VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A large crowd marched through Valletta on Wednesday night in solidarity with the family of murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, calling for justice and an end to impunity.
The protest followed the acquittal of businessman Yorgen Fenech over his alleged role in Caruana Galizia’s murder. The jury cleared Fenech by eight votes to one.
The event had originally been planned as a monthly vigil organised by Repubblika and Occupy Justice, held on the 16th of each month to commemorate Caruana Galizia’s assassination on October 16, 2017.
With Fenech’s trial having continued through much of the summer, organisers had expected the gathering to mark a different moment. Instead, the acquittal transformed the vigil into a solidarity march, which received public backing from several NGOs and media organisations.
During the march, protesters repeatedly shouted “mafia” alongside calls for justice and an end to impunity.
Occupy Justice activist Pia Zammit questioned the language used to describe the situation, asking: “How do they want us to call it instead? Networking? Business as usual?”
Two of Caruana Galizia’s nieces, Megan and Amy Mallia, addressed the crowd during the event.
Megan read a reflection by her 87-year-old grandfather, Michael Vella, who recalled a family gathering in Caruana Galizia’s garden in late September 2017, shortly before her killing.
Vella described the afternoon spent harvesting olives with his family, unaware that those responsible for the murder were allegedly watching the family at the time.
Amy Mallia spoke about the family’s experience since the assassination, including hateful online comments and verbal abuse in public.
She called for the full implementation of the recommendations of the public inquiry into her aunt’s assassination.
Mallia also urged people to reject dishonesty, fear and omertà, arguing that justice required people to speak out, confront corruption and discuss difficult issues.
“Every single one of us has the power to shape what justice looks like,” she told the crowd. “And we need justice. For Daphne, for our family, and for all of us in Malta, and beyond.”
-Photo Occupy Justice-
(ITALPRESS).
