Updated - Adds Adidus statement below
The Labour Party still supports one of its candidates vying to fill the parliamentary seat vacated by Karmenu Vella despite objecting to a number of anti-migration comments he made.
Robert Henry Bugeja is among five candidates hoping to be elected to Parliament at a casual election in the fifth district today.
He raised eyebrows after a number of anti-migration comments he posted on Facebook. One such post features a photo of a vessel loaded with irregular migrants with the caption “President’s charity ride”. He also urged people not to donate to l-Istrina, claiming that the President was forcing the Maltese to integrate with African migrants.
A PL spokesman told Times of Malta the party “totally disagrees with Mr Bugeja’s posts”, insisting they did not reflect the party’s position and policy. The spokesman said the party had spoken to Mr Bugeja who agreed to delete the posts in question.
Asked whether the party still supported his candidature, the spokesman said it would because he was eligible for the casual election having unsuccessfully contested the last general election.
The offending posts were removed by this morning, but a new post was uploaded saying 'People can's change the truth, but the truth can change people'.
The page also still features an October 25 post with a picture of a migrants' boat and a call for a referendum for Malta to leave the EU.
ADITUS CONDEMNATION
The Aditus Foundation in a statement today condemned Mr Bugeja's statements and also criticised the government for having failed to condemn his ‘blatant racism.’
It said that through its failure the governemnt was reiterating its position that some human beings were more deserving of human rights protection than others.
Aditus said Mr Bugeja's statements were a cause for extremely serious concern.
“Holding such views is ultimately an exercise of one’s freedoms, yet we have often strongly reiterated the social responsibility borne by individuals and organisations that are in a position of public influence."
It said Mr Bugeja’s resorting to Facebook to type message of hatred, ridicule the President of Malta and encourage social selfishness was far from mature, sensitive and constructive.
“To do this by launching a public attack against Malta’s largest solidarity activity, through which the lives of thousands of persons are dramatically improved, is beyond shocking.”
“It is also distressing to note the political unaccountability for such immaturity. In a year when Malta is moving steadily ahead in other human rights areas, we would have expected to hear and see the same level of energy dedicated to a harsh and significant condemnation of Mr Bugeja’s blatant racism. By failing to do so, the government has reiterated its position that some human beings are more deserving of human rights protection than others,” the foundation said.