The House of Representative this evening held a minute's silence in memory of the millions killed in Auschwitz concentration camp during the war.

The commemoration was held on the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the camp.

The Israeli ambassador to Malta was present. 

Foreign Minister George Vella underlined the importance of keeping alive the memory of what had happened.  

What happened in Auschwitz was a blot on humanity and unless one was careful, there could be circumstances which would lead to a repeat. Hence the importance of safeguarding democracy and its related freedoms.

One needed to reflect on the dangers of what racism, anti-Semitism, ethnic cleaning and any other type of discrimination or xenophobia could lead to.

Amid this tragedy one could also celebrate how the human spirit survived in so many people who died for others or made untold sacrifices for others. 

Dr Vella said he had visited Auschwitz as well as the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem. They were experiences which touched everyone.

The ultimate question was, had humanity learnt its lesson? He had his doubts. Around the world one was seeing things which did not reflect the lesson which should have been learnt from Auschwitz. One only needed to see what had taken place or was taking place, albeit at a smaller scale in the Balkans,  Gaza, Rwanda, and Islamic State, among other places.

Hence the need for effective international structures and education on the lessons of history to help humanity keep control and within the norms of what was permissible. In that way, the millions of Jews who were exterminated would not have died in vain.

Nationalist MP Tonio Fenech associated himself with Dr Vella's sentiments and expressed regret for the tragedy which unfolded over 70 years ago. It was everyone's duty to recall such events. The concentration camps were factories of death which saw six million Jews perish as a result of the Nazi government's racism.

The world had similarly seen attempts to eradicate people with disabilities, gays,  and other categories of society which did not fall within the definition of the 'Aryan' race.

Alas the ingredients which caused this tragedy still existed in xenophobia, racism,prejudice, anti-Semitism and ethnic cleansing. The Holocaust which was supposed to have ended 70 years ago existed still. Repression and torture were still being used to achieve power and control minds.

People were still losing their possessions, their families and their dignity because they were different or did not agree with their rulers. 

All politicians had a special responsibility in the way they spoke and acted so as not to sow fear which led to xenophobia, racism, and anti-Semitism. 

One should not forget.

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