15 October 2011

Forget Bill, Kill Peppi

Cartoon which appeared with the article
The Labour daily, l-orizzont ran a double-page spread penned by Joe Fava, a self-declared Partit Laburista activist and who constantly refers to Joseph Muscat as il-leader taghna.

The following are the words he used to describe Peppi Azzopardi. I am leaving them untranslated on purpose.

Peppi huwa ...

"bhima fero­ċi ... gurdien griż moqżież ... hu indispensabbli li jiġi eliminat. Irridu nkunu għa­milna patt ta’ suwiċidju kollettiv biex wara r-rebħa ma nillikwidawx lil din il-kreatura abjetta ... Jeħtieġ li nkomplu nippressaw bl-attakki tagħna fuq il-ġurdien ... Ma nistriħux qabel ma neliminawh mix-xena med­­jatika."

This is neither politics and less so journalism. It amounts to a political instrument disgorging pure and undistilled hatred against a human being.

But these words are much more than a verbal expression of hatred. They are a call to arms, an incitement to violence. In words that a mafia boss or an Al Qaeda terrorist could utter, the Labour daily paper is calling on Labourites to 'liquidated ... eliminated' Peppi Azzopardi.

This is not progressive and moderate politics, or politics of any sort for that matter. It is a call to violence which so far only exists in print and on the internet. So far.

In another country, the police would already be at the Labour daily's door, the media would be up in arms over hate speech directed at a colleague, upright MPs from both sides of the House would raise the matter in parliament and journalists' organisations would have issued an angry press release.

But this is Malta. And this is Labour.



16 comments:

Danton said...

are there no laws in this country re incitment? some one who called an ex prime minister "LUMUMBA", got hauled up in court a few years ago!

Anonymous said...

Lou, by mentioning the Mafia and terror you remind us of terrible times. It is indeed easy for violence to be transferred from print to reality. Do you remember the letter (i.e. print) that killed Karen Grech? Nowadays everyone has access to the information required for the construction of such letters.

Beware. The Maltese population is sad and angry. Strict policies, subtle violence, and scarce resources have always led to physical violence.

The people leading the PN and PL are equally responsible.

Anonymous said...

Alla faccia of 'political hatred has eased'.

Luciano said...

and two people ended in court for speaking in a violent manner about JPO....seems like treats are ok when coming from labourites under PN government

JV said...

Urina kif Sur Fava.

Anonymous said...

MLP has not changed. The earthquake never came. Joseph Muscat resuscitated the old guard known for their hatred towards fellow Maltese who disagree with them.

Joseph Muscat is giving his blessings to his cronies to foment hatred and violence. A repeat of the 1980s is on the horizon. God help us if they win the next election.

buddhish... said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Les said...

"But this is Malta. And this is Labour."

And this will be Malta under Labour. These are the policies and the vision that are truly being prepared. Let's not say we were not warned.

Anonymous said...

In another country some people would not have been permitted to appear on the media anymore, but yes, this IS malta.

Lupin said...

Rememebr Ghaddafi vowing to eliminate his people anyone? Refering to them as rats in their holes? ...mmm sounds familiar.

SILVIO said...

I must admit,I am no big fan of Peppi.
This is something unbelivable,takes us back to the Nazi era.Something not, should,but MUST be done.
this IS something serious,and the police must take immediate action,if they dont we ,common citizens,should form an action group and take legal action against the writer for inciting MURDER.
CAN SOMETHING OF THIS SORT BE DONE

Anonymous said...

The scary bit is that it was actually printed.

This goes beyond threatening. This is a promise.

Antoine Vella said...

I always thought that Alfred Sant had not truly "cleansed" the MLP but only forced the worst elements into hiding.

Joseph Muscat has now given them the opportunity to come out again.

Kurt said...

"This is neither politics and less so journalism. It amounts to a political instrument disgorging pure and undistilled hatred against a human being."

This could have just as easily been used to describe Daphne Caruana Galizia. Please Lou, stop pretending like somehow this sort of thing is endemic to the PL.

Even more laughable are those here posting about how under Labour things will go back to the way they were in the 80s. It's sad that after all the corruption and endless screw ups this government has been responsible for over the years you'll still find people who would rather lop off a limb than consider an alternative to PN rule.

Mickey Mouse said...

Anyone is familiar with the term "Islamo-fascism"?

Goebbels and Hitler would have been proud of the sentiments expressed in that rabble- inciting article.

Gheddafi ,(Him of the special freindship with Labour)would have made him a recipient of his human rights award.

Currently we have Joseph Muscat harking again at the "Road map" that is being planned by his NEW PL.

"Road map" as in middle-east conflict?

Freud would have been having a field day analysing the "blips" in the Labour Party's propaganda if he was alive.

Orlando Ellul Micallef said...

So today ... PL is claiming that PBS is a PN machine ... yet when they are in command ( hopefully not!) ... they are going to exterminate those who are against them (against the PL)! ....

However, Muscat told us that he will tolerate everyone who's against him and tell him so....