Students protest against censorship
Photo: Chris Sant Fournier.
A solitary drum beat mechanically, a bonfire of burning newspapers raged and students, some masked, others with handkerchiefs and scarves gagging their mouths braved the pouring rain yesterday in a demonstration against censorship.
Despite the miserable weather, about 150 students and members of the public gathered at the University's main square for a peaceful protest against censorship, following the ban of the satirical student newspaper Ir-Realtà.
Standing in front of a banner which read Front Kontra ċ-Ċensura (Front Against Censorship), theatre studies student Franco Rizzo said the aim of the protest was to demonstrate that University students were fed up with the blatant imposition of censorship and would like to have it abolished.
Mr Rizzo organised the event with Front Against Censorship, set up by the publishers of the newspaper.
The newspaper was banned by the University rector because it contained a short story about sexual violence which the University at first said was also discriminatory against women. In a later statement, it said the newspaper should have warned readers it was adult reading.
After reading an extract from University rector Juanito Camilleri's article that appeared in The Times yesterday, Mr Rizzo said he understood the rector was legally bound to take the decisions he did. However, he drew attention to the fact that no distinction was made between University and Junior College students. As a result, the adult University environment was being placed on the same level as that of adolescents. There had to be a reinforcement of classification and precaution to keep the distinction clear. "In this adult environment, the decision what to read and what not to must be left up to the individual," he said.
"Censorship is confusing the formation of proper ideas and opinions, even if these could be controversial. Censorship doesn't lead to the criticism and/or appreciation of a literary, theatrical or art work, which helps people understand the message the artist is bringing across and whether this strengthens the artistic value of the work or whether it is seen as mediocre."
During the protest, which included the participation of activist group Moviment Graffiti, three students read out extracts from "controversial" literature: Lady Chatterly's Lover (D. H. Lawrence), Crash (J. G. Ballard) and Il-Manifest tal-Killer (Karl Schembri). The latter was banned from being aired on Campus FM, the University's radio station.
Mark Camilleri, the editor of the publication and a 21-year-old history student, concluded the demonstration by pointing out that, although the demonstration voiced protest against censorship, it was not completely against censorship and that works that incited hatred had to be censored.
Mr Camilleri is facing a maximum jail term of three months and a fine if he is arraigned, charged with obscene libel, defined as "injuring public morals or decency", and found guilty. Although apparently contradictory, a student who was burning copies of the very newspaper that was being defended explained this was symbolical of the destruction the authorities were causing to the paper.
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Joe Xuereb
Dec 5th 2009, 19:25
As A Maltese citizen in foreign parts I have Malta's interest at heart. I made it my business to read the infamous piece. It is not great literature. It is written, therefore it is literature with a small L. It is filthy yes. But it is written in the first person. So it is legitimate. I was more 'offended' by a reference to an older woman's upper anatomy being less than perfect. Anti-women? No. It is about a man's obsession with sex and, when one knows ANYTHING about sex, one sees destruction in obsessive behaviour. This is about how not to be. How NOT to treat one's dignity and one's women. Of course many would see the piece as titillation. But that is their problem.
It is good that it is written in Maltese. In future, when the language is totally obsolete, linguists will be able to refer to this as document and know how perfectly ordinary people, those who do not handle things with a tissue paper, expressed themselves. I hope the furore around this will be available too as that would provide insights into how the Maltese mentality worked in 2009. If we are still around, that is.
Robert Callus
Dec 5th 2009, 15:24
@Charles Sammut
Your comment that this literature is "degrading to women and it reduces them to objects of lust to be used and abused, then discarded like a used tissue paper" shows you don't have a clue about what the prose was about.
It is just a fictituous obsessed sex maniac telling his views on women. The character is portrayed as a disgusting human being, even an object of ridicule. Thus the message is literally opposite to treating women like you said.
If you were right, I would have agreed that 'inciting racial hatred' and 'degrading women' are on the same level. If it was as such, you would have been right in calling Mr Camileri a hypocrite.
However this wasn't banned because of spreading hate or degrading anyone. It was banned because of 'kliem pastas'. Quite a big difference isn't it.
Kenneth Zammit Tabona
Dec 5th 2009, 10:52
How ironic that the injury to "public morals or decency" with which Mark Camilleri is charged would have never happened had the rector not made a cause celebre of the issue; probably unwittingly. Anybody with access to a bookshop or the internet can, should he or she so choose, read things that are far more titillating and shocking than Alex Vella Gera's work. Who remembers Harold Robbins in the 70s.
This thing has been blown out of all proportion; its ridiculous. If it means putting Mark Camilleri behind bars; even for a day all Malta's intellingentsia should join him; for shame!!!!!
The charges should be dropped and the case buried before we become a total laughing stock.
Charles Sammut
Dec 5th 2009, 09:52
"Mark Camilleri, the editor of the publication and a 21-year-old history student, concluded the demonstration by pointing out that, although the demonstration voiced protest against censorship, it was not completely against censorship and that works that incited hatred had to be censored."
How hypocritical! Typical leftist, liberal, muddled logic. So, crude, vulgar and obscene ranting is acceptable to these people, but expressing thoughts and opinions with which they do not agree is considered incitment to hatred.
I suppose there were females at the protest, as well. If so, that makes it even more ironic. 'Literature' like this, is degrading to women and it reduces them to objects of lust to be used and abused, then discarded like a used tissue paper.
Censorship is dangerous, you cannot pick and choose and it cannot be subjective. You are either for it or against it, no ifs and no buts.
Still, there is hope, only a tiny minority of people attended this protest.
Please choose the reason of your report below: