Protest as Speaker calls for more respect for Parliament

Protesters blocking the gate to Hastings Gardens in Valletta had to be dragged away by policemen shortly after the Speaker of the House, Michael Frendo, called for greater respect to be shown to the work of Parliament during a ceremony to mark the riots of June 7, 1919.

Onlookers shouted their disapproval at the police action: "Leave them alone, they're young.

You're going to hurt them," one woman called at the 20-odd policemen who dragged members of Graffitti, Żminijietna, Alternattiva Demokratika Youths and Moviment Azzjoni Xellug away from the gate where the Prime Minister's driver was trying to park the car.

Holding a banner with the words "dictatorial democracy", the protesters had earlier stood across the road from the gate until Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, opposition leader Joseph Muscat and Speaker of the House Michael Frendo walked inside for the ceremony.

Amid shouts of "thieves in jackets" and "where is democracy?" the protestors tried to follow them in, only to be stopped by policemen. The officers told the 15-odd protesters they could enter the garden by another gate but they refused.

At the end of the ceremony they sat down in front of the gate until they were forcibly moved on by the police after refusing to budge.

They later told The Times they would continue protesting unless the government changed its ways and stopped acting "like a bulldozer" over democratic rights.

In a statement, the protesters said local democracy was in crisis and being gradually replaced by the rule of "a few politically, culturally and economically powerful groups and individuals".

They said poverty was on the increase and social services were being eroded due to lack of funds but the government was willing to squander people's money on dubious or far less important ventures, including wasteful contracts and elite projects where workers gained little. These included the Tigné Point project, the land handed over to the American embassy, and decisions in which the people's will was not taken into consideration, including the City Gate project.

"All this goes against the spirit of Sette Giugno," they said.

Some 10 officers blocked the entrance to Hastings, where the Sette Giugno monument has been moved from St George's Square, as Dr Frendo said people's thirst for freedom could only be held back for a short time.

"In the end, the people's will becomes irresistible and finds its way despite obstacles," he said, reading a prepared speech.

Dr Frendo said one should not forget that freedoms enjoyed in today's democracy were won through fighting and bloodshed. Six men had died on June 7, 1918, either shot or bayoneted by the British troops during the bread riots.

"We should not forget that even today there are still oppressed peoples," he said, as the protesters shouted, "Look at us, we are oppressed, being kept outside".

Dr Frendo called for more respect and appreciation of Parliament's work, saying people should distinguish its role from that of the executive government.

He said the lengthy discussion about the new Parliament building in Freedom Square showed there was still not enough appreciation for the work of Parliament and its members.

"I was disappointed to see that 91 years after Sette Giugno, 46 years after independence and 36 years after Malta become a Republic, there are still those who doubt whether Parliament should be given a new house," he said.

This, he said, should spur a greater effort to ensure the public valued the work of Parliament and not give the impression it was an arena for fights between politicians, when in fact the majority of laws were passed by consensus following in-depth discussion.

He pointed out that Parliament should be more open to modern media and highlighted the important work carried out by the different committees.

"This institution needs to take the place it deserves, not only according to the Constitution but particularly in the country's popular conscience."

He said this required a lot of work, not only revolving around the physical infrastructure but also by giving parliamentarians the necessary support of expertise and information.

"We need to carry out an exercise of capacity building of Parliament similar to the one done by the executive (government) before Malta's EU accession."

Dr Frendo said the Lisbon Treaty had not yet made a difference to Malta's Parliament. He said it was imperative to take all the necessary measures to empower Parliament so it could carry out its duties in the context of the Treaty, which aimed for a more dynamic and competitive European economy with greater social cohesion.