Juan Ameen
MEP candidate claims Labour engaged in manipulative exercise
Nationalist MEP candidate Alex Perici Calascione yesterday accused the Labour Party of engaging in a clear manipulative exercise by editing a speech he had made on hunting and EU accession in order to transmit the wrong message to the public.
The clip, played during a PL activity on Sunday, was taken from a 90-minute speech made by Dr Perici Calascione, the lawyer for the hunters' federation. It was out of context and a clear breach of Labour's own code of media ethics, he told a press conference.
In the recording, Dr Perici Calascione was heard saying that one of two conclusions could be reached after reading the letters then Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami had sent to hunters before Malta's accession to the EU: that he was either mad or was taking hunters for a ride.
He pointed out that he asked Labour leader Joseph Muscat to play the entire recording so that the people would understand the true meaning of his words.
Dr Perici Calascione played a recording of parts of his speech that, he said, were left out by Dr Muscat.
In the parts he played, Dr Perici Calascione is heard explaining that Dr Fenech Adami's statement matched that of the European Commission. Malta did inform the EU that spring hunting for two species would be allowed after 2004 - there was a clear agreement, he had said.
Labour thanked Dr Perici Calascione for revealing more details about a hunters' meeting which the PL said the Nationalist Party wanted to keep hidden.
Labour accused Dr Perici Calascione of being very selective about the sound bites he aired and called on him to publish other parts including the speeches of other PN officials and that of Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who were also present during the meeting.
Dr Muscat reiterated this call during a party activity in Mtarfa last night. He said that if Dr Perici Calascione did not make the whole tape public, the PL would.
The PN replied condemning Labour's call to publish the remaining sound bites when they should have released the whole recording on Sunday.
It also challenged Labour to make public what was said in a meeting between the hunters, Dr Muscat and other Labour candidates.
On Monday, Dr Perici Calascione filed a libel suit against Dr Muscat over the clip.
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r ferriggi
May 21st 2009, 10:14
I have now heard the whole tape.
the labour leader should apologize. its a clear case. VERY VERY BAD MARKS from me.
After all the nice declarations. i had thought we had someone fresh,,,
Joseph,,, BAD MISTAKE,,, at least in the way the neutrals look up to you.
David Mifsud
May 20th 2009, 15:52
How come that the 'rest of the recording' is being heard in a different background?
Daniel Cilia
May 20th 2009, 14:32
The rest of the recording:
http://www.mep2009.eu/the-truth-alex-perici-calascione
Galea. L
May 20th 2009, 13:34
Lisa Mizzi
The code of ethics never existed in the PN.
Victor Fiorini
If Perici Calsacione is elected then it means that the people agree with what he said.
Johnny Xerri
May 20th 2009, 12:12
What code of ethics did the PN administration use prior to the referendum?
Was it ethical to
1. Promise hunting would only be positively effected by EU membership, and that no further restrictions to the ones imposed prior 2003 would be in force.
2. Was it ethical on people who invested in land to hunt and trap on, purchased guns and cars (some expensive 4x4s & SUVs) to have there expectations eroded?
3. Was it ethical to issue applications for bird trapping in 2008 when subsiquently the bird trapping season opening is still a 'fatima secret'?
4. Is it ethical to charge the same licence which covered 2 seasons, when for 2 yrs the season was limited only to spring?
5. Is it ethical to pay taxes and NI and then be excluded form public land? After all lets admit it, in 10years of hunting I have never encountered more than 2-4 people romming the countryside at any one time. (for those claiming that this is not done out of fear, then how come the only days busket is crowded is Imnarja day. I go there every Sunday and I hardly see any substaintial amounts)
illegalities&(scientifically-proven-not enotionally-proven)sustainable-hunting-must-be-ruled-out
Sustainable-hunting/trapping-should-not-be-ruled-out
Thanks
Lisa Mizzi
May 20th 2009, 10:33
when push comes to shove PL remains the same ..... code of ethics for PL journalists, my foot! I think someone needs to explain the definition of what ethics is all about because PL just cannot get. Bad habits never die.
Victor Fiorini
May 20th 2009, 09:40
Has Joseph Muscat become Perici Calascione's campaigner? Doesn't Muscat know that the more he directs criticism at one individual, the more that person will gain votes from the PN side? Has he already forgot JPO's re-election (with an increase in votes) following Alfred Sant's attack on JPO?
Does the MLP ever learn?!?!?!