Roma controversy: AD regrets PM's 'lack of dignity'

j.saliba

Sep 17th 2010, 20:19

How sorry should nationalist voters feel today for not voting AD to lead us 'with dignity' in supporting commissioner Reding to start legal action against France!!!

MSciberras

Sep 17th 2010, 19:04

@victor caruana Dom Mintoff always opted for freedom from foreign powers?????? Why do you say that? Because he shut down the British base??? Read some consequences of a decision that was right, but that was taken wrongly (Malta should have retained full military ties with the UK and Nato). (1) In 1979 Libyan gunboats stopped Malta from drilling for oil in waters that were considered to be Maltese (2) Malta's SAR was even bigger than it is today. It is smaller because a big chunk of it was ceded unilaterally to the Libyans by Mintoff. He failed to obtain anything for this, other than Libyan gunboats stopping him from looking for oil and a continued dispute on the maritime boundary. The Italians were so confident of Malta ceding yet another part of her SAR to Italy a year ago (Marroni speaking in the Italian press) because Malta had already given a huge chunk of it (probably the most valuable part!!!!) to Libya for free!!!!!!! (3) Begging for money from everyone - N Korea, Libya, China, France (the French turned us down...) - with Malta's neutrality being touted as the 'prize' these countries were buying...... That is the freedom you describe!!!!

d. borg

Sep 17th 2010, 18:53

France is doing what is in the best interest of the country. Maybe our PM should learn a few lessons from Sarkozy.

Adriano Spiteri

Sep 17th 2010, 18:46

No wonder this 'party' performed badly in the last election. Profs Cassola maintains that 'we should not be silenced by the shouting of big countries'. Actually we're not. It is him and his own cattle of lone rangers that are being silenced - the useless minority (GREENS). Now that you find it difficult to get elected from somewhere else, I suggest you apply for an acolyte post with Cohen. I feel shy calling myself Maltese with people like you around. Orbison's "All I have to do is dream" should be your party's anthem. HINT: How can a minority who defends other minorities be ever welcomed by the majority!? Someone said: 'If you fail, keep trying'. Good luck Profs Cassola.

MSciberras

Sep 17th 2010, 18:40

And these middle aged teenagers are amazed and stupefied after each and every election why no one ever votes for them..........!

Gerard Cassar

Sep 17th 2010, 18:10

Don't you know that when the government has no opinion, it waits for the others reaction then decides according to its perception. Having no ROMs here the government cannot express an opinion without attracting a reaction.It tries to be neutral.Are not refugees like ROMs. Let them free and we shall see where they will install themselves.

karm cassar

Sep 17th 2010, 17:07

to AD. What makes you think that the Maltese government was waiting and seeing? to D Attard . Yes many of us remember the many ' worthwhile ' decisions ' taken by Mintoff during those golden days of the eighties

c spiteri

Sep 17th 2010, 16:58

mela AD ghadom jesistu?

sandro pace

Sep 17th 2010, 16:38

Anarkija Demokratika in favour of illegal gypsy camps. Umbad ikollok xi kamra l-armier u arhom jikkritikaw. Not even major French environmental and socialist parties are against the crackdown, as Roma and their camps are a threat to the French rural environment. No prime minister should cede his right to take necessary action in such situations. It was a fool of our prime minister not to support the powerful French and neighbouring Italians on this rightful issue. Freedom of movement and immigration are not sacrosanct. It was reasonable for Sarkozy to be infuriated, as the illegal derelict and shanty roma camps are effecting his country mostly. What if it happened here? From the reaction, I suspect that Gonzi would have done nothing that would infuriate the commission. What would AD's reaction would be to illegal Roma camps in maltese countryside. Statesmen cannot afford to think with their heart. Those that love their country at least.

COLIN STANLEY

Sep 17th 2010, 16:37

what do these NGO's and AD. want? why is it they seem to want more problems for Malta especially. what are we to gain by all these problems , can our goverment slde with France, or not?

C.Ellul

Sep 17th 2010, 16:16

I am with France on this one.

Charles Sammut

Sep 17th 2010, 16:11

Prof Cassola, Sarkozy and Gonzi might not be professors like you, but they have a country to run not a discredited, leftist, liberal pressure group. Sarkozy is doing what is good for his citizens while Gonzi is starting to doubt the questionable joys of multi-culturalism.

malcolm seychell

Sep 17th 2010, 15:58

Ok so the green party are against sarkozy. They want to keep gypsies in France!!! AD is the worse choice for Malta. At least Gonzi didn't decide. AD took the wrong decisions as in most cases Communists called greens

Paul Barrett

Sep 17th 2010, 15:57

Quote: speak out clearly in favour of what is right, according to the rule of law and EU treaties. Unquote. The rule of law might be right but when you get hundreds or even thousands of individuals camp in the field next to your house, light up their camp fires or just move in on your property and take over your area and drain all your resources, you have got to consider what is indeed right and that perhaps the rule of law might need a little adjustment. Like a swam of locusts they will of course move on - but what happens when they pick on Malta for their summer (or winter) holiday. Despite the freedom of movement, each individual Country must have a line in the sand where it has the right to say this person is no-longer welcome and the ability to return them to their own Country. even if they are a member of the EU by birth or citizenship.

T Camilleri

Sep 17th 2010, 15:54

While agreeing that Gonzi should have taken a decision I expect that that decision would have been to support Sarkozy and not those who shout a lot but never put their money where their big mouth is.

c. camilleri

Sep 17th 2010, 15:53

It would be presumptuous for our PM to intervene at the present time when we have enough problems with these illegal refugees..In such cases prudence is the best policy. Arnold you can promise the moon because you do not represent anyone and carry no responsibility. @ D Attard. And the Maltese suffered the consequences.

J Farrugia

Sep 17th 2010, 15:50

Calling servile the Maltese Government is really tough on this pressure group Alternattiva. The Maltese Government has taken a neutral position on this question - not to my liking since I would have liked the Maltese Government to side with Italy and France AND Germany. But Malta's constitution says that Malta is a neutral country, so why is Cassolla so hot under the collar for being neutral in this matter? We cannot remain neutral - we have to take sides. With logic and reason which alas AD doesn't have. It lacks reason, but thank heavens that AD is nothing but those drums which feature in pacifists protests. They really are a non entity. And so they will remain.

sandro pace

Sep 17th 2010, 15:39

Anarkija Demokratika. And these call themselves environmentalists.

C A Camilleri

Sep 17th 2010, 15:38

Regardless of the Maltese government reaction, the EU observer stated that quote, In a lengthy discourse on what he (Mr Sarkozy) said was a non-discriminatory crackdown on Roma camps and expulsion of irregular migrants and EU citizens, Mr Sarkozy said he had no intention of bringing a halt to his policies, as it was the "duty" of his government to uphold the rule of law and public order, unquote. Mr Sarkozy is merely protecting the French people. What wrong is there in this, I may ask. He has my full support.

Tony Caruana

Sep 17th 2010, 15:37

I agree . The Pr me Miniister should make it clear that he agrees with France.

Jason Coleiro

Sep 17th 2010, 15:32

but should instead speak out clearly in favour of what is right, according to the rule of law and EU treaties." Prof. Cassola said. you're not thinking of bringing them here or show them sympathy also aren't you??????

Ernest Vella

Sep 17th 2010, 15:30

bla sens...l-AD ghax ma tohrogx mill-partit tal-hodor ghax jaqblu ma l-abort?

j bonello

Sep 17th 2010, 15:26

well done Sarkozy and Berlusconi !!! They really know what the ROMA problems are !!!

I really wish our government had the same atitude like Sarkozy when he told the EU minister to take the Roma to his country if they really meant so much for him !!!

N.Farrugia

Sep 17th 2010, 15:24

I definitely support Sarkosy's theory that who wants the Roma gypies( and for that matter) all illegal immigrants should take them with open arms in their homes(or countries)!

R. Gauci

Sep 17th 2010, 15:19

Well done to the French!! I agree with freedom of movement but only for serious workers and cases not for people for only do so to bum other countries.

D Attard

Sep 17th 2010, 15:01

The last time we took worthwhile decisions on our own was when Mintoff was leading this Country.