Indymedia Malta

Moviment Graffitti fully condemns the arson attack which took place last Wednesday against the residence of newspaper editor Saviour Balzan. This attack which was the latest one in a series; when considering other similar arson attacks executed in a relatively short time frame against people working with asylum seekers such as the Jesuits Refugee Services and also a poet who expressed himself on the issue, clearly points towards racist hatred and intolerance.

Moviment Graffitti considers that; Racism is the real threat.

Over 100 protestors marched from Parliament to Freedom Square against the current U.S. occupation in Iraq. In Freedom Square the a short film against the effects of the War in Iraq was screened.

Press Release: Moviment Graffitti

In reaction to the case in Xemxija where a contractor carried out excavations in an illegal manner, Moviment Graffitti expressed its concern with the amount of destructive development that is taking place, where regulations are frequently not being observed.

Moviment Grafffitti said:

"While welcoming the recommendations of the inquiry on the Xemxija case, we cannot understand why an inquiry was required in the first place, when it is MEPA's role to ensure that rules that fall under its jurisdiction are being observed.

Symbolic blockade of the nuclear power plant at Tihange marks start of 150km march across Belgium, commemorating Chernobyl 20+ Already 300.000 signatures for petition asking European nuclear phase-out.

Saturday April 15th, Tihange, Belgium - Today at midday, 70 anti-nuclear activists from "Les Amis de la Terre Belgique" and "For Mother Earth", (the Belgian members of Friends of the Earth International), held a symbolic blockade of the nuclear power plant at Tihange.

Indymedia Malta expresses solidarity with the latest Jesuit Refugee Service victim Dr. Katrin Camilleri. Our organization firmly supports the Jesuit Refugee Services cause to provide legal assistance to immigrants and asylum seekers. If it was not for such pro bono lawyers immigrants and asylum seekers rights would be crushed. The same can be said for human rights in general.

Indymedia Malta believes that immigrants and asylum seekers are continuously being demonized by some of our politicians and far right organization.

Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) have today launched a press conference to show their discontent over MEPA's attitude towards development. In the Press Conference, speakers Paul Cardona and Astrid Vella said that ever since the group's first initiative, ordinary people from all over Malta are speaking up about the many threats that the Maltese environment is facing. Although the FAA is not against the idea of development, it should be controlled and done with discipline.

The Island Sanctuary has opened a new charity shop in Paola. The shop opens daily at mornings and evenings and on Saturday morning. Items for sale include new and nearly new clothes, books, bric a brac and toys.Stock changed daily. The shop is situated near St.Joseph Girls' School, Zabbar Rd, Paola.

31st March. Malta is today marking the 27th anniversary since the departure of the last British forces from the country. During the next 15 years since its independence (1964) the Maltese economy made a great leap forward. Foreign investment more than doubled, the amount of tourists increased four-fold, exports increased by five times and resultantly so was the amount of money in the hands of the Maltese.

The European Network Against Racism (ENAR) played a leading role in the development of a letter sent today to the Austrian Presidency, urging it to slow down the pace of negotiations on the Fundamental Rights Agency. The letter was issued jointly by a coalition of social NGOs (Social Platform), human rights NGOs (HRDN) and development NGOs (CONCORD).

"We welcome the commitment of the Austrian Presidency to prioritise the establishment of a Fundamental Rights Agency," said Pascale Charhon, Director of ENAR.

24.03.06: About 75 immigrants and asylum seekers who are being detained at the Police Headquarters in Floriana walked out of the detention center and proceeded to take their complaints to the Capital. Those escaping managed to arrive to parliament but were immediately halted and re-arrested.

Unconfirmed reports say that xenophobia in streets ran high, as many in Valletta kept their distances from the coloured immigrants and asylum seekers who were walking to parliament.

The Maltese government arbitrarily detains immigrants and asylum seekers for a period of 18 months, or even more.