I must be honest, for that is critical for responsible free speech. There are certain consequences and implications of the Daphne Caruana Galizia tragedy that I cannot grasp. Yet there are other elements that I am certain of.

I also confess that I was afraid to write this article and considered scrapping it altogether. I say this because of the innumerable destructive critics that surfaced with their own opinions, often baseless, which they are ready to defend to the death. The greatest current threat to free speech is not the government or death, rather fear of being ridiculed and denied vehemently.

What I perceive as truth, based on evidence, may be reduced to nothing. The candle flame of unseen and alternate truths may be snuffed out. Nevertheless, I must write and with pen and paper act as witness to the living spirit of free speech and absolute truth in a tumorlike nation. With that said, the Devil may take my article, yet I will be satisfied that my will was pure.

To understand what we do not understand we must regress to basic facts. A car bomb took the life of a journalist. There are two parties; the Labour Party  that was oftentimes on her bad side and the Nationalist Party whose minimal criticism makes them believe they are above suspicion of being involved with the crime and are thus her champion. There is but one emergent fact from this. We may trust no one.

We the people alone are the singular pillar of democracy, we must not collapse. Yet, even as we speak, we are being manipulated by Nationalists to pick a side, to divide. I hear unmistakeable war drums. ‘One of their own’ was taken and now they are out for blood, eyes for eyes.

One public officer, who acted irresponsibly, brought about his consequent suspension and eventually his punishment, proportional to his action.  Yet the masses are led to believe this is not enough. Perhaps it is only after we burn him at the stake that they will be content.

What’s more, since the declaration of the fall of the rule of law, the lack of faith in the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner, the Nationalists seem only to be satisfied if Caruana Galicia case is undertaken by the primitive lack of bias of a street court followed by a lynching or the more desireable replacement of all mentioned with their own choices. You jest with me if you say the replacements would be non-partisan.

The flaming rhetoric, the fall of the rule of law, lack of faith in the government, does all this not smack of fearmongering? And if not fearmongering then what? These implications of the murder I fail to understand. How did this not happen with other car bombings or murders? What makes Caruana Galizia’s case so empirically different?

A culprit has not been found yet, therefore how are such conclusions reached? I now observe the PN trying to further their political aims off the back of this national tragedy. They are attempting to arrest the law courts into their own hands, shake the Prime Minister off his seat and attract more voters out of fear.

A fear that began with Caruana Galizia’s exposures of corruption and vice in the current government that now reached its peak with her death, so the Nationalists would want us to believe. The sad truth is that by their actions, the Nationalists have played into the murderer’s hands. They crystallised his terroristic intentions of spreading fear and division.

The Nationalists have played into the murderer’s hands. They crystallised his terroristic intentions of spreading fear and division

The fall of the rule of law, I may attempt to quell this fear but in truth much irreversible damage has already been done by Adrian Delia. Answer this: have prisoners been unjustly freed? May one steal freely? Is there anarchy? You may retort that the rule of law is internally corrupt. Very well, but if so then all the lawyers out of favour are out of a job, destined to lose any case.

Yet days ago, Simon Busuttil appeared before the court to defend his case against Keith Schembri. Would he have even bothered to do this if the courts are as rotten as you say they are? The evidence of the fall of the rule of law is peppered with evasive and angry speech.

The Caruana Galizia family tears dried up fast to be replaced by anger. Anger that led them to collaborate with Delia’s current plan, stating a list of resignations that is congruent with his. Have they forgotten how harshly their mother opposed the current leader of the Opposition?

Yet I suppose they have chosen to pick a side that is the lesser of two evils. It is an evil nonetheless, and an arguably greater one relative to this current climate. The Opposition leader is calling for division and is surely succeeding. I was struck by the moral implication presented by her children, the self-entitled demand of resignations that did nothing but strengthen Delia’s strategy.

The seeds of Labour-hatred in the Caruana Galizia family posts are understandable, they are in mourning, yet they cannot be allowed to come to fruition. I question whether this is what she wanted. The forming division of a perfect Nationalist side and a filthy Labour side.

This is further emphasised by the tactical slew of Nationalist-dominated marches, protests and vigils that consistently cry, “Look what they have done to her!” Did Caruana Galizia ever do this separation in her work? She criticised anyone and everyone, no one was perfect, no one was exempt despite her own political bias.

In truth, if the gatherings in her memory were genuine, I would not be surprised to see Labour members in the midst of the crowd.

She did them a service also, revealing decay among their ranks.

I daresay it is better to have a homogenised society where everyone is accountable for their actions than to have untouchable side and a consistently punished one. This upholds democracy far better.

We stand at a fork in the road, a path which may lead to stronger national unity and sound justice and a path of hatred lasting generations. I hold a mirror up to the Maltese population irrelevant of party and ask them to examine their conscience to work for the truly greater good.

I have spoken honestly and freely, celebrating my right to free speech which, though dented, is in fact still alive. I stand before you open to discussion yet vulnerable to unimaginable rudeness and ridicule. You may crucify me. But do not dare call yourselves protectors of free speech, patrons of democracy or carriers of Caruana Galizia’s legacy. Rather, beat your breast and say: “I am a philistine.”

Andrea Caruana is a University student.