The assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia and alleged corruption at senior government levels were among the “most significant human rights issues” on the island last year, according to the US State Department.
The department this month published its country reports on Human Rights Practices for 2017. Issued by the department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, the report says that Ms Caruana Galizia had exposed major government corruption. It also cites how the Caruana Galizia family declined to invite President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and other political leaders to the funeral.
The report’s section on corruption and the lack of transparency in government is dedicated to the revelations and allegations brought forward by Ms Caruana Galizia, mostly in relation to the Panama Papers.
It also oulines how then Opposition leader Simon Busuttil was involved by providing documents related to two separate alleged corruption cases to an inquiring magistrate.
The report insisted there were no reports that the government or its agents had committed arbitrary or unlawful killings.
On October 27, the court acquitted three detention service officials charged with the involuntary homicide of a Nigerian migrant in 2011, the report adds.
The report also adds that national authorities “maintained effective control” over the national police, the intelligence services and the armed forces, and the government had “effective mechanisms” to investigate and punish abuse.
There were no reports, the State Department said, of impunity involving police or security forces during the year.
On freedom of expression, the report outlines how there were instances where political figures brought complaints under libel laws to respond to media reports of alleged corruption. In some cases the complainants asked the courts to freeze journalists’ assets until the case’s outcome.
It specifically highlights how Economy Minister Chris Cardona sued Ms Caruana Galizia after she alleged he had visited a brothel during an official visit to Germany. Dr Cardona sued for €40,000 in damages and asked the court to freeze the assets in her bank account pending trial.
The report also details the situation facing migrants, pointing out how there were some reports that migrants suffered police harassment and NGOs accused the authorities of deliberately creating an atmosphere of “intimidation, insecurity, and fear”.