[WATCH] 'Environment has no political colour, it belongs to all of us'

Thousands protest against Zonqor development

A protest organised by Front Harsien ODZ proved to be a success as thousands made their way to Valletta to protest against the proposed development of a private university in land outside development zones at Zonqor Point.

According to the organisers, the number of participants reached 3,000.

The protest was organised by Front Harsien ODZ and backed by the Nationalist Party, Alternattiva Demoktatika and several environmental and human rights NGOs.

Thanks to everyone who attended #Malta 's biggest citizens' protest ever: #savezonqor #frontharsienodz

— Michael Briguglio (@BriguglioMike) June 20, 2015

In a passionate speech outside the law courts, FHO spokesperson Michael Briguglio described the protest as the greatest ever protest to be held in Malta.

"Malta is ours too," he said to cheers.

He urged the government to change its position on development on Zonqor ODZ land.

"The environment belongs to us all and has no political colour," he said. "It should not be taken away from present and future generations.

"Zonqor and Marsaskala belong to us all, to all present and future generations. We express our solidarity with farmers, residents, parents, children, and all others who are showing deep concern for the loss of agricultural land and open spaces for the benefit of a Jordanian investor who is involved in a secret deal behind the back of all citizens."

He reiterated his call for the government to immediately publish its Heads of Agreement signed with Sadeen Group, that is "ours too", and criticised MEPA for acting as a "political rubber stamp" for the Office of the Prime Minister rather than as a development regulator.

Photo: Ray Attard

"If Malta is truly for all, then Muscat cannot ignore this protest," he said. "If Muscat is truly is a Prime Minister who listens, then he must instantly stop the Zonqor development, and not come up with a gimmick such as yesterday's announcement of a vacancy for the people post of director of MEPAs environment directorate."

Lino Bugeja said that this protest will go down in history. "We are facing a greater siege than that of 1565," he said. "Environmental destruction must end once and for all. We dont want Malta to become a concrete jungle."

Other brief speeches were delivered by FHO spokespeople Monique Agius and Shaun Grech, Marsaskala vice-mayor Desiree Attard and councillor Charlot Cassar.

Marching through Republic Street, they chanted 'the fields are ours, the coast is ours, the countryside belongs to everyone' and 'Malta not for sale'.

The largest banner read 'PLPN + Speculators, that's enough!' (PLPN + Spekulaturi, issa Daqshekk!')

Others read 'Does Malta belong to us or to speculators?', 'MEPA is a farce', 'No to the Mosta shooting range, No to development on ODZ', 'Zokrija Residents say No', 'We did not inherit this land from our fathers, we areborrowing it from our children', 'Let's Save Zonqor ', and 'Taghna Wkoll'.

One placard bore the face of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat holding a wad of cash and the words 'Nothing Else Matters' superimposed on it.

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil, deputy leader Mario de Marco, MPs Marthese Portelli, Jason Azzopardi, Ryan Callus and MEP Therese Comodini Cachia along with Labour backbencher Marlene Farrugia and Marsaskala's PL deputy mayor Desiree Attard were also in attendance.

Government whip Godfrey Farrugia, who on TimesTalk said he would be taking part in the protest, was nowhere to be seen.

In a statement to MaltaToday, Farrugia said that, as whip, he must “respect the diverse opinions within the PL parliamentary group”.

“The government is currently welcoming opinions for alternative sites for the university, both from civil society and other entities and internally.”

He said that he had attended the Front’s official launch last month to show his support for the protection of ODZ land “in a general way”.

He pointed to the PL parliamentary group’s recent declaration to Front Harsien ODZ that no construction should take place on ODZ “ideally”.

However, they hadn’t communicated an official position on the Zonqor Point proposal, except for Marlene Farrugia who told the Front personally that she was against the university and ODZ development.

“The parliamentary group took a common and positive stance with regards our policy towards the protection of ODZ land,” Farrugia said. “I am acting in accordance to that policy.”