DECEMBER
- THE MONTH OF BRIBERY
by Dr. John Zammit Ph.D. (Lond.) Journalism and Mass Communication (including
Law) - Media Consultant and Leader of ALDM
In Malta and abroad especially in Christian (sic) countries December,
because of the tradition of Christmas and the beginning of a new year, is
renouned as the month of bribery. Certain people, name anybody, waits for
their annual hamper, gift, box of whiskey,
etc, etc.
I remember, when I was
Sub-Editor with l-Orizzont, when certain persons approached me "to shut my
mouth" or to bribe me. I never accepted, and I was never afraid, even
when they tried to terrify me or threatened and menaced with my life. First
of all I come from a family generation, who were all in the police force,
including my grand, grandfather, who was murdered while on the beat and running
after a thief. He was police constable Serafino Zammit - the second murdered Maltese
policeman in the history of the Malta police force in the year 1860.
One day, in the
1990's I attended a seminar about domestic violence and was talking with
Deputy Commissioner Mr. Anthony Mifsud Tomasi and I still remember what he told
me: "wives send their husbands to steal and at the same time phone the
police to catch them and be taken to court and imprisoned". I told him
"I cannot believe you". He said: "It is true". And I still
don't believe it till today.
Not to take long, I appeal to all, please try to be fair, sincere and not
frame your opponent or try to destroy him by lies and false reports to the
police, so that you eliminate him.
BEST WISHES OF THE SEASON AND FOR A CORRUPTION FREE NEW YEAR 2009
AUTHORITY ON THE DEMOCRATISATION OF THE
MEDIA
by Dr. John Zammit - Liberal 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.
(Dr. John Zammit is a Media Consultant and expert on the Maltese Media, as he
worked with it since 1965 through journalism, communications, advertising,
librarianship and management).
