I would like to refer to Anthony Mizzi’s letter Why Bring Back The Past? (December 15) and comment on two issues raised in the letter.
Why is the Nationalist Party bringing up the past, asked Mr Mizzi.
It is also a duty, besides being a right, to remember past episodes that left an indelible negative impact on society’s democratic principles. Such commemorations should serve the purpose to reflect on and renew one’s determination not to have them repeated. The Nationalist Party’s intentions in commemorating these past episodes on their anniversary dates has been to ponder about the values and principles that were implicated and drawn in, and to honour those that deserve attention and praise for their outstanding service. The Nationalist Party is not afraid of its past, and that is why it feels comfortable talking about it.
“Tal-Barrani provoked by the PN,” wrote Mr Mizzi.
This is unacceptable. Either Mr Mizzi is ignorant of the facts, and he writes before doing his homework, which is already bad; or he is aware of what really happened but attempts to twist facts, which means he is truly the Macchiavelian and deceitful. It was in the national interest to show that Malta and all its territory was sovereign, wherein all democratic and civil rights are observed and safeguarded. It so happened that the regime led by Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici was unable to guarantee these rights for all Maltese citizens independently of their political opinion.
The Żejtun area was declared out of bounds by the regime, thus the PN, its leaders and followers were disallowed to hold an otherwise normal political activity. Even Court rulings were ignored.
It is to be recalled that all this happened at a time when the PN had the majority of the people behind it through the 1981 elections, whereas the MLP obstinately ruled against the expressed will of the majority.
The Tal-Barrani episode and the organised aggression by the socialist thugs, supported by the police, provoked a great shock in the minds of the law-abiding citizens. It was a disgraceful episode that all Maltese should not only remember: it is every citizen’s duty to see that it is not repeated. The social and democratic conscience of the Maltese people should always be kept alert and alive, especially in a time of great alienation and distraction, to better determine the direction it wants to take for the future.
Those who want to hide the past must have a guilty conscience and pretend to rub off history just by ignoring it. The PL should do well to come clean once and for all about its past with a true reconciliation with Maltese society. The anniversary commemorations would, thus, serve one purpose – that of enhancing sound values and principles so that truth reigns supreme through recalling historic events for the attention of future generations.