(Adds ministry's reaction)
The Front Against Censorship said in a statement this afternoon that it expected the work on the promised reforms to reflect present realities to be taken to the next level and discussed properly and democratically in Parliament.
It said that both minister Dolores Cristina and Parliamentary Secretary Mario DeMarco had claimed that a reform on censorship laws was forthcoming.
“Strengthening censorship in Malta is anything but sensible reform to address the realities of an EU member state,” it said.
When Parliament recently strengthened the Criminal Code article which criminalises pornography, the front said, the Opposition leader said that his party’s vote in favour was a mistake.
The front said it expected a similar declaration from the Prime Minister as a sign that the government was genuinely committed to progressive reform.
“Members of Parliament should be cautious and more attentative on legislation which is being proposed.
However the Minister of Home Affairs should have been much more prudent and instead of presenting a set of different reforms in one document, he should have at least stated what all the reforms of the document contained so as to have an open and democratic debate prior to voting.”
The Front is made up of Alternattiva Demokratika Żgħażagħ, Forum Żgħażagħ Laburisti, Kollettiv Ir-Realtà, General Workers Union Youths, Unifaun Theatre Productions, Moviment Graffitti, Żminijietna, MOVE,Pulse, Kunsill Studenti Junior College, Il-Kunsill Nazzjonali taż-Żgħażagħ, and Writers Club.
MINISTRY'S REACTION
In a reply, the ministry said that the bill introducing the said amendments had been presented to the media and published in the Government Gazette in February.
Until it was moved in Parliament, it had also been available for public scrutiny, including by members of the front.
The House unanimously approved the bill, which had been debated extensively in all its stages, on June 15.
This meant that four months passed from when the bill was published to when it was debated during which all those who were interested could easily contribute to the debate that was going on.
The front failed to do so, the ministry said, pointing out that facts showed that the front’s allegations that this was approved without the necessary democratic consultation were false.