Dom Mintoff at PL March 31 commemoration

.............the 70's!...................the 80's! It was all in the mind man. They brainwashed you can't you see? You were seeing hitmen around every corner. What the G20 protesters are doing today in London ads up more to what happened in those years. How do you explain five years holding public meetings and political manifestattions every other sunday? Regular holding of elections? You are now stretching things out of proportion. You make it sound as if we had a civil war going on over here. There was no civil war.

@P Schembri

Please check your facts. Herbert Ganado and Toni Pelligrini were not part of the Nationalist Party.

Can you illuminate me on Guido Demarco's participation? I never came across such information so I can't say that you're wrong but please substantiate.

Re Ganado and Pelligrini I'm sure...you're mistaken.

@G. Mangion. You really didn't get the gist of the comments. Although the PN publicly was tacit about the whole situation, in fact there were factions within the PN that fomented the MLP - Church brawl. One of them was Guido Demarco. The others were Herbert Ganado, Toni Pellegrini.

@j micallef
"It doesn't pay to be consistent in politics, as opinions change and swing vertiginiously from one extreme to the other without the batting of an eyelid"
In my opinion this show the imaturaty of fanatic people that believe everything that a leader says without even thinking (this applies to all political parties). If a PN leader says its white while its black, all PN fanatics says he's right, and the same goes for PL leader and people.

Come on guys! Do think before agree with a party... Yes i agree with PL that we need a change in politics....and the change would be that if something is black, you say its black, it doesn't matter who said it....John bundy once said "Fejn ta fuq jigbdu lispaga, u ahna il pupazzi nimarcjaw"....and he was right because this is the way fanatic people always behave.

@j micallef
I agree with most of your valid suggestions; until a few days ago I really didn't care that much as to what public holidays represented, what I cared most was that I get a day off from work.
Then I went to watch the musical Gensna; it was a show that made me think how much the Maltese society has suffered and gone through so that the new maltese generation can live a decent life. As part of the musical there was a documentary showing George Borg Olivier and Dom Mintoff; two MEN on whom we have heard a lot of stories (good and bad) who had invested all their strength to give Malta its identity. So Joseph Muscat is right to say that 31st of March 2009 should represent a National Holiday. Let us Maltese support this idea; if you are not convinced about this as yet go watch Gensna and THINK. You should be able to arrive to a conclusion.

Politics have always fascinated me for its unbelievable and unashamed flexibility. One day you're hailed a Saviour... the next day you are damned as a Traitor.. and in a short time you're once again applauded and revered as Freedom Fighter.... by the same crowd !! This, perhaps is the greatest lesson in life one could get. It doesn't pay to be consistent in politics, as opinions change and swing vertiginiously from one extreme to the other without the batting of an eyelid.

As to having one National Day... a mature and proud Nation as ours should strive for this without delay, so that we can wean ourselves away from the current ridiculous situation of having 5 national days, simply because the few thousand souls on this water-logged speck of a rock cannot find courage enough to rise from the abyss of political pig-headedness and polarisation. May Joseph Muscat's impetus on this issue gather enough momentum to finally arrive at a mature concensus. In my opinion, no one of the current five should be chosen. We must go for something new. Just for starters, let's consider the day we joined the EU (both parties accept the EU now) as one possibility.

@ messr's , P.Schembri and Jeremy J Camilleri

Thank You for Confirming My Comment , that the P.N had nothing to do in the mlp / curia brawl.
.

@G. Grixti
Why Dom Mintoff was not given the chance to give a short message in the celebration of 30th Anniversary?

Did you not know that the LP wants to distance itself from Dom Mintoff, he is a liability!

What is all the fuss on 31st March by the PL about? So many years had passed and yet the labourites haven't learned anything, not even a little bit. That date marks merely the end of a contract. Which after all should have ended in 1974 as originally agreed between the Maltese Government led by Prime Minister George Borg Olivier and the English Government through the Independence Treaty. The 'bravado' of Mintoff and his government consisted of a 5 years prolongation of the British stay in Malta. By so doing again Mintoff and his government had contributed to the postponement of Malta's total Freedom from foreign military presence by 5 years. This is what the MLP/PL had been celebrating throughout all these years!!! Doesn't it sound funny and ridiculous?

@G. Mangion. Misleading!!??? Have your forgotten the Mass Meeting on the Floriana Granaries "Tal-Umbrella"? And if the PN wasn't directly involved, then why didn't it as Government (democratic?) raise a finger to correct the situation? And how about the foreign interference helping both the PN and the Church to get the upperhand over Mintoff so that he won't be able to govern the country? Learn your history before trying to call my comments misleading.

@ Robert Micallef
We do not know that Jesus our Saviour was born on the 25 th December let alone midnight! Does this diminish this greatest event ever?We do not know when St Paul, came to Malta, let alone on the 10th of February, when Roman galleys never sailed long journeys in winter. Does this diminish this great event? Stop being sour, and play the innocent when PBS, which is supposed to be an objective Public Radio and Television, did not even mention yesterdays celebration at Birgu. We should unite together as Joseph Muscat said yesterday, to make our future easier for us and for our children. This is what progressive politics is all about.

G mangion..Staying silent on the scene of a crime is a crime itself.

Benefiting from a crime is also a crime in itself.

That is what the PN did at the time.

Why Dom Mintoff was not given the chance to give a short message in the celebration of 30th Anniversary? Thanks for the great contribution you gave to Malta DEr. Dom Mintoff!!! Those who don't give a value to this historical day don't deserve to represent the Maltese citizens.

@ Andrew Macpherson's gem - "Without Freedom Day, Malta would probably still be tied to the pound sterling and if anyone looks they can see the state that the UK pound is in. " by the 31 march 1979, Malta had already been cut off from the sterling for a number of years, so please get your facts right.

@ Giovanni Xuereb's " am frustrated at the way PBS 8pm bulletin totally ignored Freedom Day" please note that Freedom Day is the 31 March NOT the 30 March, as the contract ended on the midnight which comes after the 31 march. In fact the HMS London left at 10.00 a,m, on the 1 April. If PBS do not report the 31 March on the 31 March then you re right, but reporting it one day before just does not make sense does it?

I think all National Days must be celebrated, for all these feast were milestones for our country. At least we have a public holiday too :)

@ P.Schembri

Dont try to be a misleader ! the Problem of the 60's, HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE NATIONALIST , was it Not with the Kurja ?

@ P Schembri.
So basically you are confirming that 1971-1987 was payback time.

Then Fenech Adami should really be honoured, because his coming to power stopped the violence, in spite of his personal experience (Oct 1979), and it was then that politics became something we discussed and often joke about, rather than being something we almost killed and nearly died for.

I understand that between the Government 's of Malta and Great Britain an agreement was reached to lease part of Island between 1972-79 for 14 million. Check Lord Carrington statement on British TV about Dom Mintoff, quote" the more you give him the more he want" Therefore, for anyone to state that we got rid of the British is not wise. At the end of that agreement the British left the Island without any bloodshed. Alot of Maltese from all parties were sad watching the personnel leaving. This day is very important like other dates into our history. Well done Dom for attending the commemoration. I am sure that Dom is more than pleased to see Dr. George
Abela as our next President of the Republic.

@PN Apologists. Many of you say that Mintoff was a dictator, yet elections were held and there was even a change of Government because of him acting democratically! What about the dark days of the '60's. It seems that you PN lot don't want even to talk about that when due to blackmail, but it wasn't far from being that, only 50,000 voted for labour. Vote Labour and you'll lose your soul. That's what happened in the 60's. Does that make the government of the day illegal as you're saying that because of the Constitution Labour had a right to govern in 1981? Or how about the forced emigration, of which the majority were labourites, of 45,000 to other countries? How's that for ethnic cleansing without shedding blood? The effect is still being felt today, 40 years later.

Come open about the '60's and then, maybe then, we'll say that we're really a Maltese Nation devoid of hatred for each other.

J.M , on bondi plus said that he agrees on one National Day ( with an agreement first ) agree.

And leave the other Four (4) as a Public Holidays, what for ?
So his supporters wont be diappointed, to have 4 less Public Holidays !
come on grow up there, and be honest for once ..........

@ Paul Bonnici
The elections leading to "independence" in 1962-64 were not democratic because they were not FREE, any one who voted Labour, had a one way ticket to hell! Was not this despotic and dictatorial?. Yet it was held with the blessings of the PN. This was repeated in 1966. So much for the dark days of the 60's which you like to make the Maltese forget! The Holier than Thou Brigade, would like us to forget the shooting at the British Labour Party leaders at Zurrieq, the attacks on Labour Party meetings in Gozo, Siggiewi, the ringing of the bells whilst Mintoff was speaking, the pelting by stones against Labour Party supporters on their way to Gozo! Stop being hypocrites and stop playing the saints whilst you are part of the problem .

There should be ONLY ONE NATIONAL DAY: 13th May 1987.

@ C. Scerri - "Between 1979 and 2004 we were fully exposed and had very little chance to defend ourselves and interest " Are you trying to say we are not exposed now? What about the hundreds of African Immigrants that arrive here without us noticing them? If another nation decides to invade us no one will be the wiser. As for EU they will not care like they don't care about our immigration problem.

"Tomorrow is just the day when a contract was terminated, when thousands ended without a job" What thousands ended without a job? Don't you know that all army personnel were either given a job or pensioned off - depending on their age?
"when tourism in the form of service personnel's families decreased" service personnel families were not considered as tourists, for your information they lived here, obviously they had their own school and hospital. Some lived in areas were Maltese people could not enter, others lived in flats in our towns and villages.

Let's not forget the dictatorial and despotic dark side of Dom Mintoff.

@Xuereb - Agree on PBS

i like the 1st april idea :D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If a mother has two children, can't she love them both even though, at the bottom of her heart she might have a soft spot for one? A father may do the same, so can't we as a small nation do the same and agree on days and things that unite us rather than divide us? Hopefully no one will answer to score political points.

@C. Scerri. What you are not mentioning is that Churchill was to ready to pass on Malta to the Italians to avoid the war! But of course these things you don't mention them.

I fully agree with Joe Grima on this one.

why do we have to politicise everything under the sun in this country?!

The greatest day in anybody's life is his/her birthday. In the life of a nation it is Independence.
Nobody is perfect. A baby might be born with some defect but whatever way life goes, everybody celebrates his/her birthday. There is no freedom without birth. Yes the birth of our nation should be celebrated above all any other feasts. Mintoff wanted something to be associated with, when his 'chance' to get us integrated with the British , or on second thoughts gain independence fell through, he invented 31st March! Viva Malta Indipendenti.

@Mark Portelli: nothing personal Mark. I didn't get it wrong at all, just said that what you said is true! I am frustrated at the way PBS 8pm bulletin totally ignored Freedom Day. Who gave these instructions ? Not even Net TV went this far. Thanks God I am mature enough to acknowledge what our fathers achieved in the past. Shame PBS, SHAME.

@Gianni Xuereb

The difference between having the Brits here during world war II and not having them here is very simple - without them Malta would have become part of the Axis power in less then 2 hours(ask the Belgians, the Dutch, the Danes and the Norwegians just to mention a few) and would have suffered for the rest of the war and we would still have been bombed to be liberated (look at Italy). And God only knows waht would have happened to most of us - maybe utlised as slave labour, conscripted or worse still thrown in some concentration camp.

Between 1979 and 2004 we were fully exposed and had very little chance to defend ourselves and interest (remember gunboat episode from that one that came over here to celebrate with the MLP the liberation of Malta?). Tomorrow is just the day when a contract was terminated, when thousands ended without a job, when tourism in the form of service personnel's families decreased, when the MLP became more and more north korean like, when the dictatorship gained ground and when the unemployed were offered army, like corps!

Dear Joe Grima, Yes - Joseph Muscat speech was good (timesofmalta) as you said but I don’t agree on a one National Day Because all National Days including the Sette Giugno represent the Maltese Courage and self determination during difficult years, it’s not a question who brought one or the other. Therefore the state has to fully recognize these National Days. Also very important that history has to be thought in our schools about such events in a post independent and republic Malta.

Are we a third world country fussing around a national day? Let's agree about one day for that . that should be 1ST APRIL.

@Mr Axisa - You`re right I missed that one - no need to make such a fuss about it. Just a small hint read about the Sette Giugno, and list here the differences with other 4 National holidays mentioned earlier.

Mark Portelli: Very true. In the past not all labour leaders led their followers to celebrate Independence Day. That was wrong. No two ways about it. Also, Nationalists have always been cold towards the 31st March. Those days should have been forgotten years ago. As a nation we have matured and in this respect we do not demonstrate our maturity. Joseph Muscat laid it out quite clearly in his speech this evening. All our national feasts should be celebrated because whichever Party is associated with these feasts, each one brought our country forward in its political evolution. However, as Joseph also said this evening , we should start discussing having one national day.

@Mark Portelli Don't you know that we have 5 national holidays not 4????? 1. Sette Giugno 2. Independence Day 3. Freedom Day 4. Republic Day 5. 8th September - Il-Vitorja

I m very please to read some very good mature comments today. PROSIT MALTA

Ara veru kienet haga mill-izjed tajba li Borg Olivier gab l-Idipendenza lill-Malta! It-twelied ta' Malta Indipendenti fil 21 ta' Settembru 1964, kien il-qofol kollu ta kull zvilup li gie wara! Minn jitwieled biss jista jibda jimxi u jizviluppa u jilhaq l-aspirazzjonijiet tieghu! Kieku Borg Olivier ma gabx din l-imbierka Indipendena, la kienet tigi ir-Republika, la Jum l-Helsien, La nidhlu fl-Ewropa, u lanqas kien ikollna l-Ewro! Minn jaf kieku f'hix ninsabu! Ejjew Onorevoli Sinjuri norganizzaw dawn hames festi kif miftiehem bejn il-partiti politici u mhux inhawdu l-imhuh! Minn qed jaghmel dawn l-affarijiet ma jixraqlux ikun onorevoli! Ejjew lill-poplu nedukawh u mhux insahnu l-irjus, u inkebsu l-piki ghal-skoijiet politici partigjani! Nispera li tal-PL ghada jmorru kolha ghac-ceremonja ufficjali ta' Jum l-Helsien li l-istat jorganizza fil-Birgu! Nstennew u naraw. Awguri! il-festa t-tajba lill-Maltin u l-Ghawdxin kollha!

I concur with both Mr. Joe Grima and Mr. Briffa. If there wasn't Independence there would have been March 31, 1979. My remark with regards of getting rid of the British, this was more of a closure to Britain’s bases serving on behalf of NATO. The evolution of a nation takes place through a process and not on just one event. Gandhi said on August 1947, "When the world is asleep, India shall awaken". Since that date it took almost India 60 years to become an economic powerhouse that it is.

Gurnata Memorabli li tibqa' mnaqqxa fl-Isorja t' Art Twelidna! Viva Malta! Grazzi Dom Mintoff!

@Godwin Pullicino I think you need some basic history lessons what's behind this special day FREEDOM DAY. Malta has been under foreign rule since 700 BCE by the Greeks, Phoenician, Carthage, Romans, Byzantine, Arabs, Normans, Sicilians, Knights of St John, French and the British. Need to add more???? Come on Maltese people, stop being stupid and lets celebrate both Independence and Freedom Day, it's all part of our history be proud to be Maltese.

To Mr. Xuereb Sorry to hear this, it’s true that both of us (as you stated) didn’t live that time, but agreeing that Independence was it important and how it was achieved including terms and conditions, then I should suggest you to go back and read some history on ex-British colonies process to independence and post independence. Plus I Agree that the terms which Mintoff negotiated in 1971-73 were needed 100% and that time. And if you got it wrong, please see my other posts here.

Dom Mintoff – A leader with a vision Malta’s very first diplomatic relations were boosted to both Libya and China: money and power. Today, with the financial earthquakes predicting capitalism’s failure and soon a death certificate would be issued (within less than a decade) the G8 is already a term from the past, now we are talking about G 20. The future of the dollar at stake…while the USA is no longer be among suzerain countries in the international arena. The ball is no longer in Wall Street’s ground, probably is heading to Beijing in China.

To Mr Axisa, 1. Re David Casa words yesterday - sorry I missed them (had more interesting things to do) so you got my answer. 2. The PN tired taking Freedom Day More seriously - But you know what happened in 1988. 3. I personally believe that Republic Day is more a national holiday than this one, but I won’t definitely argue with another Maltese brother because of this. Malta has to remain united. 4. Re-Our national holidays – it’s good to keep them all for 4 because they represent our achievements in our long honoured history.

On and after Independence Day 1964, Malta was still dependent on the British Government and the pressure from UK was still there. Freedom Day taught the Maltese nation to stand on its own two feet without the British cruch. Without Freedom Day, Malta would probably still be tied to the pound sterling and if anyone looks they can see the state that the UK pound is in.

Dear Paul. In regards to your comment regarding the European Union I believe that both parties have to agree on a common policy on EU affairs and field out the best candidates to represent our nation interests and not personal or party interests. For the rest we have a common understanding.

@Mark Portelli: "but you know as well that Independence Day wasn't given that importance in Labour Government Administrations". TRUE and with a reason. What we obtained in 1964 was an important achievement in the Maltese history. BUT we were still a British military base. Neither you nor me lived world war II. You must acknowledge that Malta was one of the most heavily bombarded places. Hunger and terror reined. Neither you nor me want this terrible thing to ever happen to Malta again. Without getting rid of this military base there was no guarantee that this would never take place. This is what Freedom Day is all about. One must remeber that even though there was no World War III as yet, the Cold War was a continuous threat in the late 70s, 80s. Not celebrating is one thing and wanting to eradicate, ridicule Freedom day is another thing, shameful for all I know (please take note DCG, ABC, PBO et al.) No, it wasn't just an end of lease like some want to imply. My 5 cents.

@Mark Portelli It's true that in the past the MLP did not give Independence Day its importance. This was done between 1971 and 1987 (16 years). But it is also true that since 1987 the PN also did not give Freedom Day its importance. This has been happening for 22 years now. We need to move forward and be a country with more sense of maturity. The LP has started giving Independence its importance. Addressing the mass meeting at Vittoriosa just now, Tony Abela finished his speech "Viva Malta Hielsa u Indipendenti". So it's now the PN's turn to start giving Freedom Day its importance. Ma nibqghux inkunu vavi. Jekk iz-zewg partiti jridu juru sens ta' maturita', imisshom jiftehmu biex dawn iz-zewg festi jibqghu festi pubblici, imma mhux nazzjonali. Il-festa nazzjonali jmissha tkun wahda biss, dik tat-8 ta' Settembru, li zgur tghaqqad il-Maltin kollha, minghajr distinzjoni ta' ahmar jew blu. Ejjew ha nikbru u nsiru poplu matur!!! Nahseb li wasal iz-zmien. Kummenti bhal dawk ta' David Casa li qal il-bierah huma zejda u bla bzonn. Zgur li ma jaghmlux unur la lilu u lanqas lill-PN.

@Mark Portelli I fully concur with your comment but with a slight difference. Both freedom and Independence WERE important and not ARE important because as you know, even thought many try to deny this matter of fact, we have neither freedom nor Independence but just a country dictated by what the European Union says. Call me as much as you want that I live in the past. It is my pleasure to live in the past enjoying my country's soveirignity than in the present in hypocrisy.

Another step towards a more united PL. Now it's the PN who has to look out to not become the un-united political party.

What a beautiful scene =)

Is Mr Mintoff, to shake hands with the new President Dr. G A ? ............................. ???

I am at a loss to understand what this celebration is about? History has it that Malta became an independent nation in 1964 and a Republic in 1974. So what 'freedom' is being celebrated here? This date represents none other than the termination of an agreed lease of the British base in Malta (previously extended). Malta must be unique in commemorating something of the sort in the world! It is time for the Maltese people and its leaders, particularly the political ones, to celebrate as one truly National Days.

@ J Grima....Your comment is fair and I like it....except when you refer to 'getting rid' of the British. In the first place it's not correct to say that, because the 31 March 1979 marked the end of an agreement mutually agreed by both sides......the Maltese and British governments AGREED on the dates and agreed NOT to renew the agreement. There were no hard feelings on either side. The Vittoriosa monument bears this out. So I believe the phrase 'getting rid' is incorrect, undiplomatic and completely out of place.

High time PL considered all National feasts to be of equal importance. I remember a time when independence day was degraded from a public holiday to a normal work day. Even freedom day was considered as less important simply because it was Mintoff's baby. As regards to the cottonera local councils saga. How much did they spend on independence day activities? Isn't it a National holiday too?

Merhba Bik Sur Mintoff.

Dear Joe Grima, I agree that this day is important - but you know as well that Independence Day wasnt given that importance in Labour Government Administrations.

Well done Dom. This is very much your Festa. Today we commemorate a day in our history in which you made, those of us from my generation, who hailed from the left, feel ten feet tall There are some Nationalists who are trying to denigrate the importance of this day. This is wrong because this day belongs to us all. We recognise the importance of Independence day because without independence we would not have moved this far as a nation. In the same way, without getting rid of the British, who retained the arteries of Malta'seconomy after Independence ,we would still be queing to emigrate to Australia.. This country owes a lot to both Borg Olivier and to Dom Mintoff. We need to let the political blinkers fall and all Maltese unite as one.