NGOs insist on inquiry into use of rubber bullets

Lt Col Brian Gatt, who briefed the press shortly after the situation at Safi was brought back under control, said that riot gear – tear gas, batons and shields – had been used to quell the violent protest.

But he never mentioned the use of rubber bullets, which was later confirmed to The Sunday Times by the Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs.

A spokesperson for the Ministry said the statement by the ministry did not go “into the procedural details of the riot control operation.”

However, the statement did go into detail to describe and list the damage caused by the asylum seekers.

While government has already made it clear that no inquiry will be held, both JRS and aditus questioned the use of the rubber bullets, which could have been dangerous in the enclosed space.

“The statements by the NGOs are based on incorrect information which proves their unfamiliarity with the scenario, and the sequence of events that unfolded during the riot,” the spokesperson said.

“The fact that there was only one migrant who received slight injury during the entire incident further confirms that only the least amount of force required was used to bring the situation back under control.”

The spokesperson added that the Ministry does not believe that the circumstances to call for an inquiry exist.

In comments to MaltaToday, aditus lawyer Neil Falzon said he was “disappointed”. “We are not accusing anyone. We are simply calling for an official inquiry in light of the different reports which have emerged in the media.”

Falzon added that it is the people’s right to know which criteria and decisions led to the use of such force.

JRS human rights lawyer Katrine Camilleri reiterated that given that “a significant amount of force was used to quell the protest, an inquiry whether the measures used were proportionate and necessary in the circumstances would be appropriate.”

The Ministry defended the use of rubber bullets, saying that they were used to protect the lives of forces as well as for the well-being of the rioters themselves: “Notwithstanding the show of force, repeated verbal warning and the controlled use of tear gas, ever-increasing aggressiveness was evident toward the officers, several of whom were hit by human excrement, rocks and metal pipes.”

The spokesperson added that several warning shots had been fired and the situation was brought back under control, “only through this decisive and timely action”.