The investigation into Daphne Caruana Galizia’s car-bomb murder is very difficult. All crime investigations are, particularly where explosions are involved because they usually destroy most of the evidence.
It is known that the police are following different leads, which could be many and varied given that, throughout her career as journalist/blogger, the victim dealt with so many topics and affected even more actors. These range from the Church to the underworld, from politicians to criminals, from local illicit activity to abuse overseas. Thus, establishing the motive/s is quite a feat and the list of potential suspects could be very long.
It would be dangerous at this stage to draw conclusions or think that because a particular lead is mentioned more than others then that is where the culprit is likely to be found.
As Ms Caruana Galizia wrote in her last blog, just minutes before she was murdered, crooks are everywhere.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has an explosive situation in his hands. Angry, law-abiding citizens demanding justice are justified in pointing their fingers at him and his government for they were the ones to allow mistrust in the police to reach unprecedented heights, for institutions like the Attorney General to be weakened and almost become an extension of the Executive and for the rule of law to become the “rule of what is wrongful”, to borrow the term used by the Chief Justice at the opening of the forensic year.
He remains adamant in refusing to make the necessary changes. Indeed, he keeps digging the hole he threw himself in and, as if to show all that everything is under control notwithstanding the unprecedented killing of a journalist in Malta, he flies to Dubai to promote the passport-sales scheme.
He keeps repeating the same mistakes he made when he refused to fire his closest aide, Keith Schembri, and his star Cabinet minister, Konrad Mizzi after the Panama Papers and leaked reports of the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit.
It falls squarely upon his shoulders to ensure that the investigations are done thoroughly, that no ‘sacrificial lambs’ are targeted and that, ultimately, the perpetrators are punished. How chilling it was to read what Unesco’s assistant director-general for communications and information, Frank La Rue, said in a letter to the Times of Malta.
Noting that, on average, one journalist is murdered every four hours and that in nine out of 10 cases the killers go unpunished, Mr La Rue remarked: “Impunity often leads to more murders and can signal the breakdown of judicial systems, the rule of law and democracy.” It is a breakdown that Ms Caruana Galizia often wrote about and which led to her violent death.
Justice must now be done and be seen to be done too. The first responsibility falls on the forces of law and order and on institutions, with the government ensuring things are moving the way they should.
All this will be done under the gaze of the people and, more so, very vigilant journalists. Mr La Rue insisted on the need of cases involving the killing of journalists to be thoroughly investigated and reported prominently, which would serve to also denounce such crimes.
However uncomfortable it may be to somebody, the truth needs to come out. And it is the Prime Minister who must see to that.