There’s no denying the facts

The Labour Party should disassociate itself with the past if it really wants to start afresh, says Liberta' Mhedda author Dione Borg. Interview Ray Abdilla

The BondiPlus programme broadcast last Tuesday was once again the cause of controversy. Its subject, the book (Freedom Under Threat) by journalist Dione Borg, deals with the violence perpetuated by Labour Party thugs during the eighties.

The Labour Party had asked the Broadcasting Authority to intervene in order to ensure that Public Broadcasting Services would not transmit the programme.

The book’s author feels that their statement that the programme BondiPlus is being used as a ‘propaganda tool’ in favour of the Nationalist Party, is absurd.

"Not only had the MLP been invited for this discussion programme but the book actually includes extracts by former Labour leader Dr Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici and current deputy leader Dr George Vella. If the MLP has really changed then it should make a public apology and state that such things should never have happened."

The BondiPlus programme was aired last Tuesday as per schedule, albeit without the participation of representatives of the Labour Party.

Dione Borg is a senior journalist with daily newspaper In-Nazzjon Taghna. His book, which deals with cases of politically-motivated violence dating back to the1980s, has already been sold out.

Mr Borg feels that the real reason behind the BondiPlus boycott was because the programme is produced by the company Where's Everybody.

"I think that the Labour Party’s attitude is really irresponsible. I believe they would not have done the same if it was any other programme," Mr Borg said.

The author said that the violence occurred when Dr Alfred Sant was president of the Malta Labour Party and if he were really against such things happening in Malta he should have condemned them when he had such a vital role in the party.

Writing the book had been on Borg’s mind ever since the incidents occurred. This was a part of Maltese history, he said, and people, especially the young generation, have a right to know what had happened in the recent past. "One can't imagine the state the country was in during those days."

It was primarily Raymond Caruana's death and the violence that was prevalent during the eighties that urged Borg to write the book, to much of which he was an eye-witness. Borg carried out intensive research before he decided to put pen to paper.

Borg explains that he has been criticised for not mentioning other occurrences such as the death of Karen Grech, but this is because the book is not politically motivated, therefore he has only written about proven facts. The Raymond Caruana case, the Tal-Barrani and the Rabat incidents were all related to each other.

Mr Borg said that his interviews with the persons involved from both parties prove the book’s credibility. Liberta' Mhedda includes interviews with Prime Minister Dr Eddie Fenech Adami, the President Dr Guido de Marco, Minister Louis Galea, former Premier Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, Dr George Vella and Anglu Fenech.

Research for the book had been carried out during Borg’s free time. It was not an easy task, but he found that people were keen to collaborate. Even Alfred Desira known as L-Indjan talked about to his own past involvement.

Borg’s findings uncovered that the weapon that was used in Raymond Caruana's death was the same one which was used on the Nationalist Party club at Paola. The police investigation as to Raymond Caruana's death and the weapon used, is still under way.

Another interesting story in Liberta’ Mhedda regards the coup d'état that was planned during the 1987 elections by a number of Labour Party supporters. This information had been passed on to the then leader of the Opposition Dr Eddie Fenech Adami who at once contacted Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici. The latter promised that he would man Ta' Qali with the Armed Forces so that should the Nationalist Party win the election, democracy would prevail.