About 500 people joined a rally against “institutional racism” in Valletta yesterday, during which government policies towards irregular migrants were blamed for fomenting racism.
The protest, led by the Migrants Network for Equality, was called after Malian Mamadou Kamara died in the custody of soldiers earlier this month following his escape from detention at Safi Barracks.
Two soldiers accused of his murder were granted bail on Tuesday. Another is accused of tampering with evidence in connection with the case.
“We are not here to blame the soldiers or the police; we are here to blame the detention system,” said Mr Kamara’s fellow countryman Ali Konate.
The multiracial crowd began to gather at the Triton Fountain in Floriana at 5 p.m. behind a large banner saying, simply, “Stop Racism”.
Many held up printed photos of Mamadou Kamara and Ifeanyi Nwokoye, a 29-year-old Nigerian who died in similar circumstances after escaping from detention last year (see story on page 1).
Others held signs saying “Justice”, while a few carried candles.
At 5.30 p.m. they began their slow procession along Republic Street, staying quiet to show that they were still mourning for Mr Kamara, known to many as “Zoto”.
Their sombre passage was watched from on high by a host of gilded saints and angels – statues in place for the colourful Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Mr Konate said that Mr Kamara was a gentle man suffering from psychological problems. He angrily refuted the claim that Mr Kamara’s fellow detainees had complained to detention staff about his behaviour.
Instead, he claimed detainees went on hunger strike for a day because detention staff refused to tell them what had happened to Mr Kamara.
Andre Callus from Moviment Graffitti said the government had created a system that was breeding racism. “If next year we have another death, let no one in power say they are not to blame. If they don’t change the system, they are to blame,” he said.
Among those gathered were Labour MP spokesman on Civil Rights Evarist Bartolo, Nationalist MPs Beppe Fenech Adami, David Agius, Karl Gouder and Charlo Bonnici, MEP Simon Busuttil and PN officials Frank Psaila and Paula Mifsud Bonnici.
“We cannot continue to criminalise immigrants and treat them as a security threat – it’s very dangerous and it creates an instant barrier from the Maltese,” Mr Callus said.
In his parting address, Mr Konate peered at the multicultural crowd and made a plea for unity between Maltese people and Africans.
“Let’s make this the beginning not the end.”