Those who criticised Sunday’s protest as partisan are “shooting the messengers,” a Civil Society Network spokesman said.
Critics failed to adequately understand the message of last Sunday’s demonstration, choosing to focus on the political leanings of the speakers instead.
Civil Society Network’s National Demonstration for Justice on Sunday received negative feedback from some, after PN councillor Michael Briguglio and blogger Manuel Delia took the stage during the event.
The demonstration was organised as a call for justice in the wake of Daphne Caruana Galizia’s brutal murder last Monday and as a reaction to the press conference held by the Police Commissioner on Wednesday. The rally saw thousands call for the resignation of Lawrence Cutajar and the Attorney General and demanded that their replacements are elected by a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
The General Workers’ Union hit out at the demonstration, saying that an opportunity to unite the country had turned into a “political attack.”
Civil Society Network to apply more pressure
The GWU said that the rally was turned into a partisan event, despite the Civil Society Network’s assurances that the event would remain non-partisan.
Junior College council president Owen Michael Grech also described the meeting as “bipartisan” and said that students should set an example by finding “other meaningful ways to voice their opinions.”
KSJC boycotted the event, with Mr Grech taking to social media to describe it as “a politicised protest with the aim to damage the name of our nation.”
But a spokesman from the NGO said that they made all the checks necessary to ensure that the rally would not be overshadowed by political parties, asking Labour and Nationalist MPs to remain at the back of the crowd and insisting that no “offensive or partisan material” would be allowed.
They also pointed out that Dr Briguglio is one of the founders of the organisation.
Civil Society Network yesterday issued a statement calling on “everyone in Malta and overseas” to send an email to the Office of the Prime Minister and the Office of the President. The email was to be sent at 3pm, one week to the hour after the murder of Ms Caruana Galizia.
“Prime Minister and President, one week has passed since the horrific event that shook our country and was felt all over the world,” the e-mail read.
“If you really love Malta then please remove the Police Commissioner and Attorney General. Our country deserves better.”
Asked whether a deadline for accepting the NGO’s request was presented to the President, the spokesperson said that Civil Society Network will continue to apply pressure until they see the removal of the Commissioner and the Attorney General.
Another call to action was floating around social media yesterday, asking people to send an email with the title: “Thank you and be brave, Prime Minister.” The post asked for people to show solidarity and trust in Dr Muscat.