AUTHORITY ON THE DEMOCRATISATION OF THE MEDIA
by Dr. John Zammit - Liberal Party Leader
There is an
urgent need of an Authority on the Democratisation of
the media, because the Maltese media first of all is
controlled by the big political parties. Secondly, the
Alleanza Liberal-Demokratika Malta
and other small parties are not given coverage,
especially e-mails and fax’ or any media releases are
not published, and party activities are not attended to
or reported.
I am going here to mention by name
TVM - Television Malta, Radio Malta, Net TV, Radio 101,
One TV, Super One Radio, Smash TV, Smash Radio, L-Orizzont,
It-Torca, In-Nazzjon, Il-Mument, Il-Kulhadd. When we
report to the Broadcasting Authority we do not receive
an answer. ALDM wonders what kind of democracy Malta is,
when we are being censored - if by mistake we are on
film, especially TVM will cut myself (John Zammit) out,
as if I was never there. This is why most of the Maltese
do not know about ALDM, and they are surprised, if they
happen to bump in the party-name - like it happened in
the article in The Times (see story below).
Alleanza
Liberal-Demokratika Malta has been
active since 26th November 2006 after Dr. Emmy Bezzina
decided to go it alone with the Alpha Party. Ever since
ALDM has organized an office, a website, a Bank account,
a new logo, flags and an executive-committee who meet
every Saturday. We have also contacted the European
Liberal Democratic Reform Party in
Brussels with regular visits and have foreign members,
who are giving a helping hand. I have since November of
2006 been seeing the constituents regularly at the
Valletta ALDM office and in other places. The courtesy
visit, ALDM had by the Hon. Graham Watson, leader of the
ALDE/ELDR group in the European Parliament, has
confirmed that we represent the European Liberals in
Malta. So when we read that certain Maltese and Gozitans
today do not know, that in Malta there is a Liberal
Party which represents the third largest political group
in the European Parliament, something must be wrong, or
it is due to the boycott we have from the Maltese media.
That is why I appeal, that an Authority for the
Democratisation of the Maltese Media should be founded
to control what appears in the media. Not to censor but
to see that the media do not suppress certain political
parties or progressive non government organizations.
With the Parliamentary Committee on Democratisation
together, we shall have a true democratic Malta - not as
we are today. I wish also to mention, that on the vote -
near every candidate's name - there should be the
candidates photo like in other countries. This is
important and must be done immediately, so that those
20,000 illiterate persons can vote by putting a number
next to the persons, they wish elected, and there’ll be
no need for them to ask for assistance.
Come on Malta
- be really democratic - and don't ask other countries
to be democratic when we are not. Dear GonziPN : instead
of laughing - be serious and see to the necessary
measures as to have a truly democratic and free Malta
without the interference of the Church in political
matters, that concern the Maltese secular citizens.
LYMEC Dec. 2012:
The Irish government has
announced the intention to draft a law which would allow
abortion in specific cases, where the life of the woman is
endangered.
LYMEC recognises it as a one
step towards the full legalisation of
abortion, and redefinition of the conservative interpretation of
the conception of life and the imposed
limitations of individual freedoms, primarily the freedom of
choice. LYMEC expresses sorrow that a
life had to be lost, not only of Savita Halappanavar, the one
that provoked the current move, but of many that have been
hidden behind the preaching of pro-life agenda.
Ireland, unlike the rest of
Europe, despite of being a signature state of Charter of
Fundamental Rights, still treats abortion as a criminal act.
Despite the fact that already in 1992, the Supreme Court ruled
that abortion is not illegal in the cases of a real and
substantial risk to a mother's life, as distinct from her
health; the government has not enacted legislation to give
certainty to doctors as to when terminations can be carried out
and under what circumstances. "State as an owner of
individual body or free will is by no means acceptable in 21st
century Europe, with the majority of states progressing far
ahead in the areas of individual and citizens rights."
LYMEC therefore strongly
advocates for a free and liberal Ireland and welcomes the small
steps made in that direction" said Vedrana Gujic, LYMEC's Vice
President.
