Malta Today: Government presses Greens’ secretary general to relinquish teaching job - Victor Galea accuses government of political discrimination

Even though this article is not on gay issues it talks on a very serious issue regarding the bullying our Green Party General Secretary (a teacher by profession) faces from the government.
(See below for related articles)

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2008/08/17/t1.html
Sunday, 17 August 2008; James Debono

In an unprecedented move, Alternattiva Demokratika’s secretary-general Victor Galea has been informed by the government that he cannot continue exercising his teaching profession as teachers in public employment are precluded from any political post.
Yet MaltaToday can reveal that over the past years, various public officials in the same rank as Galea have been tolerated to hold on to their posts in the PN or the MLP.
Victor Galea has served as AD’s unpaid secretary-general since 2006.
A letter sent from the Office of the Prime Minister instructed the permanent secretary in the Gozo Ministry to inform Galea that as a “teacher”, he “may not hold the post of Secretary General of AD.”
Acting upon the OPM’s instructions, the Gozo Ministry duly informed Galea that he had until last Friday – the Santa Marija holiday – to decide on whether he intends to continue serving as AD’s secretary-general.

To justify Galea’s effective dismissal from the civil service, the OPM is citing the anachronistic Public Service Management Code (PSMC) – a legacy of colonial times which bans anyone from scale 1 to scale 13 positions from any sort of political involvement.
But in reply to questions by MaltaToday, a spokesman for the prime minister yesterday said the government was “analysing whether these regulations are to be revised”. The spokesman added that OPM was “looking into the mentioned case”, while stressing that the PSMC was “under the responsibility of the office of the Principal Permanent Secretary”.
Government sources insist that in this case the Prime Minister was not aware of the actions of the higher echelons of the civil service.
MaltaToday is also informed that after receiving a similar notice two Azzjoni Nazzjonali officials accepted to renounce their political posts to keep their jobs in the civil service.
The OPM’s letter to Galea claims that it was acting following “reports carried out in the local press… that Victor Galea has been elected as Secretary General of Alternattiva Demokratika.”
The OPM is leaving Galea the option of taking “unpaid leave to occupy a statutory post in the central executive of a political party” – according to another provision in the same management code.
In fact the article quoted by the OPM does not only preclude most civil servants from occupying a post in a political party, but also precludes them from speaking in public on matters of political controversy, expressing views on public matters on letters to the press and from canvassing on behalf of parliamentary candidates.
Effectively the management code even bans nurses, pharmacists, engineers, paramedics and foreman in government employment from expressing their political views in public.
MaltaToday can reveal that various PN and MLP officials are allowed to keep their jobs in the civil service.
These include Janice Chetcuti, a PN executive committee member employed as an animal awareness organiser and a peripatetic teacher in the Education Department.
Caroline Galea, another PN executive member, occupies the post of principle in the maternity department at Mater Dei Hospital.
Kevin Sciberras, another PN executive member, holds the post of cultural officer in the Gozo Ministry.
In the Labour camp, Alfred Grixti – consultant editor of Maltastar who recently contested for the post of party secretary-general – works as a head teacher in a government school.
Newly elected party education secretary Aaron Farrugia works as an economist in the Ministry for Social Policy.

Discriminatory treatment
In his reply Galea claims that he was “singled out for the implementation of these provisions of the Public Service Code” insisting that “various other public officers have been permitted to hold office within the party structures of the Malta Labour Political Party and the Nationalist Political Party.”
Describing the treatment reserved to him as “discriminatory” in his regard, he requested “that in view of your having permitted for years on end public officers to be active in the MLP and the PN” he is not treated any differently.
“I have always carried out my duties within the civil service in a professional, unbiased and apolitical manner and I consider that my political contribution is a free service to the democratic development of our nation,” said Galea in his reply.

See also related articles listed as the story unfolds:
- Times: Reversing Summer Follies; by Lino Spiteri; Monday 18.8.8
- Political Discrimination in the Civil Service by Carmel Cacopardo; 18.8.8
- Political Discrimination by Arnold Cassola; 18.8.8
- Solidarity with Victor by Michael Briguglio; 18.8.8
- Times: OPM stops request for AD official to choose between political and teaching roles
Letter issued without PM's knowledge; 19.8.8
- The left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing by Victor Galea; 20.8.8 [article in Maltese]

Illum: Il-kawża ta’ Giovanni Bonello [Imħallef tal Qorti Ewropea għad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem fi Strasburgu]

http://www.illum.com.mt/2008/08/17/interview.html
17 ta’ Awwissu 2008 Nr 94; Julia Farrugia tintervista lill-Imħallef Giovanni Bonello

(Siltiet mill-Intervista)

...Fil-mument f’Malta hawn temi oħra jaħarqu fosthom id-divorzju. Nistaqsieh kif iħares lejn każijiet ta’ Maltin li jħossuhom qed isofru minn inġustizzja minħabba l-kwistjoni tad-divorzju meta għandek sitwazzjoni fejn jekk għandek il-flus iġġib divorzju minn barra u l-Istat jirrikonoxxieh, jekk le tibqa’ ssofri waħdek.

“Se nirrispondik b’mistoqsija oħra. Kien hemm xi Malti li ġab xi kawża quddiem il-Qorti ta’ Malta jew il-Qorti Ewropea għaliex Malta m’għandhiex liġi tad-divorzju? Għadu ħadd m’għamel xejn ħlief tgergir fil-gazzetti. Però s-soluzzjoni li hi l-aktar waħda sempliċi li ssir kawża Malta li fiha targumenta li n-nuqqas ta’ divorzju huwa ksur tal-Konvenzjoni Ewropea ħadd m’għamilha. Jien ma nafx x’kien ikun ir-riżultat. Però seta’ sar tentattiv quddiem il-Qorti li għandha prestiġju kbir,” jgħid l-Imħallef Bonello waqt li jieqaf għal ftit sekondi biss.

“Kieku kien hawn koppja li staqsiet jekk in-nuqqas ta’ divorzju hux konformi mal-Konvenzjoni u jirbħu l-kawża Malta l-problema tagħhom solvuta. Jekk jitilfuha jippruvaw l-aħħar pedina li hi l-Qorti Ewropea. Tal-inqas kien ikollhom riżultat. Din hi bħal tal-liġi tal-kera.”

Hawn jispjega li l-liġijiet tal-kera ilhom jeżistu 80 sena u kulħadd igerger kemm huma antiki mingħajr ma jieħu azzjoni. Sena u nofs ilu fi Strasburgu marru tliet kawżi Maltin fuq il-liġijiet tal-kera.

“Rebħuhom kważi hands down. Hemm l-għodda li mhix qed tintuża. Jien m’għandi l-ebda idea x’kien ikun ir-riżultat kieku saret kawża fuq id-divorzju imma almenu kien hemm il-possibiltà li jkollok ġudizzju li l-Gvern Malti kien ikun marbut bih fejn il-Qorti kienet tgħid li n-nuqqas tal-liġi tad-divorzju hu konformi mal-Konvenzjoni jew mhux konformi magħha. Kien ikun hemm risposta għal din id-domanda.”

Sakemm naħseb fil-mistoqsija li jmiss nistħajjel li wara li l-Ħadd tinqara din l-intervista jkun hemm min jitħajjar jagħmel dan il-pass.

Imma hemm sitwazzjonijiet oħra li tista’ tapplika għalihom l-istess ħsieb? Japplika pereżempju għal żwiġijiet bejn koppji gay?
“L-istess. Hawn qiegħdin fil-periferija l-aktar avvanzata tad-drittijiet tal-bniedem. Int tifhem li dawn problemi li m’hemmx konsensus Ewropew. Fosthom dwar l-istatus ta’ żwieġ ta’ koppji omosesswali. U ma nafx li kieku kellha tiġi kwistjoni quddiem il-Qorti Ewropea liema attitudni tieħu. Il-Qorti ta’ Strasburgu hi pjuttost progressiva. Hi pjuttost liberali. Imma mhux rivoluzzjonarja.
“Id-drittijiet tat-transesswali ġew rikonoxxuti. Kemm id-dritt li l-istat jirrikonoxxi l-identità ġdida tiegħek kif ukoll id-dritt li transesswali jiżżewġu,”
Infakkru li f’Malta riċentement kien hemm il-każ fejn transesswali ma tħallietx tiżżewweġ. Giovanni Bonello segwa dan il-każ u bla tidwir ta’ kliem iwieġeb:
“Naf, naf. Imma ma nafx kinux jafu bis-sentenzi ta’ Strasburgu. Ma nafx. Jew forsi kienu jafu bihom u ma qablux magħhom. Għandhom kull dritt.”

...

Deutsche Welle: German Memorial for Gay Nazi Victims Vandalized

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3569232,00.html
16.08.2008

Berlin's memorial to gays and lesbians persecuted during the Nazi era has been vandalized less than three months after it was inaugurated, police in the German capital said Saturday, Aug. 16.

The vandals broke a viewing window and pushed over a fence, in the first time the memorial has been damaged. The damage was seen by a passer-by on Saturday.

The simple grey rectangular stone across the street from Germany's national memorial to Jewish victims of the Holocaust was inaugurated on May 27 after years of controversy.

More than 50,000 homosexuals are thought to have been convicted under the Nazis "because of their sexual orientation," with thousands of them sent to concentration camps and murdered.

Current research suggests 54,000 men and women were convicted of homosexual acts and about 7,000 killed in the camps.

The monument, designed by Danish-Norwegian artists Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset, contains a window that invites the visitor to look inside and see a film of a homosexual couple kissing. The image is to be alternate between two men and two women every two years.

NPR: [US Election] Candidates Mum On Gay Marriage Debate

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93269018&ft=1&f=1001
Election 2008: Candidates on the Issues
6.8.8; by Tovia Smith

McCain and Obama

Comparing The Candidates

McCain: McCain supports a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in California, but he opposes a federal ban. On a daytime TV talk show hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, who is openly gay, McCain said: "I just believe in the unique status of marriage as between a man and woman, and I know that we have a respectful disagreement on that issue."

Obama: Obama offers congratulations to newlywed same-sex couples in California and says that they deserve full equality, but he opposes gay marriage. He told a forum on gay rights issues: "I would continue to support a civil union that provides all the benefits to a legally sanctioned marriage."

Rodney Maccarate (left) and James Winstead kiss after exchanging vows in San Francisco on June 17. AFP/Getty Images

All Things Considered, August 4, 2008 · For all of the countless times the presidential candidates have laid out their positions on the war, the economy and health care, there is one issue that they haven't talked about much: gay marriage.

For both Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain, it is risky territory, where they have as much to lose as they have to gain.

Even when the Supreme Court of California legalized gay marriage earlier this year, all that came from the campaigns were short, very carefully worded, written statements.

University of Washington professor David Domke, who writes about politics and religion, says that the candidates want nothing to do with gay marriage as a political issue. He argues that is because neither has a clear position on it.

McCain, for instance, supports a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in California, but he opposes a federal ban. And while Obama offers congratulations to newlywed same-sex couples in California and says that they deserve full equality, he opposes gay marriage. Domke calls their positions "muddled."

"Both have this nuanced 'On the one hand and on the other hand' need-to-explain position, and I think that makes it difficult for either to take a stand," Domke says.

Why The Candidates Are Mum On Gay Marriage

Both candidates also have the difficult task of trying to appease their bases, while also reaching out to the center.

Obama, for example, is trying to make a play for some evangelical Christians who traditionally vote Republican. At the same time, he needs to avoid alienating liberals. That presents a challenge, such as when Obama participated in a forum on gay issues in 2007.

If elected president, Obama told the panel, "I would continue to support a civil union that provides all the benefits to a legally sanctioned marriage." Panelist Joe Solmonese, a gay rights advocate, challenged Obama's answer, suggesting it was a policy of separate but equal.

McCain skates a similarly fine line in that he needs to reassure the conservative "value voters" who have publicly doubted his commitment on social issues. At the same time, he cannot afford to scare away moderates and independents.

When McCain did confront the issue of gay marriage on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the tension seemed palpable.

"I just believe in the unique status of marriage as between a man and woman, and I know that we have a respectful disagreement on that issue," he told host DeGeneres, who is openly gay.

The 'Enthusiasm Gap'

Political consultant Doug Hattaway has advised many Democratic candidates on gay issues. He says candidates ought to steer clear of same sex marriage this year simply because it's relatively unimportant to voters.

"Bottom line is, I think that both candidates feel squeezed. So the best approach is to talk about the economy," Hattaway said.

On the campaign trail that's exactly what the candidates have been doing.

And Domke says gay marriage will not have the kind of impact this year as it did in 2004. That year, the issue energized social conservatives, helping to boost President George W. Bush at the polls in key battleground states such as Ohio.

Tom McClusky of the Family Research Council says that if McCain will not bring up gay marriage, conservatives will. "The senator, so far, has not been a candidate who motivates the grassroots," he said. "But these issues motivate the grassroots and will get the people in churches and people who care about these issues not only out to vote, but hopefully, bringing their friends along."

The question is whether gay marriage as an issue could ever be enough to close what analysts are calling the "enthusiasm gap."

Polls show Democrats and progressives are far more energized and excited to vote for Obama than Republicans and conservatives are to vote for McCain.

And that passion may drive more voters to the polls this November than the issue of gay marriage ever could.

Malta Today: Playing Safe? Not quite: Contraception is still taboo for many university students, study reveals

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2008/08/03/t6.html
Sunday, 03 August 2008; James Debono

In 1968, rebellious French students decreed that "it is forbidden to forbid". But 40 years later Maltese university students are still contemplating whether a condom vending machine should be installed in their toilets.

A study conducted by sociology student Charlene Said reveals that contraception is still considered a taboo by almost half the students attending the university, and that 44% of male theology students think that contraceptives should not be permitted.

While only 5.4% of university students believe that artificial contraceptives should not be available in university, 10% would like them to be available for free.

While 37.4% believe that contraceptives should be available in shops at the university, only 26.7% would like a condom vending machine in the gents' toilet and a mere 17.6% would like the same service in the ladies toilet.

These results emerge from a survey carried out among 200 University students, equally divided between males and females, from five different faculties, namely: Theology, Education, Fema, Arts and Medicine, by sociology student Charlene Said for her BA. Honours dissertation.

The results come in the wake of a petition to introduce a condom vending machine had only managed to attract a trifling 200 signatures: one-fortieth of the university's 8,000 plus population.

Although former Health Minister Louis Deguara has declared his agreement with the university students' petition to introduce a condom vending machine on the Tal-Qroqq campus, the university remains up to this day a condom-free zone.

The picture emerging from Said's study is that university students – 92% of whom claim to profess the Catholic faith – are neither too liberal nor too conservative in their attitude towards artificial contraception.

More about three quarters of respondents (75.9%) believe that the individual should be the one to decide on contraceptive use, and the Catholic Church should not interfere.

Yet a large segment of students remain wary of an active policy to promote the use of contraceptives in educational institutions.
In fact, 41.3% do not believe there should be free contraceptives either in secondary or in tertiary, while 28.6% said that there should only be free contraceptives in tertiary school. 8.47% believe in free contraceptives for secondary schools only, while 21.7% agree with free contraceptives to both secondary and tertiary institutions.

Only 31.5% of respondents believe that the word contraception does not carry with it a negative connotation while almost half (49.5%) believe it does.

The perception that the church has an overbearing influence on public policy is also confirmed by Said's study. 65.8% of respondents believe that the Catholic Church in Malta influences Governmental policies on contraception.

Taboo in the family

Only 6% of respondents said that most families openly discuss the issue and encourage their children to use contraceptives.

Yet Said's study shows that younger families could be more open to this topic. 62.09% say that if they were parents they would discuss the use of artificial contraception to their children at the age of 11 to 14.

Yet significantly, 26.37% said that they would only discuss contraception with children aged 15 or over – an age when teens could already have been exposed to unprotected sex.

Only 5.49% would be willing to bring up the subject with children aged between seven and 10 years before their children are exposed to sexual activity. And alarmingly, 6.04% of university students said that they never speak on this topic to their children.

Only 11.04% received their first learning experience on contraception from a parent. Almost half the respondents (40.49%) said that they first got to know through a teacher. Following respondents said to first learn about these uses from a friend (32.51%). A further 14.11% claimed that they became aware of contraception through the media, and 1.84% claimed that they first got to know from a relative.
62.24% of respondents said that the first person to speak them on this subject portrayed the use of contraceptives as a responsible act.

Another 23.47% said it was shown in a scientific and descriptive way.

Yet significantly, nearly 15% claim that contraception was introduced to them as a negative thing.
Nearly one tenth - 9.69% - claim that the first person to talk to them on contraceptives had described their use as something immoral and going against their religious values. 4.59% said that they were told that contraceptives should not be used.

When asked whether they covered the use of artificial contraceptive uses in their secondary school, 24.6% said that the topic was never covered.

And significantly, when the topic was covered in school, 44.7% claimed that they were encouraged to make use of contraceptives, while 39.6% said that they were encouraged not to do so.

Those attending mixed secondary schools tended to be much more encouraged to use contraceptives. According to Said, this may indicate a more liberal outlook in private non-church schools than in church schools, which are segregated.

The study shows that most students deem the use of non-abortive contraceptives as acceptable.

But significantly, 29.5% also said that they agreed with the use of the morning after pill, even if only 5.3% expressed agreement with abortion. This suggests that some students do not consider the morning after pill as abortive.
Although the dissertation suggests most that students hailing from the Arts and the Medicine departments, and to a lesser extent those in the Faculty of Education, are more liberal in their outlook towards contraception, this is not the case for students in the Theology and FEMA departments.

Almost half the male respondents in the theology department (44.4%) do not agree that artificial contraceptives should be permissible. While students from most faculties think that natural family planning is effective, half the male respondents in the medicine departments think otherwise.

While 60% of male theology students agree that sex should only be practised for procreation, only 12.02% of the overall respondents agreed with such statement, while 87.9% opposed such views. According to Charlene Said, students seem to be in a state of transition, between more liberal values and the belief of free will and freedom of choice.

While noting that most students consider themselves as Catholics and favour certain Catholics teachings such as natural family planning techniques, they also believe that the use of artificial contraception should be left in the hands of the individual, not by the Church.

It-Torċa: Titubar kontra l-Mibgħeda

(Dan l-artiklu mhux fuq is-sit http://www.it-torca.com s'issa)
3.8.8; Minn SAMMY SAMMUT

Il-mibgħeda hija xi ħaġa mill-aktar kerha u ta' min jistmerraha għax twassal lill-bniedem uman li jaġixxi agħar minn annimal. Il-mibgħeda hija terminu li jmur aktar 'il hemm milli wieħed jikkawża offiża jew juri ċertu ostilità. Reat ta' mibgħeda huwa kull offiża kriminali mwettqa kontra persuna jew proprjetà u li tkun immotivata mill-mibgħeda li jkollu dak li jwettaqha kontra xi ħadd minħabba r-razza, il-kulur tal-ġilda, l-oriġini etnika, in-nazzjonalità, ir-reliġjon jew twemmin, ix-xorta tas-sess, l-orjentament sesswali tiegħu jew id-diżabilità li jkun ibati minnha.

Ir-reati ta' mibgħeda jistgħu jieħdu forom diversi: attakki fiżiċi – bħal assalt fiżiku, ħsara lill-proprjetà, graffitti offensivi u ħruq mqabbad apposta; theddid ta' xi attakk – inkluż ittri offensivi, telefonati abbużivi jew oxxeni, tlajjar fi gruppi biex jintimidaw u ilmenti nfondati jew malizzjużi; abbużi jew insulti verbali – li jistgħu jinkludu fuljetti jew posters offensivi, ġesti abbużivi, twaddib ta' skart quddiem djar, kif ukoll bullying fl-iskola jew iffittar fuq il-post tax-xogħol. Però, definizzjoni komuni ta' reat ta' mibgħeda hija: kull inċident, li jikkostitwixxi offiża kriminali, li l-vittma jew kull persuna oħra tħoss li huwa mmotivat mill-preġudizzju jew mibgħeda.

F'dawn l-aħħar snin, it-tħassib dwar reati ta' mibgħeda sar dejjem aktar prominenti fost dawk li jfasslu l-politika f'ħafna pajjiżi u fil-livelli kollha tal-gvern, iżda dan il-fenomenu m'huwiex xi wieħed ġdid. Eżempji mill-passat jinkludu l-persekuzzjoni Rumana kontra l-Insara, il-ġenoċidju Ottoman ta' l-Armeni, is-'soluzzjoni finali' tan-Nażżisti għal-Lhud, u aktar riċenti, it-tindif etniku fil-Bosnija u l-ġenoċidju fir-Rwanda. F'ħafna każi, ir-reati ta' mibgħeda fasslu u ġieli wkoll iddefinew l-istorja dinjija.

Dan wassal għal żvilupp leġislattiv li mhux biss iqies kull offiża mmotivata mill-mibgħeda bħala reat kriminali distint, iżda wkoll bħala aggravju għal pieni eħrex u bħala raġuni distinta għal azzjoni ċivili.

Huma diversi r-raġunijiet li wasslu għal dan, fosthom għax reati simili kapaċi jipprovokaw reati ta' ritaljazzjoni, jikkawżaw ħsara emozzjonali distinta fil-vittmi, u jinċitaw aġitazzjoni fil-komunità.

Hija ħaġa raġunata li minn fost id-diversi tipi ta' reati kriminali li l-aktar li għandhom iġorru pieni ħorox huma dawk li kapaċi jeqirdu s-sigurtà u l-paċi pubblika. Aktar minn hekk, jingħad li meta l-għeruq ta' l-identità ta' persuna tkun attakkata, il-vittma tiġi degradata severament u mneżża' mill-umanità tagħha, b'possibiltà kbira li jirriżultaw aktar problemi emozzjonali u psikoloġiċi.

Ir-reati ta' mibgħeda kapaċi jagħmlu ħafna aktar ħsara minn hekk, għax mhux biss jikkaġunaw ħsara fiżika u emozzjonali li ma tistax tkun ikkalkulata, iżda wkoll iċarrtu l-fibra vera tas-soċjetà ħielsa. Reati mmotivati mill-mibgħeda ta' għira lejn gruppi partikulari mhux biss jikkaġunaw ħsara individwali fil-vittmi tagħhom iżda wkoll jibgħatu messaġġ qawwi ta' intolleranza u diskriminazzjoni lejn il-membri kollha tal-grupp li lejh tkun tappartjeni l-vittma.

Reati ta' mibgħeda jistgħu u fil-fatt jintimidaw u jħarbtu l-ħajja normali ta' komunitajiet sħaħ u jgħarrqu l-ċiviltà li hija essenzjali għal proċessi demokratikament b'saħħithom. F'soċjetà demokratika, ċittadini ma jistgħux ikunu meħtieġa japprovaw it-twemmin jew il-prattiċi ta' oħrajn, iżda min-naħa l-oħra m'għandhom qatt jikkommettu atti kriminali minħabba fihom.

Minkejja kollox, però, reati ta' mibgħeda huma realtà li naraw u nassistu għaliha tista' tgħid f'kull rokna tal-kontinent Ewropew.

Rapporti riċenti u ta' min joqgħod fuqhom juru li għad hawn ħafna persuni li jsofru vjolenza minħabba li huma suwed, Lhud, żingari jew Musulmani, jew minħabba l-orjentament sesswali jew x-xorta tas-sess tagħhom. Dawn jagħtu eżempji ta' kif individwi ġew fiżikament attakkati fit-triq, kellhom it-twieqi mkissrin jew d-djar tagħhom mogħtijin in-nar. Jagħtu wkoll prova tal-periklu li jeżisti jekk il-preġudzzji kontra oħrajn jitħallew jaqbdu l-għeruq u jinfirxu. Għax sfortunatament, il-pass mid-diskors mimli mibgħeda għat-twettiq ta' reati ta' mibgħeda huwa wieħed faċli ħafna li jsir.

Dan kollu saħansitra wassal lill-Kummissarju tal-Kunsill ta' l-Ewropa għad-Drittijiet Umani, Thomas Hammarber, biex fil-jiem li għaddew iddeskriva r-reati ta' mibgħeda bħala li huma "l-wiċċ ikraħ tar-razziżmu, anti-Semitiżmu, anti-Żingariżmu, Iżlamofobija u l-omofobija", waqt li sostna li l-awtoritajiet governattivi għandhom responsabbiltà kbira li jieħdu azzjoni u jwaqqfu dawn ir-reati serji u tal-mistħija, kif saħqet ukoll il-Qorti Ewropea għad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem.

Meta wieħed ikun jaf bl-għadd dejjem jikber ta' reati ta' mibgħeda li qegħdin iseħħu fis-56 pajjiż membru ta' l-Organizzazzjoni għas-Sigurtà u l-Koperazzjoni fl-Ewropa (OSCE) jagħraf l-importanza u l-ħtieġa ta' appelli simili. L-inċidenza ta' attakki antisemitiċi f'diversi pajjiżi Ewropej, bħal fl-Amerika ta' Fuq, qatt fl-istorja riċenti ma kienet daqstant għolja. L-istess jista' jingħad għall-attakki razzisti u vjolenti kontra ż-żingari u membri oħrajn ta' minoritajiet etniċi jew reliġjużi. Min-naħa l-oħra, il-vjolenza kontra l-Musulmani hija fattur ġdid u potenti fil-mewġa ġdida li dejjem qiegħda titqawwa b'imġiba razzista u turija ta' mibgħeda kontra l-immigranti u wliedhom.

Bħal fil-każ ta' forom oħrajn ta' reati ta' mibgħeda, il-vjolenza omofobika sfortunatament għadha ftit jew xejn tiġi rrapportata. Minkejja dan, f'pajjiżi fejn persuni lesbjani, gay, bisesswali jew transesswali (LGBT) qegħdin isiru dejjem aktar viżibli, iż-żieda fil-preżenza pubblika tagħhom f'ċerti każi ġabet magħha żieda f'dik li hija retorika omofobika u l-użu tal-vjolenza kontrihom.

L-orjentazzjoni sesswali għadha waħda mir-raġunijiet li qegħdin iwasslu biex ħafna persuni jkunu stigmatizzati u opressi, ħafna drabi bl-appoġġ miftuħ ta' xi wħud fil-poter governattiv, kif ukoll minn xi organizzazzjonijiet politiċi u reliġjużi influwenti. Illum il-ġurnata, din l-inklinazzjoni kontra dawk li jiddistingwu ruħhom bl-orjentament sesswali minoritarju tagħhom, qed tkun promossa b'mod qawwi kemm minn mexxejja politiċi estremisti u oħrajn li suppost m'humiex daqstant estremi, kif ukoll minn mexxejja reliġjużi f'diversi pajjiżi fl-Ewropa kif ukoll fl-Amerika ta' Fuq. Biżżejjed insemmu kif diversi attivitajiet, bħalma huma l-Gay Pride Parades, li ġew organizzati fil-jiem li għaddew f'diversi pajjiżi, speċjalment dawk fil-Lvant ta' l-Ewropa, tħallew jispiċċaw fil-mira tal-vjolenza minn persuni privati minħabba nuqqas ta' protezzjoni adegwata mill-pulizija.

Sfortunatament, minkejja li minħabba n-natura tagħhom ħafna mir-reati ta' mibgħeda ma jkunux irrapportati mill-vittmi li jsofruhom, u minkejja n-nuqqas ta' ħeġġa mill-awtoritajiet konċernati li jinvestigaw sew biex jikxfu l-veru mottiv tar-reati billi jistabilixxu jekk fil-fatt min wettaqhom kienx immotivat b'mibgħeda jew preġudizzju kontra l-vittmi, u minkejja wkoll li ċerti akkużi, mill-istadju tal-preżentata sas-sentenza finali, għandhom ħabta jinbidlu bħal-lejl min-nhar, f'dawn l-aħħar ftit snin f'pajjiżna assistejna għal żieda sostanzjali fl-għadd ta' reati ta' mibgħeda. Din hija l-verità tal-fatti anke jekk għadek issib ħafna, inklużi wkoll persuni fil-poter, li jipprovaw jgħattu x-xemx bl-għarbiel.

Sa ftit snin ilu, il-Liġijiet ta' Malta ma kienu jagħmlu l-ebda riferenza għal reati ta' mibgħeda. Imbagħad, fl-2002, il-Leġislatur bħal donnu ħareġ mill-koma li kien jinsab fiha u daħħal provediment fil-Kodiċi Kriminali li permezz tiegħu, "kull min juża kliem jew imġieba ta' theddid, abbużivi jew insolenti, jew jesebixxi xi materjal miktub jew stampat li jkun ta' theddid, abbużiv jew insolenti, jew xort'oħra jġib ruħu b'dak il-mod, bil-ħsieb li b'hekk iqajjem mibgħeda razzjali jew b'hekk joħloq il-probabbiltà li, meta wieħed iqis iċ-ċirkostanzi kollha, titqajjem mibgħeda razzjali, jeħel, meta jinsab ħati, l-piena ta' priġunerija minn sitt xhur sa tmintax-il xahar".

Iżda bħas-soltu, anke miżura pożittiva bħal din ma konniex kapaċi nagħmluha sew, fis-sens li erġajna ħallejniha nofs sajran. Jista' jkun li l-Leġislatur għamel hekk apposta anke jekk forsi diffiċli wieħed jifhem ir-raġuni l-għala attakka biss il-mibgħeda razzjali. Żgur li kellu xi skop biex fil-liġi daħħal nofs miżura. X'inhu dan l-iskop ma nafux kif ma nafux għaliex qed juri dan it-titubar kollu fil-ġlieda bla limitu kontra l-mibgħeda. Qegħdin ngħidu dan għax nafu li kien hemm min ġibed l-attenzjoni tal-Gvern dwar kif l-affarijiet setgħu saru aħjar u ssuġġerilu wkoll kif nistgħu niġġieldu b'mod aktar effettiv kull tip ta' reati ta' mibgħeda f'pajjiżna.

Bħala eżempju nsemmu l-proposti li l-Fondazzjoni Integra, għaqda mhux governattiva Maltija li taħdem qatigħ b'risq persuni emarġinati f'pajjiżna, kienet ressqet lill-Gvern fir-rigward tal-provedimenti fil-Liġi Maltija fejn jidħlu reati li jkunu mmotivati mill-mibgħeda.

Skond il-Kodiċi Kriminali tagħna, il-"mibgħeda razzjali" tfisser "mibgħeda kontra grupp ta' persuni f'Malta definiti b'referenza għall-kulur, razza, nazzjonalità (inkluża ċ-ċittadinanza) jew oriġini etnika jew nazzjonali". Min-naħa tagħha, l-Fondazzjoni Integra ssuġġeriet li din id-definizzjoni tiġi emendata b'mod li tkun tinkludi wkoll riferenza "għat-twemmin, ix-xorta tas-sess jew l-orjentazzjoni sesswali, l-abiltà mentali jew fiżika".

Il-proposti tal-Fondazzjoni Integra jagħmlu wkoll riferenza għall-provedimenti tal-Kodiċi Kriminali dwar offiżi kontra l-persuna, li jinkludu l-qtil volontarju kif ukoll offiżi gravi jew ħfief.

Is-suġġeriment imressaq kien fis-sens li l-każi fejn il-piena stabbilita għandha tiżdied minn grad sa żewġ gradi għandhom jinkludu dawk ir-reati mmotivati għal kollox jew b'mod parzjali, minn ostilità lejn persuna minħabba r-razza, il-post ta' oriġini, opinjonijiet politiċi, kulur, twemmin, ix-xorta tas-sess jew l-orjentament sesswali, l-abiltà mentali jew fiżika tagħha. B'dan il-mod tiġi indirizzata l-kommissjoni ta' reati kriminali diġa' kkontemplati fil-liġi tagħna iżda li l-motivazzjoni speċifika tagħhom hija l-mibgħeda.

Barra minn hekk, apparti li pproponiet l-introduzzjoni ta' provediment ieħor fil-Kodiċi Kriminali li jkun jipprovdi piena għal kull min jinstab ħati li jkun għamel diskors li bih jista' jinċità l-vjolenza, il-Fondazzjoni Integra ssuġġeriet ukoll emenda għall-Kostituzzjoni fejn din tittratta il-protezzjoni tal-libertà ta' l-espressjoni.

Skond il-Kostituzzjoni ta' Malta, "ħadd, ħlief bil-kunsens tiegħu stess jew bħala dixxiplina tal-ġenituri, ma għandu jiġi mfixkel fit-tgawdija tal-libertà tiegħu ta' espressjoni, magħduda libertà li jkollu fehmiet mingħajr indħil, libertà li jirċievi ideat u tagħrif mingħajr indħil, libertà li jikkomunika ideat u tagħrif mingħajr indħil (kemm jekk il-komunikazzjoni tkun lill-pubbliku nġenerali jew lil xi persuna jew klassi ta' persuni) u libertà dwar il-korrispondenza tiegħu".

Is-suġġeriment kien li mal-lista ta' limitazzjonijiet elenkati fil-Kostituzzjoni għat-tgawdija tad-dritt tal-libertà ta' espressjoni għandha tidħol restrizzjoni fuq diskorsi pubbliċi jew d-distribuzzjoni ta' materjal miktub jew elettroniku jew b'kull mod ieħor ta' komunikazzjoni, li jkun jikkonteni kliem li jinċitaw l-vjolenza, il-krudeltà u mibgħeda bbażati fuq ir-razza, il-post ta' oriġini, opinjonijiet politiċi, kulur, twemmin, xorta tas-sess jew orjentazzjoni sesswali, l-abiltà mentali jew fiżika.

Iżda dawn il-proposti sottomessi mill-Fondazzjoni Integra, bħal dawk imressqin minn għaqdiet oħrajn mhux governattivi, waqgħu f'widnejn torox u bħas-soltu l-Gvern daħħal rasu fir-ramel u għamel li għoġbu jew kif kien jaqbillu. Però issa l-pressjoni fuq il-Gvern biex jiċċaqlaq mhix biss ġejja minn fonti lokali għax l-istess affarijiet, u ħafna aktar, qegħdin jinsistu fuqhom għaqdiet Ewropej li leħinhom u għemilhom kapaċi jasal ħafna aktar.

Għax apparti l-insistenza li saret fil-jiem li għaddew mill-Kummissarju tal-Kunsill ta' l-Ewropa għad-Drittijiet Umani, nistgħu wkoll inżidu dak li fuqu saħqu dan l-aħħar kemm l-Uffiċċju għall-Istituzzjonijiet Demokratiċi u d-Drittijiet Umani (ODIHR) fi ħdan l-Organizzazzjoni għas-Sigurtà u l-Koperazzjoni fl-Ewropa (OSCE) kif ukoll l-għaqda mhux governattiva Human Rights First li tgawdi rispett u reputazzjoni internazzjonali.

Fost oħrajn dawn qegħdin jgħidu li l-provedimenti tal-liġi fir-rigward ta' reati ta' mibgħeda għandhom ikunu nfurzati mill-ewwel bil-għan li dawn iħallu effett akbar ta' deterrent, waqt li jagħmlu insistena li l-proċeduri għandhom ikunu ddokumentati sew u magħmulin pubbliċi.

Fl-istess waqt, ir-rispons ġuridiku fil-konfront ta' reati ta' mibgħeda għandu jkun sever. Barra minn hekk għandhom jittieħdu passi immedjata biex reati ta' mibgħeda, inkluża l-vjolenza kontra persuni minħabba l-orjentament sesswali jew id-diżabilità tagħhom, għandhom ikunu fost l-aggravji li jwasslu għal żieda fil-piena stabbilita.

Jingħad ukoll li fost il-passi konkreti li għandhom jittieħdu bħala prevenzjoni u reazzjoni għal każi ta' reati immotivati mill-mibgħeda, hemm li għandhom jitwaqqfu korpi għal kontra d-diskriminazzjoni b'mandat wiesgħa u li jkollhom l-awtorità li jindirizzaw vjolenza li tkun immotivata mill-mibgħeda, u dan permezz ta' moniteraġġ, rapportar u assistenza lill-vittmi.

Barra minn hekk, il-Gvernijiet għandhom jistabilixxu relazzjonijiet ta' koperazzjoni mal-komunitajiet minoritarji nfushom u lil dawn għandhom iħeġġuhom iressqu proposti ta' miżuri li jistgħu jittieħdu biex jipprevenu inċidenti ta' mibgħeda u f'każ li dawn iseħħu, jieħdu azzjoni immedjata dwarhom. Miżuri bħal dawn jgħinu biex tissaħħaħ il-fiduċja fi ħdan il-komunità u fl-istess waqt tassigura liċ-ċittadini li rapporti li jsiru dwar reati ta' mibgħeda jkunu segwiti bl-aktar serjetà.

Issir ukoll insistenza li għandu jitjieb l-aċċess tal-vittmi u gruppi ta' difiża għall-proċeduri li jkunu qegħdin isiru fuq l-ilmenti li jitressqu lill-awtoritajiet governattivi. Jintqal li f'dan ir-rigward għandu jsir sforz akbar billi, aktar iva milli le, għadd kbir ta' każi ta' vjolenza mmotivata mill-mibgħeda ma jkunux irrapportati minħabba l-biża u relutanza fost il-vittmi infushom.

Fuq kollox, u apparti dawn il-miżuri konkreti, jinħtieġ li tkun investita enerġija akbar f'dik li hija prevenzjoni – fosthom permezz ta' kampanji li jinfurmaw u jedukaw bil-għan li tkun indirizzata l-injoranza u l-biża' li ħafna drabi tinstab wara x-xenofobija u l-intolleranza. Hawnhekk, skond il-Qorti Ewropea tal-Ġustizzja, l-għalliema għandhom responsabbiltà kbira biex jippromwovu soċjetà ta' tolleranza. Hekk ukoll wieħed ma jridx jinsa' lill-midja li wkoll għandha responsabbiltà kbira li ma tispiċċax tintuża bħala mezz għax-xandir u t-tixrid ta' diskorsi u kitbiet ta' mibgħeda, kif ukoll għall-promozzjoni tal-vjolenza.

"Madankollu, hemm xi politiċi li jimminaw sforzi bħal dawn billi jużaw l-pjattaforma tagħhom biex ixerrdu u jisfruttaw il-preġudizzji, aktar milli jqumu favur id-drittijiet umani u r-rispett ta' dawk li huma differenti. B'hekk, huma 'jiġġitimizzaw' l-intolleranza li min-naħa tagħha tistimula diskorsi ta' mibgħeda u reati ta' mibgħeda. Dawn għandhom jinżammu responsabbli", jisħaq Thomas Hammarberg, Kummissarju tal-Kunsill ta' l-Ewropa għad-Drittijiet Umani.

Naħsbu li kull kelma oħra li nżidu ma' din id-dikjarazzjoni tkun tssew żejda…..

L-Orizzont: La mara … tiżżewweġ raġel

Dan l-artiklu mhux fuq is-sit http://www.l-orizzont.com s'issa.
2.8.8

Il-Forum Żgħażagħ Laburisti esprima l-appoġġ tiegħu lil Joanne Cassar, il-persuna li minkejja li llum hija rikonoxxuta bħala mara, s'issa ma tħallietx tiżżewweġ raġel.

Wara li fil-jiem li għaddew Cassar ħadet il-każ tagħha fil-Qorti Kostituzzjonali, il-Forum Żgħażagħ Laburisti ħass li għandu jesprimi l-appoġġ tiegħu lejn din il-kawża ġusta.

"Nemmnu li persuna rikonoxxuta bħala mara, dan wara li għamlet 'gender reassignment' u b'hekk assumiet is-sess femminili b'mod irriversibbli, għandha kull jedd li tiżżewweġ ċivilment raġel. Qegħdin nieħdu din il-pożizzjoni mhux għax nemmnu li neċesarjament irridu nagħmlu bħal pajjiżi oħrajn, iżda għax aħna konvinti li f'dan l-istadju huwa sempliċiment dritt ta' din il-mara li tiżżewweġ raġel. Xejn iktar u xejn inqas", qal il-Forum Żgħażagħ Laburisti.

Waqt li qal li f'dan l-istadju għamilha ċara li din hija biss il-pożizzjoni uffiċjai tiegħu, il-Forum Żgħażagħ Laburisti esprima t-tama li l-każ inkwistjoni jkun riżolt b'mod sodisfaċenti f'pajjiżna u ma jkunx hemm għalfejn jitla' quddiem il-Qorti Ewropea tal-Ġustizzja biex Joanne tkun tista' tiżżewweġ persuna tas-sess oppost tagħha f'pajjiżna.

Ta' min jgħid li anke Alternattiva Demokratika, permezz tal-kelliem uffiċjali tagħha għall-affarijiet li jolqtu mill-qrib persuni LGBT, l-Inġinier Patrick Attard, ukoll kienet esprimiet id-diżappunt tagħha għall-umiljazzjoni li qed ikollha ssofri Joanne Cassar, li wara l-intervent kirurgu magħruf bħala 'sex-reassignment', mhix qiegħda titħalla li tiżżewweġ.

F'isem Alternattiva Demokratika, l-Inġinier Attard esprima s-simpatija, l-appoġġ u l-akbar solidarjetà ma' Joanne Cassar u appella lill-iStat biex tassew jirrikonoxxi għal kollox l-identità ta' persuni bħalha.

"Alternattiva Demokratika tisħaq għall-introduzzjoni ta' sħubija ċivili bejn persuni ta' l-istess sess. Il-liġijiet tagħna għandhom jirriflettu r-realtà attwali u jagħtu rikonoxximent legali lil persuni li huma kommessi għal xulxin. Persuni adulti għandhom jitħallew liberi li jieħdu d-deċiżjonijiet tagħhom, u l-iStat m'għandux ikompli jgħid lin-nies x'għandhom jagħmlu f'materji daqstant intimi u personali", saħaq Patrick Attard.

Huwa esprima wkoll it-tama li fl-aħħar jirbaħ is-sens komun u jipprevali l-umaniżmu, kif ukoll li l-iStat iħalli lil din il-mara, li kellha ssofri ħafna biex tkun dik li hi, tiżżewweġ lill-persuna li hi tħobb. "Alternattiva Demokratika tħoss li f'dan il-każ, ir-Reġistratur taż-Żwiġijiet kien insensittiv għall-aħħar", temm jgħid il-kelliem ta' AD għall-affarijiet li jolqtu lil persuni LGBT.

UĦM: It-Transesswali u s-suq tax-xogħol

http://www.uhm.org.mt/article_item.aspx?id=82190
2.8.8; minn Dr. Romina Bartolo

Dan is-suġġett hu wieħed pjuttost ġdid għal pajjiżna. Hawn ħafna nuqqas ta’ informazzjoni dwar dan is-suġġett u għalhekk hu faċli li wieħed iħawwad ħaġa ma’ oħra u forsi jifformula opinjonijiet f’moħħu li mhux neċessarjament ikunu bbażati fuq il-fatti. Kien għalhekk li l-Malta Gay Rigħts Movement applikat għal proġett kofinanzjat mil-Fond Soċjali Ewropew sabiex issir riċerka biex fuqha tkun tista’ tittieħed xi tip ta’ azzjoni biex tirrimedja sitwazzjoni li tidher li tipprevali f’pajjiżna.

Waqt seminar li l-għan tiegħu kien li jixxandru r-riżultati ta’ din ir-riċerka, ħareġ ċar li persuni transesswali f’Malta, jiffaċċjaw diversi problemi, kemm meta jkunu qed ifittxu x-xogħol kif ukoll fuq il-post tax-xogħol. Fil-fatt ħafna minn dawn il-persuni jidher li jaħdmu għal rashom.
Il-ħajja mhiex faċli għal dawn in-nies. Persuna li minn eta’ ċkejkna tħoss li hemm xi ħaġa ħażina fiha u li l-ġisem tagħha tistkerhu u sa minn meta tiftakar tħares lejha nnifisha u tixtieq tinbidel bioloġikament, tgħaddi minn mumenti diffiċli. L-istudju wera li l-familja stess tgħaddi minn xokk meta ffaċċjata bil-verita’ u ċioe’ li dak li dejjem qieset bħala binha jew bintha, ser jibdlu s-sess tagħhom u għalhekk ser jitilfu t-tifel jew tifla tagħhom.

Ħafna drabi, l-iskola tipprovdi ambjent ostili għal dawn in-nies li jiġu insultati u mweġġa b’kull mod possibbli minn sħabhom u xi kultant anke mill-għalliema tagħhom. Għalhekk wieħed ma jkunx sorpriż jiskopri mir-riżultati tar-riċerka li f’Malta ma jidhirx li persuna transesswali qatt kompliet f’livell post-sekondarju jew terzjarju.

Parti minn dan il-proġett kien jikkonsisti f’intervisti lil numru ta’ “employers”. Ir-riżultati jagħtu wieħed x’jifhem li sakemm persuna transesswali fix-xogħol tagħha ma jkolliex kuntatt mal-klijenti tal-kumpanija, m’hemmx problemi. Pero’, ħafna minn dawn insistew li l-klijenti jkunu mgerrxa jekk xi ħaddiem tal-kumpanija jiġi moqdi minn persuna simili. Barra minn hekk, jekk din il-persuna transesswali tkun fl-istadju li tagħmel l-operazzjoni hekk imsejħa “gender reassignment surgery”, ċertu “employers” jinsistu li l-persuna tibqa tilbes bl-istess mod anke wara l-operazzjoni.

Din l-operazzjoni mhiex waħda faċli u hija rriversibbli. Intopp ieħor li jinqala fuq il-post tax-xogħol hu dak dwar il-leave sabiex tkun tista’ ssir din l-operazzjoni. Dan hu proċess twil li jista’ jieħu numru ta’ ġimgħat peress li jridu jsiru diversi interventi. Xi wħud mill-“employers” qalu li jista’ jittieħed bħala “sick leave” u oħrajn bħala “vacation leave”. Oħrajn qalu li jistgħu jittieħdu kemm “vacation” kif ukoll “sick leave” flimkien. Ftit kienu dawk li jaċċettaw li jagħtu l-leave mingħajr ħlas.

Meta titkellem ma dawn in-nies, tinduna li dak li ħafna minnha nieħduh “for granted”, għalihom huwa diffiċli hafna. It-transesswaliżmu huwa kkunsidrat bhala marda psikologika u dan jagħmilha aktar diffiċli għal dawn in-nies li jgħixu hajja ċivili bhal kulħadd.

Ħareġ ċar minn dan is-seminar li hu importanti li jkun hawn aktar informazzjoni għax b’hekk biss tista’ b’xi mod tnaqqas mid-diskriminazzjoni li dawn in-nies jiffaċċjaw fuq il-post tax-xogħol u fil-ħajja ta’ kuljum. Wieħed irid jagħtihom opportunita’ li jipparteċipaw fis-soċjeta’ u fid-dinja tax-xogħol bħal persuni ohra. B’hekk biss inkunu nistgħu ngħidu li aħna soċjeta’ inklussiva.

Times: Maltese people are owed explanation on HBSC study

This letter is a reply to the articles and letters on the Health Behaviour of School-Aged Children (HBSC) survey. (see here) and (here) for the background.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080802/letters/maltese-people-are-owed-explanation-on-hsbc-study
Saturday, 2nd August 2008; Fr Anton Gouder, Senglea

Quite some time has elapsed since I wrote my comment, which was published on July 28.

While pondering on what could have gone amiss with the HBSC survey - why it should produce such a strange conclusion regarding the situation of the family in Malta - it occurred to me that it would be more appropriate to consult the sources and not simply comment on reported data.

What was the question put to these adolescents? It is common knowledge that the way in which a question is versed may influence the answer and consequently the results. I browsed through the HBSC website but was unable to find the questionnaire, so I wrote to HBSC, who replied that "The HBSC questionnaire is not in public domain". Needless to say I was extremely surprised as well as disappointed. Their response aroused my interest further, leading me to obtain a copy of the questionnaire on the Health Behaviour of School-Aged Children Study, Malta 2006.

The question (number 55) was put in this way: "All families are different (for example, not everyone lives with both their parents, sometimes people live with one parent, or they have two homes or live with two families) and we would like to know about yours. Please answer this first question for the home where you live all or most of the time and tick the people who live there." In my opinion, the format of the question already creates a bias; but what follows is more serious.

The respondents were given a number of options to choose from. The eight options given were the following: mother, father, stepmother (or father's girlfriend), stepfather (or mother's boyfriend), grandmother, grandfather, I live in a foster home or children's home, someone or somewhere else (please write it down). At no point were the adolescents offered the possibility to tick that they live with both parents.

I could not believe this. One might argue that they could have ticked two circles, to signify both the mother and the father. I agree, but the fact definitely remains that this particular question was not user-friendly. Apart from this, throughout the whole 25-page questionnaire, containing 76 questions, the participants were required to tick only one circle on every occasion. I believe that this is a major flaw which contaminated the result.

I was in for another big surprise when I went through the 206-page report on the HBSC website. The results to this question are found in the Annex of Supplementary Data Tables. The relevant table is the one with the heading "Family Structure: Young People Living in Different Family Types", to be found on page 185. This table reports the results under four headings: Both Parents, Single Parent, Step Family and Other. I scanned the list to find the results for Malta - and Malta was not listed. At the bottom of the table there is a note which reads "No data available for Malta".

Whoever is responsible, whether abroad and/or locally, owes the Maltese people an explanation. Already quite a number of politicians and policy makers have drawn their conclusions from the strange results that have been published.

My Note: This letter doesn't seem to tackle the original claim that:
Malta's data on sexual behaviour is missing after Church schools were instructed by the Curia not to fill in the questions related to intercourse, the contraceptive pill and condom use.

L-Orizzont: Dibattitu dwar id-divorzju

http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=46253
minn Lino Debono, eks-Deputat Parlamentari Laburista, 1.8.8

L-istat ma jistax jibqa‘ jagħmilha ta‘ l-għami, mutu u trux għall-problema dejjem tikber ta‘ koppji mifrudin miż-żwieġ li qegħdin jerġgħu jibnu ħajja ġdida ma’ persuna oħra.

L-istat daqstant ieħor ma jistax ikompli jinjora li f’pajjiżna 25% tat-trabi qegħdin jitwieldu barra miż-żwieġ.

L-istat lanqas ma jista’ jwarrab l-għarukaża li tfal barra miż-żwieġ kienu sa ftit xhur ilu jiġu rreġistrati bħala “illeġittimi”. It-tfal huma dejjem innoċenti.

L-istat huwa fi dmir li jilleġisla s-separazzjoni bejn setgħat ta’ stat mill-Knisja.

Amministrazzjoni ta’ stat għandha u hija fi dmir li tilleġisla liġijiet ċivili għaċ-ċittadini tagħha u l-Knisja għandha d-dmir ukoll li tamministra l-ħwejjeġ spiritwali. Żewġ affarijiet distinti u separati minn xulxin.

Fil-preżent l-istat jirrikonoxxi żwiġijiet ċivili li jsiru barra minn Malta, kif ukoll id-divorzju akkwistat u maħruġ f’pajjiżi oħrajn. L-istat kien ukoll preċedentament issepara l-istat ċivili minn dak reliġjuż billi kien daħħal uffiċjalment iż-żwieġ ċivili. Kienet propjru l-amministrazzjoni preżenti li reġgħet bidlet kollox u rritornat din il-funzjoni f’idejn il-Knisja.

Dan kien żball. Fil-pajjiż, fil-preżent, biex tinħall miż-żwieġ trid tieħu l-annullament mingħand il-Kurja. Dewmien u telf ta’ żmien, apparti li anke dan il-mezz meta persuna jirnexxielha tieħdu, (f’ċerti każi jista‘ jseħħ li parti tieħu l-annullament u l-parti l-oħra le), dan ukoll joħloq ambigwità.

Il-Kurja tidħol biss fl-annullamenti taż-żwieġ, però tħalli barra l-essenzjalità ta‘ prinċipju fuq manteniment, abitazzjoni, qsim ta‘ proprjetà, eċċ. Il-Qorti trid tkun biex jiġu kkonsidrati dawn il-ħwejjeġ. Nifhem li l-Knisja trid tara familji magħqudin, kif madanakollu jixtieq kulħadd. Però kif jista’ jseħħ dan meta l-instrument legali biex isseħħ dan ma jeżistix?

Fil-passat riċenti kien jingħad li l-familji Maltin kienu sodi fiż-żwieġ u l-fidi tagħhom. Kollox possibbli. Possibbiltà wkoll kien il-fatt li kważi kulħadd kien jagħlaq għajnejh għat-tbatija u l-iskjavitù li kienu jgħaddu matul ħajjithom ċerti nisa u tfal mid-dominju totali ta‘ żewġhom/missierhom.

F’każijiet rari kienu l-irġiel li jbatu wkoll. L-irġiel, sal-bidu tas-sebgħinijiet, kienu huma biss li jmorru jaħdmu u jaqilgħu l-flus. In-nisa li wara l-gwerra xi ftit jew wisq bdew jaħdmu, meta jiżżewgu kien ikollhom bil-fors jitilqu mix-xogħol. Għalhekk l-indipendenza finanzjarju tan-nisa kienet tintemm ħesrem.

Diversi nisa kienu jgħaddu ħajjithom bħala lsiera jekk isibu s-sieħeb ta’ karattru ħażin. X’għamlu? Jitilqu? Isibu sieħeb ġdid? Jekk jitilqu mid-dar ma kienx ikollhom biex jieklu u jekk isibu sieħeb ġdid kienu jiġu oskurati minn kulħadd.

Min-naħa l-oħra kien hemm ħafna okkażjonijiet fejn ir-raġel isiefer, jibgħat għall-mara, u din ma tmurx ħdejh jew għax iġġib skuża li trid tieħu ħsieb lill- ġenituri, jew parantela, eċċ. Kemm kien hawn minn dawn li għalkemm iż-żwieġ ma ġiex imħassar uffiċjalment b’xi karta, l-irġiel bnew familji oħra għalihom fil-pajjiż li kienu fih.

Il-poplu kien jaf b’dawn il-ħwejjeġ, iżda ħlief għal xi vuċi ’l hawn u ’l hemm, għad ma kienx hemm dik ir-rieda politika li jaqbdu l-barri minn qrunu biex jieħdu ħsieb din l-anomalija kruċjali. Il-voti kienu u għadhom jiġu qabel il-prinċipji.

Il-Knisja tixtieq u trid li l-familja Maltija tkun magħquda fiż-żwieġ. Temmen li fl-għaqda matrimonjali hemm il-valuri Nsara. Però kif jista’ jsir dan meta ma jeżistix il-makkinarju li jsir dan? Fil-pajjiż hawn mijiet jekk mhux eluf ta‘ kopji li qegħdin jgħixu flimkien barra miż-żwieġ. Biss, biss, dak li diġà għidt, li 25% tat-tfal qegħdin jitwieldu barra miż-żwieġ mhix ħaġa taċ-ċajt.

Daqs kemm mhix taċ-ċajt li dawk it-tfal li twieldu barra miż-żwieġ, sa ftit xhur ilu, għalkemm ir-reġistratur jingħata l-isem tal-missier, xorta jirreġistra t-tarbija bħala waħda “illeġittima”. Ċertifikat li t-tarbija tibqa‘ ġġorru għal għomorha. Ara miskina x’tort ikollha din it-tarbija biex tibqa‘ magħrufa fiċ-ċertifikat tat-twelid bħala “bgħala”.

Kien kuraġġjuż il-pass li ħa l-Mexxej Laburista, Joseph Muscat, meta qal li huwa għad iressaq il-kwistjoni għal dibattitu dwar id-divorzju fil-Parlament. Daqstant ieħor wieħed irid japprezza dak li qal il-Ministru John Dalli, li anke huwa se jmexxi ’l quddiem il-kwistjoni dwar id-divorzju. Ma’ dawn wieħed ukoll irid jgħid li din il-kwistjoni ilha tiġi msemmija minn diversi sezzjonijiet tas-soċjetà u anke minn individwi. Allura meta hawn ċerta qbil fil-prinċipju li għandha ssir xi ħaġa, għaliex m’għandhiex issir issa u mhux nistennew ħames snin oħra?