Claudia Calleja
Writers and artistes question police decision on Nadur activity
About 50 writers and artistes are questioning what originally led the police to ask performing rock bands at the Nadur carnival to submit their planned repertoire for vetting.
Although the police retracted the decision, and were no longer insisting on the bands to submit their list of songs, the writers and artiste perceived the original request as "the latest in a long series of threats to the right to freedom of expression".
In a joint statement to the media, the artistes said they were particularly "alarmed" by the fact that the decision involved the police "apparently acting on their own initiative, with motivations that remain unclear in spite of the explanations issued by the police force".
The police said on Monday it had asked for the names of the bands and the songs so that the size of the crowd attending the carnival activity could be gauged and to make logistical arrangements.
The police were reacting to an item that appeared in The Sunday Times in which a worried band member said he had been informed that the lyrics would be vetted. The Sunday Times was told the police wanted to vet the lyrics to stamp out vulgar and offensive language or words that could make people upset or start a fight.
The police however denied ever asking for the lyrics, adding they only wanted the list of participating bands and their repertoire.
They said they had then "reconsidered the decision" and, when asked to clarify why, they replied: "After considering its request to obtain the song titles, it (the police) decided this information is no longer relevant for the upkeep of public order and peace."
Police Commissioner John Rizzo was asked yesterday what had led to the police reconsidering their request. He said: "I think we've been crystal clear... We asked for the name of songs and groups but not the lyrics as you said originally (in The Sunday Times)... But now we withdrew this... Initially, my officers thought this could be helpful to keep public order but we later realised that, from the name of a song, it's difficult to ensure public order. To do that we would need the lyrics but we never asked for them."
The writers and artistes ex-pressed their "dismay" that the police should intervene in the run-up to the carnival celebrations. They said it did not bode well in the wake of the announcement of a new draft Cultural Policy, launched last week, which aimed to function as a blueprint for cultural initiatives of all kinds.
"It is difficult to imagine how such a goal can be attained in the prevailing climate, where a stifling conservatism seems to reign and in which any potential criticism or satire of the established order is met with vehement resistance," the artists said.
They referred to the censorship controversy surrounding student newspaper Ir-Realtà and the banning of the play Stitching.
"In the strongest possible terms, we stress the need to assess the threat to freedom of expression in this country because there is a clear and imminent danger Malta will lose its democratic credentials if these actions, apparently sanctioned by the country's authorities, are to continue," they said.
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D.Galea
Feb 10th 2010, 18:49
@J. Debono
Please permit me to add, even if a band, writer, comedian or politician did in fact insult or shock anyone, it's not enough to set a precedent to make everyone subject to such scrutiny as it's simply not reason enough to put everyone in the same bag and by extension if went on like this we would really end up in the state in '1984' to avoid thoughtcrime.
J. Debono
Feb 10th 2010, 15:24
Most people are using/abusing the word 'freedom'.
OK, we have freedom of expression.
Does this mean I can say whatever I like? And what about other people's feelings.
'Freedom of Expression', means that anyone can express his opinion, whatever it may be, on the media or public places,
however using certain vulgar words/expressions, foul language, and swearing during public performances, and literature that anyone can have access to, is to be avoided.
Maybe that is the reason the police wanted to vet the lyrics, to avoid unpleasant circumstances.
However I am of the opinion that all artists are professionals, I have seen multiple Maltese bands on stage, and they NEVER insulted anyone, either directly or through foul language, and it is always a pleasure to hear their live performances.
Joseph ( Joe) Grima
Feb 10th 2010, 13:33
Ciommissioner Rizzo said in a recent radio interview that he did not want Malta lto look like a police state. Well, some of his officers are maiking the Maltese feel as if they are living in one. John Rizzo has either released his grip on those performing under him or he may be looking at retirement and may already be considering himself as time upped. The investigation of journalists at police headquarters, obnoxious and despised as they may be, for something they may have written which displeases people in power smells of subservience to arrogant power which the Police have a duty to resist. The Nadur incident is simply shameful, The arraignment of the Realta Edtior smells of the worst of Stalinism. The police seem to be on the attack against free speech, We may even be able to live without most current members of this police force, including Rizzo himself, but we will never give up our right to freedom of of speech. If Gonzi wants to feel the depth of real resistance to his oppressive regime, let him touch people's right to express themselves freely. This lame duck PM should seriously reconsider pushing the envelope any further.
T Mifsud
Feb 10th 2010, 10:45
This is for Giov De Martino:
Do you realise that what you wrote in chiding my comment about the Government's attack on Freedom of Expression, is a mistake?
I had written that the latest moves involving police, authorities on censorship, banning theatrical plays, charging fictional authors and writers, ordering shops to cover up plastic mannequins, interrogating bloggers and arresting website hosting administrators WILL BRING A TSUNAMI REBELLION OF THE PEOPLE. No one can touch what the world has fought for in the 80s, that brought Communism down from the worlds most powerful countries, because the people have been through it and will do everything not to return to it.
The Right of Freedom of Expression. What the authorities have done is VERY DANGEROUS. The people are adults and do not want to be patronised. The power of the people is very strong and powerful. They brought Russia down and Communism with it. I think they will bring this government down as well...for reasons one of which is this one. People are feeling the start of an OPPRESSION. They do not know what is next...!