulder, as did Labour, which had paid a big political price for the irresponsible behaviour of some.

Dr Muscat said that it was on behalf of these persons as well that he had asked to be forgiven by all the people the party had hurt. But explanations were still needed from those who had promoted someone who was this week found guilty of breaching human rights. This same person was now the head of security at Mater Dei.

Earlier in his address, Dr Muscat paid tribute to George Borg Olivier, who had the 28th anniversary of his death celebrated last week. All who contribute to the country, whatever their beliefs, should be respected, he said.

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