people

Sharon: the CNI’s rolling stone

What’s a liberal-minded woman like you doing in a place like this, MIRIAM DUNN asks Sharon Ellul Bonici

Whenever there is media attention centred on the Campaign for National Independence’s press coverages and seminars, the jokes always do the rounds, even if they don’t make the newspapers.

CNI’s representatives, the gossip goes, consist of a few male Old Labourites, assisted, somewhat incongruously, by an attractive young woman.

The attractive young woman, whom I happen to be interviewing and whose name is Sharon Ellul Bonici, has the grace to laugh when I put this line of thought to her.

She immediately dismisses the idea that CNI, or the ‘no-to-EU-membership campaign’ has no appeal to the younger generations, although she admits that a new youth movement within the organisation is now gathering pace under its own steam. And she also stresses that while she can draw on the experience of the older CNI members, they accept that Sharon is going to be more in touch with today’s younger generations.

But surely your views mean that at times you clash with fellow CNI members, I venture. After all, you are known to be a broadminded woman…

"Yes, it’s true that I don’t agree with other CNI members on all issues," she admits. "We all have different views, for example, I believe in divorce and the representation of minority groups.

"But we never clash. What a lot of people forget is that CNI is not a political party - we all agree that Malta shouldn’t join the EU, but for different reasons."

And what is it that Sharon objects to in the EU?

"I’m in favour of a lot of what the EU has to offer, what I’m against is the political (federalist) integration of the member states," she replies. "Malta’s so small that, if the EU follows its current trend and winds up as a huge federal state, then we will be nothing more than a sub-regional province.

"Our national status will be removed and we will end up with no power or influence, far removed from the centre of power. At the moment we may be a small nation, but we are, at least, a nation, with the ability to enact our own laws, regulations and foreign policy."

CNI might not be a political party, but there is a line of thought that the Labour party is lurking close behind in the shadows, in much the same way that the Nationalists are throwing their weight behind the ‘Iva’ campaign.

Sharon denies the link, insisting that this perception was relayed by the media and suggests that if CNI had exactly the same views as the Labour party, there would not have been any need for it to be set up in the first place.

"But this is not the case, since there are a number of key issues on which we diverge," she says. "For example, many CNI members are totally against levy removal, while the MLP, although critical of the government for getting rid of them too quickly, still talks of removing them, but within a different timeframe.

"On the same lines, the MLP is always careful to stress that it is not saying ‘never to EU membership’, whereas CNI would probably only consider being in favour of joining if the federalist treaties (of Maastricht and Amsterdam) were removed. And the EU concept centres on economic cooperation between sovereign nation states.

"Moreover, there are CNI members who come from the Nationalist Party camp."

Sharon was invited by former premier Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici to join CNI as public relations officer and now also publishes a newspaper, ‘The EU Observer, Malta’, which is distributed throughout 15 countries and is a critical look at what the Union stands for. She admits that immediately after CNI’s first press conference, the movement was "bombarded" with criticism.

But surely that was to be expected, I suggest, with the EU issue being such a hot potato.

"Yes, but what upset me was that the attacks were very personal, rather than against CNI, especially on Dr Mifsud Bonnici," she replies. "Many of his views have been misinterpreted and misquoted in the media time and time again for people to gain political mileage."

The politicisation of the EU issue is something that Sharon says she regrets.

"Malta’s a very small country where resources count," she says. "But some of our citizens who are very intelligent and really know their stuff on the EU are afraid to air their views in public now because of the political connotations.

"In the current political climate, if you’re seen to be opposing the EU, you’re automatically put with the MLP and if you say you’re in favour, you’re in the PN’s fold, while the real picture is much greyer than it is black and white."

Sharon admits that her decision to play a role in the CNI campaign has brought about many changes in her life.

"I never really intended to ‘go public’ with my views and I’m really very shy by nature," she says. "But I believe in honesty and I think people respect you for that, even if they don’t necessarily agree with what you say."

Sharon might be shy, but she certainly refuses to be intimidated – a fact borne out by the articles she has written that have been of a somewhat controversial nature.

"Yes, I’ve been pressurised to shut up," she says. "The pressure might have been subtle, but it was definitely there."

She is right that her refusal to be ‘shut up’ has earned her respect in some circles, including a place on the ‘Xarabank’ team.

But does she worry that perhaps the producers are using her for political mileage?

"I have no doubt that with me and Anna Mallia on board, the show gains more credibility with the MLP supporters, but I don’t think Peppi Azzopardi had a hidden agenda when he asked us to join," she answers. "Unfortunately, because our political views are known, the Nationalist media used our names to discredit what Alfred Sant said about the ‘Where’s Everybody’ company.

"And this was unfair; after all, we’re there on a professional level, not to participate in partisan politics."

So was it difficult hearing that the survey indicated the trend was moving towards a pro-EU stand, as a CNI member?

" Personally, I take surveys with a pinch of salt, especially when one considers the sampling involved," she answers. "There’ll be others with different results in the future and there can be specific issues at times that will affect the psyche of the people."

And how does she think people will vote in the referendum.

"First, there’s going to be a lot of people that will vote along party lines, while some others will vote in a self-centred way determined by how they personally will be affected," she replies. "Then there will be the sensible ones who vote on the grounds of national interest."

Admitting that she wavers about which way the vote will go, Sharon says that if Malta votes against EU membership, then CNI’s work is done.

"If there is a yes vote, then just like other countries have a NO movement, we will continue working, to keep up the pressure and ensure that, as much as possible, decisions are taken in Malta’s national interest," she says.