Labour MP denies link with Facebook ‘hate Gonzi’ group
A Facebook group declaring its hate for Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and the Nationalist Party changed its name yesterday after a Labour MP whose name and photo appeared among the group’s fans denied any link.
Lawyer Joseph Sammut denied he was ever a follower of We Hate Gonzi & PN, whose name has now been modified to a much less controversial We Disagree With Gonzi And PN.
“It’s something I would not even dream of,” he said, before adding: “Joe Sammut, unfortunately, is a very common name.”
He insisted his Facebook page does not list him as a fan of the contentious group, adding he had already written to the Prime Minister to explain he had never joined the list.
A grab from the Facebook page, taken on Monday morning and sent to The Times by the PN’s youth movement (MŻPN), shows a photo of Dr Sammut, and his name, among the group’s fans.
“I have no control over what other people put on their sites,” he said when confronted with this image.
When asked whether he thought someone might have downloaded his photo and created a profile under his name, Dr Sammut said he did not exclude it and repeatedly said it was not difficult to download his photo.
A person has to accept an invitation for his name and photo to appear among that group’s followers.
The other Labour MP whose name appeared among the group’s fans, Luciano Busuttil, said this had happened to him unknowingly.
“I must have accepted the request without even realising what it was. When I realised I removed myself from it,” he said, adding he did not agree with groups that launched personal attacks on politicians.
Dr Busuttil said that forthwith he would be much more careful before accepting such a request.
Marlene Mizzi, who contested last year’s MEP elections on the Labour ticket, has called on her Facebook friends not to join up.
“I urge everyone – especially Labour supporters – not to subscribe to this sort of hate mail,” she wrote on her Facebook page, adding that social democrats were not in the hate business but in making the country a better place to live in.
“Do not fall for this cheap trick. Shame on who started this,” she wrote.
The MŻPN said the Labour leadership had failed to condemn or disassociate itself from the MPs who had joined the hate campaign. It said the presence of the two MPs was proof that talk of a new political era within the PL was the usual rhetoric and cheap talk.
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...
14 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Deo Catania
Feb 4th 2010, 09:01
Anyone can create fake profiles, can add as many facebook profiles as desired by using different email address, choose any name you want, upload any pics you like of whoever person you're creating a fake profile of (bu using internet photos or photo's from his/her official profile) and the rest is history, the profile could be used to harm people like in the photo above, such a thing could be done within minutes, snap a photo and delete the profile.
@Martinelli....stop writing nonsense, using the tactic I explained above anyone can create a fake J.Martinelli profile.
Joe E Galea
Feb 4th 2010, 08:17
Can anyone prove who started this stupid facebook group?
In the absence of it I can say that it was a PN blue eyed elf (I have one in mind who posted in here) in a desperate move to try to get some sympathy back from many thousands of lost sheep due to the utter failure of their incompetent and unaccountable government.
Franco Farrugia
Feb 3rd 2010, 17:53
U hallina Martinelli. This is just a storm in a teacup, not even worth hitting the headlines. M'ghandhomx x'jaghmlu, min qalaghha din!
N.Farrugia
Feb 3rd 2010, 17:49
Is anyone surprised that these people resort to such demonish tactics? Don't you remember that very few years ago the MLP leader called his predecessor A TRIATOR. And has up to now never apologised for his vindicative words? Some things never change!!
J. J. Borg
Feb 3rd 2010, 17:31
James Tyrell: your scenario in this case is about as likely as your theories on American foreign policy, which scenarios you periodically regale us with in the local papers.
James A. Tyrrell
Feb 3rd 2010, 17:25
@J. J. Borg. What you are saying makes perfect sense however by the same token people should have the decency as you say not to act as if they have figured things out based purely on past incidents. The scenario I suggest below is every bit as feasible as the others put forward.
joseph borg
Feb 3rd 2010, 17:11
Ara dan Nazzjonalisti vera ma jisthu min xejn . Ahjar jghollu apthom u jxommu.
Tassew ipokriti.
Muscat. Pat
Feb 3rd 2010, 15:56
As if people have forgotten the character assination of Gerald Strickland ( the founder of this newspaper) of Dom Mintoff, of Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, of Alfred Sant especially after his operation and now Joseph Muscat and his family. Holier than thou my foot!
J. J. Borg
Feb 3rd 2010, 15:51
James Tyrell: many Maltese who lived in Malta in the 1970s and 80s don't need to stare very hard at all to make up their mind about the way the Labour Party acts and behaves. Like native Maltese, you have every right to an opinion. But you should also have the decency not to act like you have figured us out just because you spend a few months here each year. I can't wait for your comments when the Labour Party is finally elected to govern Malta.
Darren Zammit
Feb 3rd 2010, 14:45
Are there any more serious news to be included in 'The Times'?
J Martinelli
Feb 3rd 2010, 14:02
Garbage in - garbage out!
The PL chiefs (and there are many) should issue a statement about this whole affair, otherwise they will be regarded as accomplices at best, perpetrators at worst!
James A. Tyrrell
Feb 3rd 2010, 13:22
@joseph saliba. Joseph think about it for a minute. What serving politician would put his name and photograph on a website which spread hatred of a Government and it's leader? A lot of serving politicians may very well hate Gonzi PN and everything it stands for but do you really believe they would be stupid enough to do something like this? So contrary to what you say we have proof of nothing.
It's every bit as likely and in fact it could be argued more likely that this site is being run my PN supporters in order to try and discredit members of the Labour Party and raise sympathy for poor Dr. Gonzi. Sometimes you have to stare very hard at the trees before you see the wood!
Joe Camilleri
Feb 3rd 2010, 11:07
These Facebook, Hi5 etc things are very dangerous. One could easily upload a photo of another person with that person's name, without any verification of who really uploaded them.
joseph saliba
Feb 3rd 2010, 10:47
One has to conclude that it's not only that the pn is turning to the past for arguments . Now we have proof that the pl is turning to past practices of hatred and terrorism using modern tools provided by the pn in government like IT and public hearings.