[WATCH] Daphne memorial: ‘Rule of law’ must be followed, minister insists

Justice Minister says Daphne memorial must follow law

Justice Minister Owen Bonnici has said that he finds no problem with reinstating the Daphne Caruana Galizia memorial as long as the law is followed.

He was speaking after accompanying Prime Minister Joseph Muscat for a meeting with press freedom groups at Castille.

“In a country where there is the rule of law, people who wish to erect any memorials are urged to do so, as long as they follow the necessary procedures required by law,” Bonnici said. 

The issue concerning the removal of Daphne's makeshift memorial in front of the law courts was raised by the organisations during the meeting.

The makeshift memorial consisted of candles and flowers placed in front of a photo of the slain journalist, at the foot of the Great Siege monument in Valletta's main street. The memorial was cleared 20 times over the past year.

More recently, government workers cleared the flowers, candles and banners to make way for hoarding around the monument, which is set to undergo restoration.

“We urge anyone who wants a memorial for Daphne, to apply for a memorial for Daphne. Here in Malta we have the rule of law. People cannot take the law into their own hands,” Bonnici said.

The organisations have criticised the ongoing "vilification" of Caruana Galizia and want the memorial to be reinstated.