The Shift Team
As the one year anniversary of the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia draws close, a number of events are being organised in Malta and European cities to mark her death and renew the calls for truth and justice for her assassination.
These are organised by a number of local and international activists. The events will include the participation of international NGOs, including Reporters without Borders, Pen International, European Federation of Journalists, Committee to Protect Journalists, European Centre for Press and Media Freedom and the International Press Institute.
On Monday, BBC award-winning journalist John Sweeney will be giving a lecture on Freedom in honour of Caruana Galizia. Following his interview with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in January, BBC Newsnight’s Sweeney referred to Muscat as ‘the artful dodger of Europe‘. The lecture will take place at 7pm at the Catholic Institute in Floriana.
An exhibition by foreign artists will also be launched at Argotti Gardens in Floriana at 6.30pm.
On the anniversary of her death – Tuesday – the first event is organised by PN head of delegation MEP David Casa at the Mediterranean Conference Centre at 10am. The event, which will feature an art exhibition, will be addressed by MEPS and other speakers.
Later in the afternoon, at 2.30pm, there will be a silent gathering at the field in Bidnija where Caruana Galizia’s car was found after the bomb explosion.
Mass will be held at 6pm at Valletta’s St Francis Church. It will be celebrated by Reverend Canon David Cilia who was appointed as a replacement by Archbishop Charles Scicluna who will be abroad.
Following this, a protest will take at 7pm, starting from Republic Street, Valletta (meeting point is in front of the Wembley Store).
Vigils will also be held in other European cities. In London, it will take place at 7pm in the courtyard of St James Church in Piccadilly, opposite the Malta High Commission.
The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom is also holding a silent vigil at noon at the Residence Palace in Brussels, and at 2.30pm outside the Maltese embassy in Berlin.
The Italian Journalists Federation will be holding a press conference at Piazza Nicosia in Roma at 10am calling for justice and the truth behind Caruana Galizia’s death during which they will be reading out a letter written by her sister, Corinne Vella.
More than 60 Italian journalists who signed a declaration demanding the truth on the mastermind behind Caruana Galizia’s assassination will also be taking part in a number of these activities.
