Unfaded memories of Black Monday
On October 15, 1979, Socialist thugs went on a rampage, burning down The Times building in Valletta before ransacking Eddie Fenech Adami's home in Birkirkara. Herman Grech and Ariadne Massa spoke to some of those who experienced the day that came to be known as Black Monday.
Victor Aquilina
Thirty years on, the arson attack on Strickland House is as fresh in my mind as ever. Besides being an assistant editor, I was also secretary of the house union at the time and was taking part in a committee meeting in a room overlooking St Paul Street in the evening when I suddenly heard a commotion.
We were well used to Labour Party supporters stopping in front of Strickland House on their way to demonstrations in Valletta, throwing insults, stones and whatever at us. But this was different.
We looked out of the window and saw a group of people running in a raging fury towards the main door, screaming "Issa ghat-Times" (Next, for The Times). They forced the door open and in no time the building was on fire.
It is hard to realise, even today after so many years, that the socialists of the time had in fact succeeded in doing what neither Hitler nor Mussolini managed to do in the war, even though Strickland House received two direct hits. Everything, from documents to photographs since the 1920s, went up in flames. They brought the building down, but they did not silence the newspaper. The Times was on the streets the following day, telling the shameful story of the night before.
Like many others, I have had some scary experiences in my time, courtesy of Dom Mintoff's socialists - including an overnight stay behind bars at police headquarters, as guest of Inspector Anglu Farrugia and Superintendent Gejtu Pace, and a near-miss when a fanatic drove his car into a crowd at a meeting in Kalkara - but finding myself trapped in a room in a building engulfed in flames was frightening.
When the political arson- ists thought they had just about delivered the newspaper to its grave in their orgy of destruction, they fled, displaying the same rage and fury that drove them into the building.
Somehow - don't ask me how - I managed to escape through the front door among the burning debris. Others climbed down fire-engine ladders at the back of the building in St Ursula Street.
Only a few knew the extent of the arsonists' crime that night. Most of the newspaper's employees, misled by a TVM (the State broadcaster) news item reporting "some incidents and a small fire", could hardly believe their eyes when they saw their second home destroyed by fire. Most of them had been with The Times all their working lives. They had grown up with the smell of lead in their nostrils and lived to see the revolutionary change that offset printing brought about in the newspaper publishing industry.
On October 15, 1979, the night sky over Valletta was aglow with the flames of what must certainly have been the largest fire in the city since the war.
Mr Aquilina was assistant editor of The Times in 1979, editor between 1993 and 2003.
Wilfred Asciak
An incident took place in the morning at Auberge De Castille (next door) and from then on the tension was brewing.
We had already started hearing about other incidents in Valletta before they attacked us. We were always faced with all sorts of threats, they used to tell us they would silence us and that they'd come and burn the press down, so I wasn't surprised.
The mob started ramming the side door with a traffic bollard and they managed to get in and open the main door. Amid lots of swearing and shouting, they started destroying everything they came across, throwing items into the street. A desk thrown out of the window scraped the back of a fleeing employee - he spent six weeks in bed.
I saw two of the aggressors gathering a batch of dummy filters and lighting them up. I told them workers were still around but they ignored me.
Suddenly, two of them crept behind me, put a rod to my back and ordered me to show them the "big machine". I would have had a guilty conscience all my life if I revealed where it was so instead I led them to another room where we had the obsolete machinery. I got a knock on the head but I wasn't injured.
They told me to leave and never return. In the meantime, I heard Mgr Philip Calleja helped some of the staff escape from the building. I told a policeman stationed outside Castille to call for a fire engine but I have no idea if he did. I informed my family I was fine since news of the violence was spreading.
There was a sergeant and five policemen stationed outside The Times that day. Normally there would be a bus full of policemen. Maybe on the day they had other priorities. Did the mob have inside information? They might have had. Was I scared during the attack? I guess I was, but only later do you realise the danger you're actually facing.
Even the main staircase of the building collapsed, probably as a result of an explosion. The steel beams became twisted because of the intense heat. At home I've kept a melted fax machine as a souvenir.
The fire raged for 42 hours and the building was reduced to ashes in some places. You can replace machinery but sadly you cannot replace the huge volumes of history in pictures and documents that went up in flames.
We continued printing at the PN press for three weeks until we switched back to Valletta, operating under tough working conditions.
Mr Asciak was managing director of Progress Press from 1971 to 2003.
Mary Fenech Adami
My daughter, Maria, was about to do her Holy Communion at the time and I was returning from Mass when I saw a crowd gathered outside our home in Birkirkara.
The neighbours had locked themselves up in their homes. As I got closer I saw mayhem - our front door was wide open, and there were some 10 men inside ransacking the place and hurling furniture and books on to the street.
They were brandishing wooden clubs; solid legs sawn off a table - I still have one in the garage somewhere; I call it the devil's club. They smashed everything in their path, from the drinks' trolley to the glass doors and the wooden shutters. They did not leave one light bulb or chandelier intact downstairs. And, I'm talking of six rooms.
Inching closer, I shut half the front door, which sparked the fury of this big tough guy. He slammed me against the wall, tried to rip my earrings off and slit my ear. He was punching me on the chest and face. Then he kicked and pushed me onto the street. I was beaten black and blue but thank God he didn't break my bones or my teeth - they're still intact at the age of 75.
Luckily, a neighbour who saw the commotion rushed outside and took Maria to safety.
I was shouting at the men, demanding to know why they were doing this, but they just swore at me. I had no idea they had already been on rampage and plundered the Birkirkara Nationalist Party club, or The Times building.
I managed to return inside and sneak up to the first floor of our three-storey house. I found Eddie's mother, my four sons and the dog huddled together terrified and we went up to the top floor.
Our neighbour came to the rescue. He was on the roof and whispered to us to hang down a height of nearly one storey from the wall to his place. We spent several hours there - he took a risk because if they realised we were there the thugs would have attacked his place too.
Eddie was at Parliament at the time. We managed to reach him and I instructed him not to knock on the neighbour's front door, so he came from the roof and swung down. We stayed there until it was dark and then the neighbour got a ladder so we could return home.
The thugs were more intent on destroying the place than stealing, but they did take money and a watch belonging to Eddie's brother, which were on the commode, Eddie's typewriter and my mother-in-law's gold rosary beads.
The men were obviously following orders from someone, it's impossible to believe they were just acting on impulse. They did not cover their faces and the Chief Justice had later told me to go through Strada Reale (Republic Street, Valletta) to see if I could recognise them. I didn't know who they were and I never want to know them.
Michael Testa
Although I had covered various demonstrations as a reporter and got used to the frequent street disturbances in front of The Times offices, I sensed the coverage I was assigned in the evening - to mark the 30th anniversary of Prime Minister Dom Mintoff's leadership of the Labour Party - would not be routine.
I believe the attack on Progress Press was premeditated since I had been warned by a reliable source close to the police some days before. The source had asked me if I was going to be on duty on the Monday when the demonstration was due to be held. When I said 'yes' he advised me to be careful and if possible to avoid going to the press.
Alarmed at the comment I duly alerted one of the directors at Progress Press and a report was made to senior police officers.
Usually, reporters would return to the office, write the story and go home. This time was different. When I turned right from Melita Street into St Paul Street, I saw a thick plume of fire blazing from a balcony on the first floor and debris from the offices littering the street.
It is a scene that remains imprinted in my mind. It was the climax for the demonstrators as they had finished their job at the PN club and ran towards Merchants' Street shouting 'Ghal Mabel' (a reference to the newspaper's owner, Mabel Strickland). Earlier in the morning there was a shooting at the Office of the Prime Minister when a Labour supporter entered and demanded to speak to Mr Mintoff.
I had never felt my job was threatened but that night I felt the job I loved doing so much had come to an end. But we were told to follow the editor to the Nationalist Party's printing press at Pietà where we started producing the newspaper from scratch, including the report of that evening's mayhem. Though the edition of The Times on October 16 was understandably reduced in size, it maintained the record of never having missed an issue since its founding day.
A manifestation of public support for the newspaper followed and for many weeks later many full-page adverts were printed blank - except for the words 'In support of The Times'.
One does not appreciate freedom of the press until it is in jeopardy.
Mr Testa was reporter with The Times from 1971 to 2008.
Ronald Agius
I had only been on holiday in Philadelphia for an hour when I received a call saying the arson attack took place. At first I thought it was a joke but then Guido de Marco called to tell me to return at once. I told him it would be better for me to extend my stay to buy all the equipment we needed to from overseas.
When I returned I called a staff meeting and promised them we'd rebuild the place in no time and that nobody would lose their job. The solidarity from everybody was incredible - we were even sent free supplies for a while.
It was all hands on deck with all staff helping in whatever way they could, even to mount new aluminium windows. I still recall Twanny Falzon who risked his life to remove drums filled with inflammable liquid from the building. If fire had reached them, there would have been a big explosion.
I was informed the perpetrators fled because they feared they would get caught up in the flames. I recall a particularly badly charred room in the building where a hanging wooden cross remained intact. I was told the fire engines took 15 minutes to get there from their Floriana base.
They smashed the VIP phototypesetter, which was the first of its kind in Malta. We always expected a major incident - and we knew the bubble would burst one day. Twice a week we used to have stones hurled at the balcony. I was always worried that we'd be attacked.
Somehow that day they managed to infiltrate the building - they appeared to know where they had to go, like the adverts section. Luckily, Wilfred Asciak saved the day by having the presence of mind to take them to the old machines, which they smashed.
And then Dom Mintoff wrote to Mabel Strickland a few days later to say he always tried to protect her paper.
Mr Agius served as managing director of Allied Newspapers from 1968 to 2003.
Charles Grech Orr
When I was informed the building had been infiltrated I immediately switched off the corridor lights where the heavy machinery was located.
The move paid off, but by then they had already smashed machinery and burnt down the library, among other offices. I told the employees to flee the building from the back through St Ursula Street as pieces of charred roof started falling to the ground.
When we got to the streets we saw some bystanders laughing as the building went up in flames. That's something which upset me deeply.
I chose eight members of the editorial team and with the help of (legal consultant) Guido de Marco we decided to shift the operations to Independence Press. I asked for a room with typewriters and we worked all night to produce the paper.
At 8 a.m. as The Times building was still on fire, the first newspaper was printed. We never missed a beat and I felt that was the climax of my career.
The Times was pro-Europe and pro-West, but it had an independent voice, and I insisted on getting both sides of the story. The socialists felt we were against them.
After the attack, we were all in shock and I felt the effects for a long time after. The police saw the perpetrators approaching, entering the building and walking out. It was impossible for nobody to be identified - and yet, till this day, nobody has been brought to justice. I would have expected the police to be impartial.
Mr Grech Orr was editor of The Times between 1965 and 1990. His memories of Black Monday are also recounted in his book In the Editor's Chair.
Vincent Buhagiar
I was in Sicily when I heard on Rai news that a number of incidents had taken place in Malta. At that point I wasn't aware that The Times had been targeted.
We were used to people hurling stones at the Allied Newspapers building whenever there was a Labour Party demonstration or meeting. We actually used to have a stockpile of glass panes to replace the damaged ones. We had always been threatened but never did I imagine it would get this serious.
When I returned to Malta I remember being shocked at the state of the building as I heard the stories of the way staff had fled.
I was impressed with the way the staff reacted in piecing everything back together to get the building up and running in no time - and for this, to this day, we cannot thank them enough. Despite the vicious attack, our employees persisted and showed no fear.
Many were willing to help - even our debtors called to say they would settle their dues.
Mr Buhagiar has been managing director of Allied Newspapers since 2003.
See also
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20091011/black-monday/shades-of-black-monday
A video documentary will be carried on timesofmalta.com on Thursday.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
87 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
p.grima
Oct 15th 2009, 23:06
@-Jeremy J Camilleri
"I for one, do not hesitate to state that the actions on that day were shameful, and should never be repeated, however, the way in which known Nationalist bloggers are using these historical events to try and stop the evident loss of faith in the present Nationalist administration is just as shameful."
"Oh well, I guess the, 'if you lose an argument find another subject to argue on' mentality has got a strong hold on you."
There you go, just as I told you, I was simply mimicing your strategy.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Oct 15th 2009, 10:18
Giov DeMartino...so by your reason, since the murderer of Raymond Caruana was never apprehended, does that mean that we do not know if he was red or blue?
Dr. Saliba if your recollection is vague, then that might be the reason behind your twisting of Joseph Muscat's apology.
I for one, do not hesitate to state that the actions on that day were shameful, and should never be repeated, however, the way in which known Nationalist bloggers are using these historical events to try and stop the evident loss of faith in the present Nationalist administration is just as shameful.
p.grima
Oct 15th 2009, 01:16
@-Jeremy J Camilleri
About "that maiden speech", I heard them apologize, but you seem to have missed them. It could be because you probably listen to PL media only, and take your facts only from their sources. PL media obviously never broadcast the said apologies.
"Oh well, I guess the, 'if you lose an argument find another subject to argue on' mentality has got a strong hold on you."
I was simply mimicing your strategy. Therefore if you do that, it's right, but if I do the same, it's wrong.
It is not a matter of winning or losing an argument; we are simply discussing our points of views as is our right in this democratic country. (At least, one can voice his opinion nowadays, without risks, contrary to those bad old 70's and 80's which I lived through. You see, I was around in those days and witnessed the unemployment, violence and the hatred first hand, you were not. It was so much easier for you in the 90's, you got a job just after leaving school, but I had to wait for years between the 70's and 80's.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Oct 14th 2009, 14:52
P grima...still didn t find that maiden speech have we?
Not exactly a fan of facts are we?
Regarding Mintoff's wage raie in 1971...well..I guess no pay rises where made for our Prime Minister since the, however, what that really has got to do with the subject really beats me.
Oh well, I guess the, 'if you lose an argument find another subject to argue on' mentality has got a strong hold on you.
GiovDeMartino@J Scicluna
Oct 14th 2009, 12:18
It is not easy to give a lesson on the horrible murder of Karen Grech. This infamous incident is shrouded in deep mystery. Remember the explosion of the MLP club in Paola? Every labour supporter pointed his finger at some Nationalist fanatic...but luckily the culprit was apprehended. Who knows? A labour govt failed to solve Karen's murder. Maybe the PN will solve it. Then, and only then we can know whether the monster was red or blue.
p.grima
Oct 14th 2009, 00:32
By the way, there are other incidents perpetrated by the MLP mob, like the ransacking of the Curia, and the Courts, together with many nearby shops. (One can call that a breath of fresh air to the small and medium enterprizes in the vicinity).
But, after all, the poor MLP guys must have been provoked.
p.grima
Oct 13th 2009, 23:34
@-V.Briffa
"Is it against the law of human rights ......... not buried in a cemetry?"
You are so wrong. Those buried in the so called "mizbla" were and are still buried in part of the Addolorata cemetery which is so called (and I think I know who purposely dubbed it so) simply because the deceased buried therein were not covered with the Sacraments.
I have visited this part of the Addolorata cemetery on many occasions. It can be found in the South-West corner of the said cemetery, or you can ask the cemetery Chaplain or the gravediggers.
One should at least be informed before blogging.
Peter Bonnici
Oct 13th 2009, 23:22
Reflecting and commenting on Black Monday with labourites is like raising the topic of the holocaust to a German. The utter shame it evokes in them puts them into defensive mode, clutching on to any excuse and blaming it on everyone else but themselves.
p.grima
Oct 13th 2009, 23:17
@-Marius Cremona
"Imagine criticising Germany for what it has done 60 years ago !!!(so that we dont forget their roots and their actions). Let us judge people on their actions and not on the actions of their ancestors. I am not accountable of what my father/mother does. I am only accountable on what I do."
But, you see, the problem is that some of those MLP "politicians" fo the 70's and 80's are still in or around the party. It's not their sons/daughters or nephews.
manuel lia
Oct 13th 2009, 21:42
those were the days....16 yrs of zimbabwe in malta....and malta was governed by who?mlp/pl.and who was already in the mlp?alex sciberras trigona....and he's still there today.....elect them DISGRUNTLED NATIONALISTS AT UR OWN RISK.....jien ghalija jghaddi kemm jghaddi zmien il mlp ma jinbidel qatt u qatt.....tarawhx issa lill mlp arawh fil poter....
Jesmond Micallef
Oct 13th 2009, 21:33
Il Maltin ghadhom sa l'gurnata tal lum jidiskutu b'mod PARTIGJAN meta ghanda tkun il gurnata nazjonali !!!!!!!
Jiena naqra u nipprova nibqa ntizz ma dak li jsehh gewwa art twelidi avolja il boghod minhu. Ghallfejn, ghax Malta nhobba, ghallfejn nhobba ? GHAX PAJJIZZ ZGHIR. PAJJIZZ LI MU TA TEHDIDA LIL HADT !!
Il Maltin jargumentaw min ghamel hekk u hekk u hekk u hekk. Jien nipprova nifhemm ghallfejn sehu aventimenti tal biza gewwa pajjizzi, b'mod INDEPENDENTI min dak partigjan.
Il mewt ta Raymond Caruana trawmatizat lilli u lil membri tal familja tieghi, ahseb u ara il familja ta Raymond stess. Meta nkun Malta u niltaghqa ma hutu Jimmy, Bertu, ohtu it tewmija nhoss xi haga gewwa qalbi li ma nistax nesprimi fi kliem. Anki meta nara il Professur Grech, missier Karen Grech, nhoss. Hemm min qal li l'anqas Hitler u Mussolini ma kissru kif il Maltin stess ghamlu. Ghallfejn Ghallfejn, Il Maltin huma nies slavag ?????? Hitler u Mussolini qatlu elf kbar ta nies bil politika razissta u facista taghhom. B'mod sistematiku u teknologiku kiesah u biered Hitler u s-suditi tieghu qatlu elufi kbar ta nies, kif wkoll ...................TFAL !!!!
Jesmond Micallef
Oct 13th 2009, 19:25
@G.Schembri
Further to my comment, I add : My father bussiness was boycotted during the famous PN boycott of the eighties !! And what else................................!!!!!
So how many things do I have to understand ? I started my comment with HMS ARK ROYAL, so here are some more names for you : HMS VICTORIOUS, HMS INVINCIBLE, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS CONQUEROR, HMS REVENGE, HMS AFRICA, HMS EMPEROR OF INDIA..................................... do you want more............................?
Issa jibda il Malti : Niftakar wkoll dik it tpigija hamra hamra foq sfond abjab ta Raymond miexhut ma l'art f ghadira demm kwazi f`kull rokna ta toroq principali Maltin. Meta qed nikteb dan il kumment qed niftakar f' dak li kien hemm Il Blata Il Bajda per ezempju !!
L-ismijiet li jiena semejt hawn fuq ghandhom jwassluk ghallfejn jien qlibt ghall Malti, issa.................................
Ghallfejn tahseb il Maltin kellhom jsofru tant, hakim x'jaghmel gewwa pajjizz mahkum. L-ismijiet carri le !! 31 Marzu 1979 - 15 Ottubru 1979, mhumiex boghod min xulxien le, per ezempju !!!
INTI MALTI BHALLI LE .....................???
Grazzi hafna.
Dr Francis Saliba
Oct 13th 2009, 18:54
@Dzammit
I have a faint recollection of Dr Joseph Muscat expressing vague regret to his followers about unidentified past MLP mistakes. That is not an acceptable apology to the nation for the violence during the Mintoff/KMB era.
D Zammit
Oct 13th 2009, 18:37
@ Dr Francis Saliba
Maybe you didn't forget the past (you shouldn't by the way) but you forgot that Dr Joseph Muscat did apologise, but maybe you chose to forget that. I think it's only the PN who is left to excuse for past mistakes, now if we want to bury our heads in the sand, portray our selves as saints and virgins, we can say that the PN never used vilonce and never did such mistakes, but I find it quite difficult to say that my party has never done any of such.
Dr Francis Saliba
Oct 13th 2009, 17:43
@GSchembri
I only urge that the bitter lessons of MLP violence be not forgotten – without mentioning any names. Unlike the Church, the MLP/LP has never asked for forgiveness. It has only expressed a vague regret for unidentified “past mistakes”. I take that to mean that the LP regrets that their institutional violence taught the Maltese electorate a bitter lesson. That lesson must not be forgotten because no one has asked for forgiveness and those responsible for it are creeping back into the LP leadership.
The tone of many of the pro-LP commentators leaves no doubt that there are still those who make excuses for it suggesting that they hanker for another opportunity to reinstate that reign of terror. I only urge that the terrible history lesson of the 70s and 80s be not forgotten by anybody, irrespective of any political affiliation.
Christian Sciberras
Oct 13th 2009, 15:32
Forget it? NO
What was done then is done TODAY albeit in a more civil manner.
Still it is UNNACCEPTABLE by today's standards.
V.Briffa
Oct 13th 2009, 15:27
@Dr Francis Saliba
Maybe you need to go into the library and check Maltese history or speak to other people besides those of your party. Might the '56 were not part of your curiculum but check who ended in jail after the upriasals. Laburisti who had to face the infamous interdet from the Church was something unheard of? Is it against the law of human rights being merried or batist behind the altar or not buried in a cemetry? On the other hand I remeber tugs from the old MLP doing mischief and cannot say that was right and should be condemned but I also rember provocations from both sides to start a civil war. Then Eddie was elected and things went calm to you maybe, but being a Laburist and attending the 6th form was almsot an offence stating that you were one and you were looked upon with the same intollerance and bullying as it happened to the Nationilst before ... so both parties have black sheeps in their family nad a dark history. It's like the history of both wars we only heard the trumps of the victors!
Julian Brincat
Oct 13th 2009, 15:19
For someone like me who was not alive at the time it appears to be shocking to think that Malta went through such a period during my parents lifetimes. However all I know about this period is from what i hear, which as I am sure you can appreciate is always biased to one side or the other. What was the Nationalist party doing during thwe 60s? What was the Labour Party's point of view (ban on chocolate and colour tv!?!?)?
I would love to read an unbiased historical account of post war Malta and these turbulent times in the 70s. Can anyone direct me to such an account? if one does not exist i think it is high time someone compiled one as this is an important part of our history and lessons need to be learned.
J.Scicluna
Oct 13th 2009, 14:13
@GiovDeMartino
While you are at it, why not give the youngsters a small lesson about Karen Grech too?!
Raymond Sammut
Oct 13th 2009, 12:07
@ G.Schembri -- "I hope you are not a Borg Olivier’s follower wanting the Queen to remain our head of State."
The Maltese people voted in the referendum of 1964. They voted for a new constitution proposed by Borg-Olivier with the British Queen as Malta's head of state. It was a democratic choice. In 1974, both Mintoff and Fenech-Adami stood up in parliament to abolish this constitution with 2/3 parliamentary majority. The Maltese people on Malta (including myself) of 1974 -- unlike those of 1966 under Borg-Olivier -- had absolutely no say in it. We were left out of it altogether. It was not of any concern, both to Mintoff and to Fenech-Adami, that the Maltese people alone should decide for ourselves. There was never any public debate on the issue. What took place in parliament on that fateful day came without any warning whatsoever. Most Maltese were not even aware of the implications. To them it was just another evening news bulletin. Fenech-Adami thought he could go on and win the 1976 elections, but Mintoff had the better of him. Then hell broke loose, culminating in the burning down of The Times building, among other fracases.
Marius Cremona
Oct 13th 2009, 11:06
No one should accept violence and what was done 20 years ago was shameful. However one cannot live in the past. I think that the fact the PN apologists always mention these events are that they cannot criticise the present PL administration on concrete grounds. Imagine criticising Germany for what it has done 60 years ago !!!(so that we dont forget their roots and their actions).
Let us judge people on their actions and not on the actions of their ancestors. I am not accountable of what my father/mother does. I am only accountable on what I do.
c bartolo
Oct 13th 2009, 10:45
and what about the psychological and spiritual harm meted out during the 1960s?..... much more longlasting and damnable i am sure... there are still lots of citizens around still bearing the scars of those very dark and atrocious years... all carried out with the blessing and silence of the party then in power...
Jeremy J Camilleri
Oct 13th 2009, 09:26
Peter Bonnici...Jeremy J Camilleri (1 day, 21 hours ago)
Deplorable and despicable. Where the perpetrators ever brought to justice?
Malcolm Agius (1 day, 21 hours ago)
COuld you kindly find my excuse?
Giov Demartino....yes yes....You certainly remind us of ONE aspect of those dark days.
As for standing up and being counted, I guess its now time for the Demartinos to stand up again.....but for different reasons, if they really have the countries interests at heart.
Charlotte VanderVelde
Oct 13th 2009, 07:27
I was a teenager on Black Monday and its events remain in my memory as a traumatic benchmark of the end of innocence as I knew it. My country changed from a safe, neigbourly, democratic country to one with a monstrous underbelly of divisive, frightening violence. I was studying History for my Advanced level exam and wondered how that day would be recorded in Maltese history. Now I know. NEVER FORGET! "If we forget the lessons of history we are condemned to repeat its mistakes". As we say in Canada: "Je me souviens!" - "I will remember!"
Well done to the Times of Malta for rsing from its ashes like the phoenix and for helping us to remember what Dom Mintoff's socialist thugs did.
p.grima
Oct 13th 2009, 01:46
@-Jeremy J Camilleri
"My oh my.....shameful.....perhaps you should do some research...its not that complicated....I ll help you out....first week after getting elected leader....... "......and Prime Minister in 1971 Dominic Mintoff raised his own salary.
MALTA l-ewwel u qabel kollox????
p.grima
Oct 13th 2009, 01:33
@-Jeremy J Camilleri
"Joseph Muscat, immediately after taking hold of the party reins, made a formal apology.
Countless Pn leaders have never managed to do that!"
I believe you are wrong about this one. They did, and you missed it. Dr.Fenech Adami and Dr.Gonzi in their capacities as party leaders both made apologies for past mistakes by their party. You seem to see things only through a pair of red spectacles. You should at least hear both sides of the story.
p.grima
Oct 13th 2009, 01:10
@-Malcolm Agius-
"What kind of reportage is it that only one side is interviewed and one point of view publicised?. You have an obligation to history as well as to the truth to tell both sides of a story and the years long provocation from an opposition hell bent on bringing down a Government and a pliable vociferous press that led up to these incidents."
This is exactly what the PL and GWU media is doing nowadays.
And you seem to say that "these incidents" are all the PN's fault..... unbelievable!
Even if the PN ever provoked the MLP, they should never have retaliated.
I was around back then, when democracy was trodden under foot, contrary to many other younger bloggers on this page. (and I believe that includes Jeremy J Camilleri).
G.Schembri
Oct 12th 2009, 23:02
@ Dr Francis Saliba, Peter Bonnici, GiovDeMartino and all other PN fanatics. LP supporters or sympathizers, tend to condemn what happened in the 80s, PN sympathizers say let us forgive and forget, but you seem to be always sowing hatred. This was the type of Language PN was using in the 70s and 80s this is what caused most of the trouble. You could not accept the fact that MLP was in government. The same language was being used in 1996, I hope that you won’t try to do the same when and if LP wins the next election.
Dr Francis Saliba our grandparents did not cut of themselves from the Catholic Church it was Mons M Gonzi who decided they were not to be buried in consecrated grounds. Let us not forget that the Maltese church has asked for forgiveness for the way socialists where treated in the 60s. Its only fanatics like you who still believe Mons Gonzi did well.
G.Schembri
Oct 12th 2009, 22:44
@ Raymond Sammut The dispute on counting I am referring to is the 1972 elections when MLP had 51% of votes, but won the election with some 5 votes in Qormi. PN wanted recounts so that they would get the chance to govern even though they did not have the majority of votes. That is why I called you a hypocrite, because many PN supporters forget all about this incident when they talk about the 81 elections. There are always disputes in counting, remember the first EU elections when PN supporters were trying to bully the sorters into putting some votes from J.Drake's cubicle so as to have more votes than AD and maybe get elected instead of an MLP candidate.
Since you are talking about 1976 you are right Sir Anthony Mamo was President.
I hope you are not a Borg Olivier’s follower wanting the Queen to remain our head of State.
Sorry about Mons Mikiel Gonzi I thought you meant Dun Mikiel Xerri.
Mons Gonzi was the helped to create the MLP thugs they were a product of his hatred towards the socialist movement.
Michael Catania
Oct 12th 2009, 22:32
@R. Grima
Like you I lived overseas and use to come to Malta on regular visits and I totally agree with your comments on events you experienced. Like you I was disgusted with the church's attitude to MLP, its leaders and supporters. At the time I had no political allegiances as I was in the military, but seeing all the injustices I could not stand by and watch. I am now a socialist .
Anthony Mizzi
Oct 12th 2009, 22:03
Maybe the youngsters have also to be reminded who gave free healthcare, free education, affordable housing, benefits to widows, persons with special needs, stipends, FREEDOM and true independence.
and as for democracy and freedom of speech, Labour Ministers faced jail sentences, Labour supporters were not even allowed to practice their religion.
Yes let the youngsters be reminded of the whole story not the convenient parts only.
Labour always stood for the National interest and not the t Party interests which were a primary cause for the instigation of such violence.
Try to get all the facts. Some of the perpetuators of this violence were later embraced within the Nationalist Party, even those that conveniently turned a blind eye at the time and are still being given promotions and other benefits in kind to this current day.
GiovDeMartino
Oct 12th 2009, 20:45
How often do I have to remind youngsters: Labour's past cannot be more atrocious! Here you have another documented proof.
GiovDeMartino
Oct 12th 2009, 20:35
I feel great satisfaction when I remember that in those dark days I always stood up and was counted. Together with all the Demartinos.
Peter Bonnici
Oct 12th 2009, 20:28
@ Jeremy Camilleri. Condemnations come without excuses.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Oct 12th 2009, 20:14
Pete Bonnici, my first comment was condemnation. Pn SUpporters, on the other hand, try to defend the cowardly 60's.
Oh well....We have them on both sides I suppose.
Peter Bonnici
Oct 12th 2009, 20:04
The defensive stance taken by MLP supporters here demonstrates, more than anything, their shame at what happened in their name. However unfortunately it also highlights their cowardice in being unable to condemn their very own darkest hour. Possibly that was the day that proved once and for all that the MLP was unfit to govern, and had to remain so for decades.
Dr Francis Saliba
Oct 12th 2009, 19:46
@JeremyJCamilleri Try to ask an intelligent question and give me an opportunity to provide you with a real proof of my ability to reason. Otherwise I can only ask, in my turn, “Is this guy for real?”
Jeremy J Camilleri
Oct 12th 2009, 19:24
Dr Francis Saliba...'I do know of people being buried in unconsecrated ground after they had cut themselves off from the local Church' Is this guy for real? Oh well, I guess he's real proof that with some folks, you just CAN't reason, no matter how hard you try.
Dr Francis Saliba
Oct 12th 2009, 18:05
@GSchembri I do not know of any “grandparents buried like animals”; I do know of people being buried in unconsecrated ground after they had cut themselves off from the local Church. I know of many attacks by MLP supporters on residents following MLP meetings in their village, so severe that KMB in person resorted to “fence mending” visits to the injured and their families. I do not believe that two wrongs make a right or that a minor incident would justify any disproportionate violence against all others. I have a bias and it is against state-sponsored unpunished political violence so severe that it did not exclude arson and murder. Those who nowadays mulishly try to make excuses for this horrid MLP record only cast doubt on the claim for an expurgated LP.
P Baldacchino
Oct 12th 2009, 17:33
@ Charles Camilleri Off course by no means was I implying that we should not remeber or stay silent. I was just merely mixing coincidences, its important in these kind of debates. By the way thinking that I may be PL or PN is so wrong on your side and other. People like me actually use their vote once every 5 years or so. We give the vote to the party that makes a difference. People like yourself who have booked their votes by default to one party continue to attack each other on past events, 60s 70s,80s now that is stupid. For people like me the future is what matters. Are our children not important? How stupid would I be as a father to stick to one party no matter what and in a way harm my childrens educational and carreer efforts to develop.
Raymond Sammut
Oct 12th 2009, 16:59
@ G.Schembri I am referring to the 1976 elections (not 1971). The dispute on counting was in the 1976 elections, following the Mintoff administration, between the MLP and the PN. The fact that there was a dispute shows that counting in that election was not properly monitored. Sir Maurice Dorman was governor until 1971, and replaced by Mamo. And thanks to Fenech-Adami, supporting Mintoff in parliament, Mintoff made Malta a republic in 1974 -- that's when the thugs started readying themselves more than ever before until they finally burned down The Times building. Dun Mikiel passed away in 1984. Can you please explain why you have called me a hypocrite, Mr Schembri?
Alexander Morana
Oct 12th 2009, 16:14
30 years have passed on since this shameful event in the annals of Maltese politics. Though for some the wounds are still fresh and for most it is just water under the bridge. However I remember very well receiving the sad news with some trepidation. I was not surprised as such mob disturbances were occurring frequently in those times, even before I had left the island.
I find it ironic that some posters compared the burning of the TOM premises to that of the bombing of Malta which in truth it is a quite an exaggerated comparison to say the least, in spite of the known history of that period. I am not going into the merit of who was at fault and who or which political party benefited most from the outcome of this event.
The burning of the TOM was none better than the reaction of the forces which were unleashed on the behest of the very few who had for so many years poisoned one class against the other which by then Malta’s society through the auspices of the paternalistic political parties, had a conditioned mind set.
One may ask if these events could happen again?
G.Schembri
Oct 12th 2009, 15:50
@ Dr Francis Saliba – You are very biased. Anything bad PN does is of no importance, what MLP condemn. Those thugs were once children who were bullied, whose grandparents were buried like animals, whose parents were beaten up. I remember before the 1972 election a woman beaten with a chain because she told PN supporters not to paste PN posters on her façade.
@Jesmond Micallef – How does your sister in law feel after EFA said he knew who murdered her brother and never brought him to justice? Is she sure it was MLP thugs who murdered her brother? Is she glad her brother’s face full of blood was pasted all over Malta? Is she proud that PN used him for their cheap propaganda and then forgot all about him?
@ Raymond Sammut Your post shows your hypocracy. “ vote counting was disputed ” PN wanted to govern athough MLP had the majority of votes!
Get your history right in 72 Borg Olivier was leader of PN. Sir Maurice Doorman was still goveror. Mamo was chief Justice. Dum Mikiel was long dead.
Richard Galea
Oct 12th 2009, 14:30
There are mainly two kinds of violence perpetuated against society or individually......The Physical and the Moral.......
The cream of the aristocratic workers use the the physical violence because they lack the moral courage, while the aristocratic moralists use the moral violence .......because they lack physical courage.
The individuals who possess both the physical and moral courage are Divine!!
Such as Dom Mintoff , Manuel Dimech, Enrico Mizzi , Guido Demarco and the archbishop Cremona.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Oct 12th 2009, 13:06
Antoine Vella...you missed out? and I thought you were someone who followed public affairs!!!!
My oh my.....shameful.....perhaps you should do some research...its not that complicated....I ll help you out....first week after getting elected leader.......
Charles Camilleri
Oct 12th 2009, 12:16
@P. Baldacchino.
Did it ever occur to you that the times did this now because the 30th anniversary is on October 15? It is Labour who are holding their demonstration at the same time, unless you think you can change history. And you can't change facts. The socialists burnt down The Times building, just like the Germans bombed us in world war II. Nothing against the germans, but we still commemorate that. You people would be better off staying silent.
Raymond Sammut
Oct 12th 2009, 12:11
@ P. Schembri
Did I say "handful"? It came down to just less than one per cent, and vote counting was disputed in at least one district. A day or two after the election, most PN clubs got ransacked to the disgust of people (even those who had voted labour) walking past, and the police never arresting anyone. It was only the beginning. Many knew it was too late. The governor had gone, the military were on their way out, Mamo was weak, Fenech-Adami was weak, Dun Mikiel was now too old, and all of a sudden there was no-one left to stand up to the thugs.
If presently, PN's morale is low, they only have Laurence Gonzi, and his ex-mentor, to blame. It is of no consequence to me.
P Baldacchino
Oct 12th 2009, 11:04
Memories are good to bring forward more and more when they serve as a warning. It is a shame however that we do not truly have an independent newspaper in Malta. My conclusion to this article although good, is that the emotional message and subtle tones brought in have something to do with the PL coming to the streets. At least it was the Socialists and not PL.
victor vela
Oct 12th 2009, 08:42
Lest we forget.
Dr Francis Saliba
Oct 12th 2009, 02:31
@JSpiteri
Do you know what you saying? The Times was not a pillar of the PN in the all important formative Strickland-Nerik Mizzi days. And when the Constitutional Party petered out, the less intelligent of its supporters drifted towards the MLP and swelled its ranks not because of any affinity but because the PN was a common “enemy”, sort of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”.
Dr Francis Saliba
Oct 12th 2009, 02:18
@GSchembri
It is not enough that you and important people in the PL leadership glibly said that the burning of The Times etc was unacceptable. Tell us what those MLP leaders did to bring the culprits to justice and to prevent any recurrence. Precisely nothing! Of course I find “unacceptable” that any child be teased but human nature being what it is you will encounter that teasing and bullying up to this very day. Don’t expect me to condone the disproportionate retaliation of burning down of The Times, the sacking of the Curia and opposition party clubs including murder on the premises. There is no comparison and two wrongs never made one right.
Antoine Vella
Oct 12th 2009, 01:50
Jeremy J Camilleri
"Joseph Muscat, immediately after taking hold of the party reins, made a formal apology. "
Ara miskin! I must have missed it. Can you supply references for this "formal apology" ?
J. Spiteri
"Times change but the Times of Malta never changes. It has always been a pillar of the PN when the need arises....like these times."
Are you nostalgic for the good old days?
Antoine Vella
Oct 12th 2009, 01:45
N.Cortis
"So please,don't blame only Labour for the incidents that happened on that particular occasion,.."
Unfortunately for you, yes, we do blame the MLP. The seventies and eighties were the modern Dark Ages of Malta.
J.Xuereb
Oct 11th 2009, 21:07
What about the PN's past of the 60's and their marriage with the church????
P Debono
Oct 11th 2009, 20:40
Those were the darkest days Malta has seen since its independence. To this day many people still fear that the Labour party will bring us back to those days. God knows how many crimes were committed in the Dockyard, in the public sector, in the police departments, even in busy streets, by these Labourite thugs.
Hopefully that will never happen again.
Jesmond Micallef
Oct 11th 2009, 20:34
I remember the days when I used to watch British warships in the Grand Harbour as a kid, I was fascinated with these awesome ships like the HMS Ark Royal......................but then they left on the 31 March 1979.......................
As time went by I did wonder many a time why was there such violence on this island full of churches, but then my brother together with his wife came home late onevening, his wife crying and hyterical , my brother very pale giving us the horrible news that her brother was murdered at the PN club in Gudja - - RAYMOND CARUANA - -
My brothers son was barely one year old................
After that day I WONDERED EVEN MORE................................................???????
j.spiteri
Oct 11th 2009, 20:28
Times change but the Times of Malta never changes. It has always been a pillar of the PN when the need arises....like these times.
Joe Micallef
Oct 11th 2009, 20:02
@ R.Grimaa
Your comment is as irresponsible. Both your comment and that of Agius are based on the notion of justified retaliation - never mind that what you mention saw the PN as an indirect beneficiary and that given you dangerous logic the church had every right to retaliate the way it did because Mintoff was bent on destroying it as an institution.
For example with your dangerous logic Eddie Fenech Adami had every right to take revenge! How irresponsible and how important it is to remember those macabre events which where only motivated by a leftist ideology, of the extreme nature.
Dr Francis Saliba
Oct 11th 2009, 19:10
@ RGrima
Your youth at the time and the fleeting nature of your visits to Malta may account for your topsy-turvy version of history. You have got your dates hopelessly mixed up. For the period in question the MLP was in power. It abused that power by attempting to monopolize all the media by intimidation and “legal” obstruction to operate a TV station. The burning down of The Times printing presses was only the apex in an avowed campaign to create a “Malta Socjalista by hook or crook. From personal experience throughout that period it took courage to be seen carrying a copy of The Times and that was long before the sacking of the Curia or burning down of The Times printing presses.
You give the impression that your shock and dismay at discrimination, censorship and intolerance vanished into thin air as soon as the MLP was voted to power!
Jeremy J Camilleri
Oct 11th 2009, 18:48
C Camilleri and the rest......the past doesn t start in 1979.......for folks who harp on about not forgetting the past, you have really made it a point to forget it!!!!!
Joseph Muscat, immediately after taking hold of the party reins, made a formal apology.
Countless Pn leaders have never managed to do that! Sad. Very sad!
Jonathan Cassar
Oct 11th 2009, 18:44
Don't you all think that we should try, as a nation, to put these things behind us. I mean it's important not to forget, but some people here are discussing things that happened 30 - 40 years ago, as if they happened last week. Some bad things happened, both in the 60's and 70's, and those are facts ... but we're living in the end of 2009 and i think it's time that we start looking at the future, instead of continuing discussing the past. The past is gone, some mistakes were done, we seem to have learned from those mistakes (at least 99% of us) now we should look into the future ... and make sure that NEVER we commit the same mistakes again.
P. Schembri
Oct 11th 2009, 18:33
@Ray Sammut. The PL won the 1976 elections with a surplus of 12,000 votes. A handful of votes indeed!!!! Get your facts right.
I wonder why this hullabaloo after 30 years! Is it some kind of emotional push for the ailing PN government? Or trying to inject some moral in the PN's low morale?
Because to me, it looks like this newspaper it trying to inject some energy in the already flailing, pn party.
G,Schembri
Oct 11th 2009, 18:33
..../cont
In the name of Karen Grech and her family I now ask you to condemn whoever murdered her.
In the name of all those people who were beaten up by the police in the 50 and 60s I now ask you to condemn De Gray.
In the name of that Policeman who was maimed for life at the Sliema Police station, I now ask you to condemn whoever planted the bomb.
In the name of those police officers that were hurt when the Baulesters of the PN club were thrown on the Police bus that was there to protect them, I now ask you to condemn them.
In the name of all those grocers that were bullied into not selling boycotted goods, and were bullied into clossing their shops on the 29th June, I now ask you to condemn those bullies.
I condemn all the above as well as the MLP thugs. I dare you condemn whoever used physical and psychological violence from both sides of the political spectrum. Then and only then will you be able to say you are a true democrat and Christian.
G,Schembri
Oct 11th 2009, 18:32
@ Dr Francis Saliba and Franco Farrugia, I and many like me including important people in the PL leadership, have said time and time again that what happened on that day was unacceptable. On the other hand you and people like you including the PN leadership never condemned what the PN supporters did in the 60s, 70s and 80s.
In the 60s I was a mere child and was bullied, just because my father was an MLP supporter. I was bullied by the Franciscan sisters, I was bullied by the Duttrina people with the blessing of the Parish Priest and I was bullied by PN supporters, the irony is that, at the time, I didn't know why, because my parents did not discuss politics in our presence. In the name of that child and more other children like me I now ask you to condemn what we went through.
c. camilleri
Oct 11th 2009, 17:53
Many thanks for reminding your readers of the labour's heinous past. We should remember the past if we do not want to pass through it again.
l borg
Oct 11th 2009, 17:40
very sad day indeed for malta however from that day on it was the begining of the end of the labour party losing 5 out of 6 elections
till date some people still fear labour dispite it might have a goog party
Franco Farrugia
Oct 11th 2009, 17:07
What really is an embarrassement to the PL and its supporters is NOT the Black Monday experience that many of us went through, but the fact that today, even today, some people continue to try, however badly and disgustingly, to equate what happened on that day with what they describe as 'provocations' etc ... Things like ... Yes, but ....! But nothing! If you are a true peaceful citizen, you would condemn outrightly what happened then and stop there! Violence at that time was ingrained within the PL. Violence then was in the blood, in the genes, in the very nature of the supporters of the PL and the people are punishing the Party to this day!
Dr Francis Saliba
Oct 11th 2009, 17:03
@MichaelDebono
Your version is a futile attempt to distort the incident so as to make it conform with the MLP version of history. There was no attempt on Mintoff’s life by any “brainwashed” individual – there was a desperate attempt by a staunch labourite to gain access to his idol Mintoff so as to present his case. Armed police were waiting in ambush for him because they had been forewarned. It was not he who started to shoot wildly - he was the only one injured.. It was not a case of the people " reacting " in the manner because of "some very serious event happens”. It was the usual political thuggery. And as long as the MLP remained in power this labourite supplicant was swallowed up in our hospital for mental disease making sure that he would be silenced – just as in Stalin’s USSR.
R Grima
Oct 11th 2009, 16:37
@Joe Micalleff
Your comment directed at Malcolm Agius is rather pointless,since you choose not to state what brings you to such a conclusion. As far as I can see Mr Agius only asked that both sides of the coin be displayed,and to my mind ,there is nothing at all wrong in that.
I remember as a teenager on our yearly visits from abroad to visit family,staying with my mothers cousin I was not allowed to read 'The Malta News' in her house.I also remember the daily struggle to buy that particular newspaper as well as other socialist paper's from newsagents who would have them hidden under the counter,whilst other newspapers,both Church and opposing party political papers,and indeed, this newspaper were readily available and on display . Such was the discrimination in this Country. Coming from a place where all shades of opinion were respected and tolerated it shocked and dismayed me that such censorship was actively encouraged by a Church I grew up in(remember the mortal sin?). I still have not found it in my heart to forgive and I was effectively lost to Catholicism from that moment on,without regrets I hasten to add.
Dr Francis Saliba
Oct 11th 2009, 16:30
@MalcolmAgius;G Scembri et al
Many thanks for alerting us to the reality of this new LP and warning that it would be criminal to forget!
A. Muscat
Oct 11th 2009, 16:18
We should always reckon that most if not all modern democracies are based on bloody history, terrorism and injustice. What bout the USA model? or Europe model of democracy? While the former was established on blood, terrorism created by squatter of other people’s land and annihilation of original inhabitants (Indian Rouge) the latter have had pools of blood and millions were killed during wars.
If you think you living in a real democracy you are dwelling in elussion.
We should be happy through time things gets better by the day. It is imperative to create more awareness and focus on prevention for any future violence.
Joe Micallef
Oct 11th 2009, 15:20
@ Malcom Agius,
It is because of people like you, that it is so important not to forget.
N.Cortis
Oct 11th 2009, 15:10
It seems that for many,life in Malta started between 70's and 80's!!!! Before the 70's and 80's one must not forget what happened during the 60's!!!------ and a t that era,the labour Party and all those who supported labour (including us children at that time) suffered a lot both from PN goverments,and the Curia!!!! I cannot forget the" Red dot" (tikka hamra fir registru tal kappillani),and if you happen to have one of those red dots,you sure was not given an opportunity for having a job!!!!! I also cannot forget not being given absolution by priests,coulden't attend any church ceremonies,couldn't receive holy communion,coulden't read "Il-Helsien" the official MLP paper (because reading the "Helsien " was considered a sin----- ect---ect!!!
So please,don't blame only Labour for the incidents that happened on that particular occasion,because both attitude of the PN and the local church authorities also helped for those incidents to happen!! There are lots of lassons to be learned to both PN and MLP leaders------and I hope no such mistakes will be repeated------ I say again ----from MLP---PN and also the CHURCH authorities!!! A final word to historians----please write history as it actually happened and don't be biased!!!
Michael Debono
Oct 11th 2009, 13:39
It is not fair just to say an incident occurred at Castlle.
Why shy away and not write an attempt was made on Mr. Mintoff and his staff by an individual.
It transpired that he was a brainwashed individual from Mosta with a housing problem. An article on a housing case appeared in a local paper. He presented himself at Castille armed with a gun and wanted to see the Prime Minister on a housing matter. He was not allowed,, otherwise who knows what would have been the consequences. So this brainwashed person started to shoot blindly. Mintoff was not allowed out of his room for his safety. Pandemonium followed when the news spread in the afternoon: an attempt on Mintoff's life and run like wild fire. That is how I heard about the attempt. and knowing the political atmosphere and the inflammable speeches by the leader of the opposition I dared not imagine what would happen. This should be stated not to excuse any one but for the sake of historical facts.
People do not react in the manner they did unless some very serious event happens.
This to make things clear and seen in their right perspective.
G.Schembri
Oct 11th 2009, 13:13
@ Kenneth Galea ~ So you were 10 at the time, I was in my 20s. When I was 10 I was bullied at a Franciscan school and at the Dutrina because my father was an MLP supporter, although I did not know who or what Mintoff was, I crlearly remember one particular nun comparing Mintoff to the devil, I clearly remember one particular monk asking me if I was in any club, to check if I was in the Brigata. I remember clearly young men walking out of the church when a certain priest started his sermon. Later on when I was 16 and started taking an interest in politics I realised they where trying to brain wash us children against the MLP.
When the Labour government was elected into power, life for the working class was improved. Who do you think intoduced the minmum wage, equal wages for women, children's allowance, social housing, maternity benefits 2/3 rds pension.
Violence only started when E.Fenech Adami became leader of the PN, ironically it stopped when he became Prime Minister ~ He was the one who gained by all that political violence.
a.camilleri
Oct 11th 2009, 13:02
i am glad i was not living in malta in them days, i hear a lot about what went on, but i dont know who was the worst, wheather it was the MLP or the NP, am still not interested in politics now am living here, give me a game of f/ball anytime.
Mark Cushcieri
Oct 11th 2009, 12:41
Shame at what happened ..the press being bullied, attacked ..shame!!!...and our current Dr Eddie Fenech Adami's wife being attacked was really shocking when I heard her describe the way she was beaten up ..shame indeed on those actions..however let us also realize that these have happened 30 years ago and we must not instill the fear in the people that this will ever happen again. Never I hope shall we again have to suffer such injustices and intimidations. From 1979 till today 2009 we are much more democratically stable I don't personally think we will go back to those times of violence. Both parties should remember such days of infamy and all violent acts (including murder of people let us remember those also) must be condemned by both sides publicly I believe. There shouldn't be any partisan sentiment about this we all maltese condemn these acts. Trying to instill this hatred between one side and the other and fomet any sort of hatred because of past acts is not healthy...let us all shame these episodes and commit ourselves that such things will never happen again in our society.
Stephen Borg Cardona
Oct 11th 2009, 12:01
One wonders whether any of the socialist leaders of that time who are still active in politics to this day, feel that the time has come for a public apology ?
Raymond Sammut
Oct 11th 2009, 11:59
I am extremely glad I was not on Malta on that day. The only recollection I have is walking down St Paul Street --several months later-- and stopping by to look at a reservoir size hole in the ground. There was nothing any individual could do on their own to stop this kind of thuggery. It had been going on since the 1976 elections. It was obvious to everyone that this behaviour was instigated and led by someone right at the top. But the most appalling thing was how so many on Malta still voted Labour in the 1981 elections. That's what broke the camel's back. I still have no sympathy, and shall never have, for Fenech-Adami. He should never have supported Mintoff in 1974. That support gave Mintoff the prestige (and more importantly, the authority) he never deserved, and Mintoff went on to win the 1976 elections with a few votes. Then disaster followed. I do not think Malta has ever recovered, and may not recover for decades to come. There is always the ado about the thugs, but it's easy to overlook what had taken place in 1974 which paved the way for the impunity and the thuggery.
Rocco Cauchi
Oct 11th 2009, 11:52
An attack on the freedom of the press has always been the culmination point in Malta of common, everyday arrogance against free speech. Coming 60 years after the attack on the Chronicle on 7 June 1919, the attack on the Times of Malta building bears striking resemblances, only in that the attack on Strickland House did not go down in the annals of history since no one was killed in it and foreigners were not involved. Both were acts of intolerance against the press, where government did not heed the forewarnings given to them, and where the deployment of soldiers/policemen was lacking due to the nonchalance of officers being told what to do.
The idea has always been that people grumble galore but that they can never lose their heads to commit any heinous or savage acts. Tomorrow will be another day, the sun will rise on the good and the bad and life will certainly go on.
But alas, these occurrences show that fomenters can and do plan, that authorities cannot fool the people all along, and that people moan for change, come as it will.
Indeed, there are lessons to be learnt both from 1919 and 1979.
G.Schembri
Oct 11th 2009, 11:32
Yes it was a disgrace. The little incident mentioned above was the attempted murder of Dom Mintoff, then prime minister of Malta. Although nothing can excuse what the MLP thugs did that day, let us not forget that even MLP supporters were victimised in those days. I clearly remember being boycotted at work just because I was in the GWU, I remember housewives going into grocers with a boycott list making sure the grocer is not selling boycotted items. I remember a young girl murdered during her Christmas holidays. Although as I said nothing can pardon what those thugs did, people who were neither MLP nor NP fanatic supporters suffered the most, because they had no party to support them.
I remember MLP disassociating itself from such thugs, the PN has never said anything about all those who boycotted us, at the time PN used psycgological violence, which was very subtle, I know all about it, I still bear the scars. Every time this anniversary is remembered, I remember all the psychological pain I suffered, but no one talks about that. Whenever I write something like this it is not published.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Oct 11th 2009, 11:32
Deplorable and despicable. Where the perpetrators ever brought to justice?
Malcolm Agius
Oct 11th 2009, 11:26
What kind of reportage is it that only one side is interviewed and one point of view publicised?. You have an obligation to history as well as to the truth to tell both sides of a story and the years long provocation from an opposition hell bent on bringing down a Government and a pliable vociferous press that led up to these incidents.
Having said that,I do not recommend violence of any sort,but none of us are infallible.
Eric Psaila
Oct 11th 2009, 11:19
Perhaps it is a good time for both party leaders to make a joint statement in parliament condeming the agressions that occured on the 15th October 1979 and to promise all the law abiding Maltese citizens that this will never be allowed to happen again.
A real shame on the police force of the day because they failed us. This is now history but it is hard to forget that day.
Kenneth Galea
Oct 11th 2009, 11:13
This was Zimbabwe style and though I do think that the current Labour leader Joseph Muscat is a breath of fresh air I am still wary of Labour. I was ten at the time so of course I do not remember much but facts are facts. Thuggery, intimidation and threats were the order of the day in the late seventies and eighties because Dom Mintoff wanted to cling onto power at all costs. Democracy was probably better in Africa at the time!!!!!
Charles Micallef
Oct 11th 2009, 10:55
One off, if not THE bigest disgracful act of political thugery ever seen on our islands.......
we forgive but must never forget what extreme politics can lead to.......!
Dr Francis Saliba
Oct 11th 2009, 10:54
LEST WE FORGET that day of SHAME!