I do not blame Giovanni Demar-tino (The Sunday Times, January 17) for being so off track and mistaken as to my alleged motives. The reason he gives is simply absurd.

I gave a two-hour interview to The Sunday Times on December 19, in which I explained in great detail some of the reasons related to my absence from Parliament.

The interview was published the next day. However, one of the main reasons I gave was not even mentioned in the interview as published and even though I explained it in great detail it was completely omitted in the front page report.

It was the fact that the right to legal assistance during police interrogations, which the European Court has ruled to be a fundamental human right, had been lying dormant on the statute book for over seven years.

I explained that I had spoken about this in Parliament several times, the last time on November 19, and I had also issued a press release almost a year ago, in March 2009, insisting that this fundamental human right be enforced.

I explained that since nothing changed I had to increase the pressure, and considering that this concerned a fundamental human right, I deemed it to be an effective and proportionate action.

I am satisfied that thanks to my humble contribution, and that of others, this right will enter into force on February 10.

The Nationalist Party has always believed in and fought for justice, fundamental liberties and civil rights. One of the very first laws enacted by the 1987 Nationalist government was the European Convention on Fundamental Human Rights Act XIV of 1987.

All this was never published even though I had sent a letter to The Sunday Times invoking my right of reply, concerning the interview, for the benefit of readers.

I wouldn't be surprised if other people who think like Mr Degiovanni are also regular readers of The Sunday Times.

Editor's note: The 'right of reply' referred to by Franco Debono was not published on legal advice. This concurred with the editor's opinion that the issues raised by Dr Debono were not, in fact, within the statutory definition of 'right of reply' but were, instead, an attempt to gain prominent additional coverage and due credit for the significant, profound and selfless contributions he is making to political life in Malta.