Anti-censorship Front lambasts Labour during 'funeral march'

Labour leader Joseph Muscat came under fire from the Front Against Censorship yesterday for allowing his MPs to vote with the government in favour of legislation strengthening anti-pornography laws.

"These laws have nothing to do with child pornography or protecting vulnerable minors. These laws have, to my knowledge, only been used against artists," said Mark Camilleri, editor of student newspaper Realta' who is facing criminal proceedings for publishing a graphic story, under the same laws which are being beefed up with stricter penalties.

Mr Camilleri was speaking during a 'funeral march' held in Valletta yesterday to mark the 'death' of art and freedom of expression. During the march a coffin representing the death of art was carried and a solemn drum roll was played as people dressed in black walked in procession-like manner.

Mr Camilleri pointed out that Dr Muscat had agreed to meet the front and agreed with most of its proposals.

However, the Labour leader failed to attend the rally and his party still voted unanimously with the government to allow stricter penalties for pornography.

MPs from both sides of the House were conspicuous by their absence during yesterday morning's protest, which attracted around 100 people.

One notable absentee was Owen Bonnici, who had publicly supported the anti-censorship cause. Labour was only represented by its Youth Forum (FŻL), which is part of the front.

Asked to comment about the front's criticism towards Labour, a spokesman for FŻL insisted the Labour Party was the "only progressive force that can rid us of the situation we are in".

Meanwhile, party sources said Dr Bonnici and Labour's education spokesman Evarist Bartolo did not attend the protest for fear of being taken to task for voting in favour of the legal amendments.

Sources said the party was embarrassed about its parliamentary "mistake", because MPs were told that the law being voted upon concerned child pornography.

On the other hand, Alternattiva Demokratika leader Michael Briguglio attended the rally and called on the activists to use their votes against "the enemy" and in favour of AD - the party consistently supporting the front.

He said the Nationalist Party was being consistent in its conservative Christian Democrat views, while Labour was trying to please everyone by using a huge electoral "gimmick" of being both progressive and moderate.

Meanwhile, the front said things were moving in the right direction thanks to the national cultural policy which was committed to updating legislation to reflect 21st century realities.

However, the policy could not wait until 2013 to be enacted, the front said, since acts of censorship were on the increase.

One of the protagonists involved in the draft policy, Toni Attard, attended the rally and agreed the recent amendments to Article 208 were inconsistent with the changes the policy was hoping to make.

"I'm not even sure MPs really know what they vote on sometimes," he told The Sunday Times.

Mr Attard said he expected to see more people from the theatre scene at the protest, but pointed out that many have not yet understood the consequences of censorship, so the battle must continue.

In response to the criticism against Labour during the protest, a PL spokesman said: "There will always be misunderstandings and we will not agree on everything. But our door is open to dialogue. The PL is the only party in Malta to secure sensible laws which will promote and not hinder arts."