[WATCH] Press freedom groups want new inquiry to establish whether Caruana Galizia murder could have been avoided

Press freedom NGO's meeting with the Prime Minister

Press freedom organisations are asking for a judicial public inquiry to determine whether Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder could have been prevented.

The international organisations took their message directly to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this afternoon at a meeting in Castille. Justice Minister Owen Bonnici was also present.

The media were allowed in for the introductory remarks. The meeting continued behind closed doors and lasted almost two hours.

Billed as the freedom of expression mission, the five organisations are the Committee to Protect Journalists, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, the International Press Institute, PEN International and Reporters Without Borders.

The groups said that a year after Caruana Galizia’s murder “there has been no meaningful result in the investigation beyond identifying three suspected hitmen”.

The groups are in Malta to take part in the events marking the first anniversary since Caruana Galizia’s murder.

Representatives of the organisations protested what they described as the ongoing vilification of Caruana Galizia.

“The removal of the protest memorial to Daphne in front of the Great Siege monument is another part of this manufactured hate,” the groups said, adding the most recent destruction of the memorial happened last night when flowers and candles placed by them were removed.

“We call on the Minister of Justice to restore access to the monument and allow the peaceful protest memorial to remain until justice has been achieved,” the representatives told the Prime Minister.

Joseph Muscat said that he had to be careful how to speak so as not prejudice the ongoing investigation.

However, he insisted the investigation was “committed to get to the bottom” of the case.

Muscat said that he did not exclude holding a public inquiry after the current investigation is complete.

The magisterial inquiry and police investigation into Caruana Galizia’s murder are still going on despite three men being charged in court with the assassination.

Judicial proceedings against the accused are ongoing.

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