PN remembers the frame-up of Pietru Pawl Busuttil

The Nationalist Party today concluded a series of events and activities aimed at commemorating the political unrest of the 1980s. This morning's activity in Hal Safi remembered the frame-up of Pietru Pawl Busuttil,

Busuttil was framed for the murder of Raymond Caruana in 1986.

"Democracy was stolen was 30 years ago," Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said. "25 years ago Raymond Caruana's life was taken and the attempt to incriminate an innocent man threatened our democracy."

Gonzi said this morning's activitiy was not to look back at the past but to look at what Malta has today and where it is heading.

"It feels like yesterday when society cried for democracy, as the government hindered liberty. The 80s saw a time of conflict instead of development. But those times have now changed."

Gonzi said people respected the institutions, as today's government respects democracy and respects election results.

He said, amendments to the Constitution can be discussed made guaranteeing Malta a neutral role, but not cut off from the rest of the world.

"Today, we have all the ingredients for our country to continue move forward. We acquired the culture of freedom ... it is the backbone of this country," Gonzi said.

He added more needs to be done, but it is clear the country's economy is no longer led by the State but open to businesses.

Gonzi recalled the investment done in the education, health and social services; the freedom of media and pluralism; and the police force serving the needs of the public.

"People can now open a case against government in court, something which a Labour government had removed," he said, adding government will continue to strengthen human rights, justice institutions and increase Courts efficiency.

PN interviews Pietru Pawl Busuttil

During the activity, Safi mayor Pietru Pawl Busuttil recalled in detail what he went through during the years of the frame-up. He said, courage, determination and the late President Guido de Marco had helped him overcome the ordeal.

Recalling moment by moment what happened on the day when police officers had knocked on the front door of his house, Busuttil said he could never predict what was to face him:

"They had tried to frame my brother-in-law, but the plan failed when they were caught trying to climb up his farm. Someone then advised them to frame me. I remember passing outside my farm and seeing Lorry Sant. I thought he had come down to carry out plans on road asphalting. But it was the beginning of the plan."

Busuttil said in the evening, police knocked on his door and said they wanted to go to his farm: "They seemed to know where to drive to, as I started noticing more cars following us. I immediately noticed something was wrong when I opened the door to the farm. It wasn't as I had left it."

He said, the police inspector knew exactly where to look at: "He pointed at the hay - which was not there when I left - and asked me to look what was underneath. I refused to touch it - I knew they wanted my fingerprints there."

Under the hay police found explosives, a boiler suit and bullets, Busuttil said. As more photographs were taken, Busutill spent the night with the police at the garage. Because it was night, they couldn't search the area where he kept the animals.

"Early in the morning my wife came and I told her to contact Guido de Marco. Then, I went to feed the animals and noticed another car had arrived. The police arrived later and started their second search. Inspector Mula immediately saw another sack which wasn't mine.

"He once again told me to open it but I refused. I told him it wasn't mine. So he opened it. There, he found the gun. He asked me to show him how I use it and again I refused. He started shouting and the police commissioner came in."

Busutill adds the worst moment of his life was when the commissioner told him: "Do you know your life is over? Imagine yourself in a boiling volcano..."

When he took the police and a photographer on the roof, Busuttil immediately realised from where the people had got in: "They had probably sprayed my dog to calm her down with an insect repellent. I saw the net on the roof was thorn and scratches on the wall."

Busuttil said his second worst moment was when the court read out the nine charges he was accused of: "The worst accusation was that I killed Raymond Caruana. I saw Guido de Marco and he hugged me and I cried. It was a nightmare."

The Safi mayor says he still suffers from heart conditions due to the shock suffered.  "I was like a bird who is caged. They threw me in a small room, with a small round window just for your eye to see. Then I ended up in hospital. It was a shock, slowly taking away my life."

Remembering de Marco, Busuttil said it was him who saved his life. "He used to visit me often and talk to me. He told me my name was going to be cleared and to pluck up courage. If it weren't for him, I would have given up."