Protesters forced to do two takes

A symbolic protest, calling for action on climate change, attracted the presence of nine policemen after environmental lobbyists ignored the orders of hotel security to get off the private property.

About 15 members of Moviment Graffitti and Alternattiva Demokratika Żgħażagħ stood outside the Corinthia San Ġorġ Hotel, St Julians, where members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean met to discuss climate change issues.

The meeting was held in preparation for next month's Copenhagen climate summit that will attempt to draw up a global climate treaty.

Wearing surgical masks, the activists displayed a banner that read "Less talk, more action", and stood behind a cardboard coffin symbolising the death of the earth.

"The meeting is more concerned with how to deal with the consequences of climate change rather than how to prevent them... The tragic consequences of climate change are becoming increasingly near and more real. However, it seems there is no political will on the part of many governments to address the roots of this problem," Graffitti member Chris Mizzi said during the protest held outside the hotel.

He insisted that Mediterranean countries should face their environmental responsibilities and said Malta was investing in "dirty technology" to keep operating its power stations.

Soon after addressing the media, the hotel's duty manager asked the activists to get off the private property. His orders were later repeated by the hotel's chief security officer, former police commissioner George Grech.

Activists argued they had a right to protest but Mr Grech said they did not have a right to be on private property. When they failed to move, he called the police.

About 15 minutes later the first of four police cars arrived on the scene. In all there were nine officers including an assistant commissioner. For about 20 minutes, the officers and hotel staff spoke between themselves, without approaching the lobbyists who stood quietly on the hotel's steps.

Twenty minutes later, the police walked up to the activists to speak to them. Meanwhile, the camera crew of another media organisation turned up and, while the police were talking, Mr Mizzi made an attempt at repeating the press conference for the new arrivals.

As he spoke, the police removed the coffin and banners from in front of the hotel and calmly asked the group to get off the private property.

The activists moved to the main road where they held the second press conference, with coffin and all, while the officers looked on.