Cruel politics: the unjust arrest of Sliema's local councillors

It has been a tempestuous week. 

First things first – if I were true to my rebellious spirit I would have no problems questioning the draconian measures taken by the police in incarcerating troglodyte-looking hunters who simply protested against the PM’s decision to ban hunting.

There is nothing wrong in calling the PM names and protesting in front of Castille. 

Even burning the Labour Party flag should not lead the police to arrest any individual and to call for his incarceration.

It seemed to me that the police were acting beyond what was required. 

I get very worried when the police and the judiciary play to the mood of the country and its political leaders.

A hunter who posted a Facebook comment is behind bars. His only offence was to promote the protest and then write, after being contacted by the police, that the protest was cancelled.

Hurling stones and injuring people is another matter, but it seems that no one has the balls to identify the culprits. And no matter what we think, in court it is proof, not truth, that counts.

Having said that, Joseph Muscat’s decision to ban hunting is right. Whether he did it to eliminate the angst about Karmenu Vella’s nomination is irrelevant.

The PM’s decision definitely ridicules the standing of the Ornis committee, and more so of its chairman, Mark Anthony Falzon, an anthropologist who presided over various controversial decisions which I believe will lead to more wildlife destruction. (Even though I believe this is not Falzon’s intention). 

But this is what happens when you have self-centred political appointees run such sensitive commissions.

Muscat’s decision to ban hunting is based on the premise that hunters in their vast majority do not know how to behave themselves, and even though Lino Farrugia as CEO of the hunter’s lobby says the contrary, I am sure that in his heart of hearts he knows that most hunters are unruly, and cannot be tamed and that they cannot differentiate between a white stork and a game bird.

Muscat of course did not expect such a backlash from the hunters, but their actions have most likely changed the destiny of a referendum on Spring hunting.  

Until last Saturday we all thought the referendum would be a lost cause.

By attacking Muscat, the hunters have effectively neutralised the haemorrhage of former Labourites to the pro-hunting lobby and reinvigorated the campaign for the abolition of hunting in Spring.

Which is a beautiful gift at a time when the polls are still showing a majority of people against Spring hunting and when three newspapers – MaltaToday, The Independent and The Sunday Times – have joined forces to call for the referendum to ban Spring hunting.

It is not only symbolic but a historic gesture.

The reluctance of the political class to take a stand is being neutralised by the independent press and at least credits us in the media for burying our hatchets for once and speaking with one voice.

It also came about because Muscat wanted to postpone next year’s local council elections on the premise that holding them would be a waste of money. With a referendum being held next year that argument holds no water, it is in the interest of the government to kill two ‘birds’ with one stone and save money by holding two democratic processes at the same time.

***

As I was writing this column I was coming to terms with the court decision that acquitted two Sliema councillors, Bobby Calì and Martin Debono. A Nationalist and a Labourite. They were prosecuted by the over-zealous Inspector Angelo Gafa over the incredible allegation that they had ‘stolen’ two local council laptops.

The accusation turns out to have been fabricated. And this time round it is to the credit of a discerning member of the judiciary that the truth surfaced. In this case it is Magistrate Audrey Demicoli.

The evidence presented in court included taped conversations presented by the police which uncovers the cruel and ‘dark’ intentions of three rather well known individuals.

They include former Mayor Joanna Gonzi, Cyrus Engerer then a PN councillor, a turncoat since and now a consultant for this administration, and a public officer, Svetlana Curmi.

They did the unthinkable; their conversations, unknowingly taped along with the council’s recordings, were unintentionally presented as evidence in court.

The recording reveals very interesting insights into the removal of Nikki Dimech as PN Mayor and the reasons behind the police prosecution against Calì and Debono.

A taster of this shameful episode is today carried prominently and at length in sister newspaper illum.

A transcript of selected bits of the recording reveals the unthinkable. It dates to two weeks after Joanna Gonzi replaced Nikki Dimech as Mayor in Sliema, some four years ago.

Joanna Gonzi: “I will destroy them (Calì and Debono), they can fuck themselves.”

Joanna: “Fuck them, I want them dead, all of them. I want to kill them.”

Joanna: “Svet honestly, I want to kill them.”

Joanna: “If only his mother (Martin Debono’s) would have a heart attack.”

Joanna: “He can go fuck himself for all I care.”

Cyrus Engerer: “Martin or Nikki?”

Joanna: “They can go together, They can do it your way if you want.”

Joanna: “He is fucking arsehole.”

Joanna’s husband (not a councillor): ”Bring in the IAID so that they crucify them.”

Svetlana Curmi:  “Pupa, come on Babe (to Joanna) we are in power!”

Joanna: “But I’m failing it.”

Cyrus: “And we are three.”

Joanna: “Me, you and her.”

Svetlana: “You (to Joanna) have to tell Paul Borg Olivier that since Bobby (Calì) was not present the minutes were not approved.”

Cyrus Engerer: “We cannot do anything to Bobby for now. Until Nikki is kicked out from the council we have to please Bobby all the way, until we need to, because he will vote against us and we lose the majority.”

Joanna: “Come on Babe (to Svetlana) we should be in power.

Two months later Bobby Calì and Martin Debono are arrested on trumped up charges.  They were acquitted on Friday.

Inspector Gafa today is a senior official with the security service, Joanna Gonzi lives a rather normal life and is out of politics, Svetlana Curmi holds a senior post in government and Cyrus Engerer continues to politically survive in spite of repeated ‘unethical’ mishaps.  He serves as a consultant to the government and is a supporter of Joseph Muscat.

Did I say a tempestuous week?