The Times of Malta
Wednesday, 24th March 2010 - 17:25CET
The church in Malta still promoted homophobia, where it had become a “regular” thing for the Gozo bishop to speak against gays, according to a gay rights activist speaking on campus this afternoon.
“It should be a crime to speak against a minority” Cyrus Engerer, a member of the Malta Gay Rights Movment and a PN councillor said, adding that unfortunately, gays were still fighting discrimination.
Mr Engerer was speaking at Move debate on homosexual people’s rights in Malta.
Giving an example, he said that while a gay person could adopt a child individually, a gay couple could not.
He spoke about the recently launched book by Maltese Australian Joseph C. Chetcuti, in which the writer said that St Gorg Preca and St Paul had homosexual tendencies.
Mr Engerer defended this claim by saying these people might not have been able to come out during their lifetime.
Television presenter Peppi Azzopardi, however, disagreed, saying the Gozo bishop was right in his recent criticism of the book because he did not agree that Dr Chetcuti should have mentioned people who were dead and who never spoke about their sexuality.
He said he was hurt most by people who were scandalised at the claims made in the book, “as if gay people could not become saints”.
Mary Ann Borg Cunen, a counsellor at university, said there was still ambiguity on what made people gay.
However, it was clear that people did not wake up at 14 and decide they were gay. Research suggested being gay might be genetic and it also seemed to run in families.
She said that there was new research which showed that women’s sexuality was quite fluid and a woman who earlier in life identified with being gay, could later on train her mind to be straight, and then change back. Men, on the other hand, seem to be more fixed in their sexual orientation.
Speaking on adoption by gay couples, Ms Borg Cunen said every research she read showed that children brought up by gay couples exhibited no disorders. However, they might be subject to discrimination at school.
Mr Azzopardi blamed this on schools for continuously presenting the stereotypical family with a man, a woman, a boy and a girl.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100324/local/church-accused-of-promoting-homophobia
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Authors condemn China snub of HIV-positive writer
The Times of Malta
Monday, 15th March 2010
Literature
AFP
More than 90 authors, including Nobel winner J. M. Coetzee, have condemned China for refusing an HIV-positive Australian writer entry to the country for a government-sponsored tour.
Robert Dessaix revealed his health status in his application for a visa which was refused without explanation.
The Australian Society of Authors condemned the decision, penning an open letter signed by more than 90 writers including Schindler's Ark author Thomas Keneally and 2004 Commonwealth Prize regional winner Michelle de Kretser.
"This was an act of discrimination that appears to be founded in fear or ignorance and is behaviour unworthy of any nation that desires to be seen as enlightened and civilised," the letter says.
"We ask the Chinese government to explain its decision as a matter of urgency and to offer Mr Dessaix the public apology to which he is entitled."
Mr Dessaix, 65, had been due to speak at Shanghai's International Literary Festival which featured writers such as Su Tong, Scott Turow and Junot Diaz.
"It's mediaeval," the writer told The Sydney Morning Herald this month, adding that Australian officials had been given no reason for his rejection but believed his health status was the stumbling block.
"I feel snubbed and insulted, of course, and also humiliated. There had been interventions at the highest level on my behalf, but they were refused, so I see it as a snub to Australia, not just to me."
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs said the government did not comment on individual cases but was aware that Mr Dessaix had been unable to secure a visa for China. "The Australian government has, through diplomatic channels, spoken with Chinese authorities on a number of occasions over recent weeks in support of Mr Dessaix's visa application," a spokeswoman said.
"The Australian government is disappointed that Mr Dessaix was not able to take up his invitation to attend the event."
Mr Dessaix is a novelist, essayist and travel writer whose books include A Mother's Disgrace, Night Letters and Corfu.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100315/world-news/authors-condemn-china-snub-of-hiv-positive-writer
Monday, 15th March 2010
Literature
AFP
More than 90 authors, including Nobel winner J. M. Coetzee, have condemned China for refusing an HIV-positive Australian writer entry to the country for a government-sponsored tour.
Robert Dessaix revealed his health status in his application for a visa which was refused without explanation.
The Australian Society of Authors condemned the decision, penning an open letter signed by more than 90 writers including Schindler's Ark author Thomas Keneally and 2004 Commonwealth Prize regional winner Michelle de Kretser.
"This was an act of discrimination that appears to be founded in fear or ignorance and is behaviour unworthy of any nation that desires to be seen as enlightened and civilised," the letter says.
"We ask the Chinese government to explain its decision as a matter of urgency and to offer Mr Dessaix the public apology to which he is entitled."
Mr Dessaix, 65, had been due to speak at Shanghai's International Literary Festival which featured writers such as Su Tong, Scott Turow and Junot Diaz.
"It's mediaeval," the writer told The Sydney Morning Herald this month, adding that Australian officials had been given no reason for his rejection but believed his health status was the stumbling block.
"I feel snubbed and insulted, of course, and also humiliated. There had been interventions at the highest level on my behalf, but they were refused, so I see it as a snub to Australia, not just to me."
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs said the government did not comment on individual cases but was aware that Mr Dessaix had been unable to secure a visa for China. "The Australian government has, through diplomatic channels, spoken with Chinese authorities on a number of occasions over recent weeks in support of Mr Dessaix's visa application," a spokeswoman said.
"The Australian government is disappointed that Mr Dessaix was not able to take up his invitation to attend the event."
Mr Dessaix is a novelist, essayist and travel writer whose books include A Mother's Disgrace, Night Letters and Corfu.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100315/world-news/authors-condemn-china-snub-of-hiv-positive-writer
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Malta fares well in human rights report
di-ve.com
Vanessa Macdonald by Vanessa Macdonald - editorial@di-ve.com
Local News -- 12 March 2010 -- 10:55CEST
Malta fared well in the US’s human rights report for 2009, with the main negative comments relating to the treatment of migrants, although the sentence given to man who dressed as Jesus in Nadur was also cited.
The country reports have been drawn up by the US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor for the past 34 years, and the report on Malta found no problems in many sections analysed, such as fair and free elections, a sound judiciary and protection against discrimination.
However, it highlighted reports that the government detained irregular migrants under harsh conditions and that there were some restrictions on free speech. Societal problems included child abuse, trafficking in persons and substandard work conditions for irregular migrants.
• Migrants
Authorities detained irregular migrants under poor conditions for up to 18 months during review for protected status. In August 2008, authorities charged 4 prison wardens with assaulting and seriously injuring a prisoner following his attempt to escape from a government correctional facility. The case was ongoing at year’s end.
Conditions in government-run detention centres for migrants were poor, with overcrowding and unsanitary prison space.
There was some hostile speech toward Muslims in blogs, letters to the editor, and comments associated with Internet-based articles on migration problems; the focus was primarily on the irregular immigrant status of many Muslims rather than on their religion. There were no reports that the government instituted any steps to prevent or punish such hostile speech under this or other provisions of law.
The population included more than 10,000 persons of Arab, African, and eastern European origin. There continued to be isolated reports that owners of some bars and discos periodically discouraged or prohibited darker skinned persons, particularly of African or Arab origin, from entering their establishments.
In June authorities charged a bouncer at a popular entertainment area with causing a serious injury followed by death after a Sudanese migrant, whom he allegedly hit in the face, died of head trauma. The case was ongoing at year's end.
Irregular migrant workers from Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, and other sub-Saharan African countries sometimes worked under conditions that did not meet the government's minimum standards for employment. In September 2008, according to press accounts, the General Workers' Union issued a report documenting what it called the "exploitation" of migrant workers.
• Legal issues
Lengthy delays in both criminal and civil trials were frequently reported. During 2008, the ECHR issued judgments that found 1 violation by the country of the right to a fair trial and 1 violation involving the length of the proceedings.
The law restricts cultural activities that publicly vilify the Catholic Church. In March authorities arrested, tried, and gave a suspended 1 month prison sentence to a man convicted of giving offense to the Roman Catholic Apostolic Religion by dressing up as Jesus Christ during February carnival festivities in the village of Nadur.
In February the Board of Film and Stage Classification prohibited production of the Anthony Neilson play, Stitching, on the basis that it was blasphemous and obscene. The production company, Unifaun Theatre Company, instituted legal proceedings against the prohibition; at year's end the case was before the courts.
In October, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption issued a report indicating their judgment that penalties for judicial corruption were too low.
• Abuse
A number of sources consistently claimed that authorities did not pursue cases of alleged sexual abuse of children by Catholic clerics unless a parent or adult filed a formal complaint but instead allowed the church to handle the matter internally. Once a complaint was filed, however, authorities followed the same police investigative and judicial processes as for other such complaints.
The law prohibits trafficking in persons for all purposes; however, there were rare reports that persons were trafficked to the country for sexual exploitation.
The number of cases was too small to constitute a pattern, but the country has been a destination for women trafficked from Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Sweden, and other European countries. In addition irregular migrants from African countries who arrived en route to Italy and elsewhere may be vulnerable to human trafficking.
Most traffickers appeared to be Maltese nationals acting independently. In some earlier cases, traffickers appear to have identified vulnerable targets for sexual exploitation after the potential victims arrived in the country. In other cases traffickers recruited their victims abroad, telling them they would be performing legitimate work in Malta, and later forcing them into prostitution.
There were no reports that authorities condoned or facilitated trafficking in persons during the year; however, a police officer convicted of complicity in trafficking in 2005 remained free on appeal.
http://www.di-ve.com/Default.aspx?ID=72&Action=1&NewsId=70451¤tPage=5&newscategory=36
Vanessa Macdonald by Vanessa Macdonald - editorial@di-ve.com
Local News -- 12 March 2010 -- 10:55CEST
Malta fared well in the US’s human rights report for 2009, with the main negative comments relating to the treatment of migrants, although the sentence given to man who dressed as Jesus in Nadur was also cited.
The country reports have been drawn up by the US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor for the past 34 years, and the report on Malta found no problems in many sections analysed, such as fair and free elections, a sound judiciary and protection against discrimination.
However, it highlighted reports that the government detained irregular migrants under harsh conditions and that there were some restrictions on free speech. Societal problems included child abuse, trafficking in persons and substandard work conditions for irregular migrants.
• Migrants
Authorities detained irregular migrants under poor conditions for up to 18 months during review for protected status. In August 2008, authorities charged 4 prison wardens with assaulting and seriously injuring a prisoner following his attempt to escape from a government correctional facility. The case was ongoing at year’s end.
Conditions in government-run detention centres for migrants were poor, with overcrowding and unsanitary prison space.
There was some hostile speech toward Muslims in blogs, letters to the editor, and comments associated with Internet-based articles on migration problems; the focus was primarily on the irregular immigrant status of many Muslims rather than on their religion. There were no reports that the government instituted any steps to prevent or punish such hostile speech under this or other provisions of law.
The population included more than 10,000 persons of Arab, African, and eastern European origin. There continued to be isolated reports that owners of some bars and discos periodically discouraged or prohibited darker skinned persons, particularly of African or Arab origin, from entering their establishments.
In June authorities charged a bouncer at a popular entertainment area with causing a serious injury followed by death after a Sudanese migrant, whom he allegedly hit in the face, died of head trauma. The case was ongoing at year's end.
Irregular migrant workers from Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, and other sub-Saharan African countries sometimes worked under conditions that did not meet the government's minimum standards for employment. In September 2008, according to press accounts, the General Workers' Union issued a report documenting what it called the "exploitation" of migrant workers.
• Legal issues
Lengthy delays in both criminal and civil trials were frequently reported. During 2008, the ECHR issued judgments that found 1 violation by the country of the right to a fair trial and 1 violation involving the length of the proceedings.
The law restricts cultural activities that publicly vilify the Catholic Church. In March authorities arrested, tried, and gave a suspended 1 month prison sentence to a man convicted of giving offense to the Roman Catholic Apostolic Religion by dressing up as Jesus Christ during February carnival festivities in the village of Nadur.
In February the Board of Film and Stage Classification prohibited production of the Anthony Neilson play, Stitching, on the basis that it was blasphemous and obscene. The production company, Unifaun Theatre Company, instituted legal proceedings against the prohibition; at year's end the case was before the courts.
In October, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption issued a report indicating their judgment that penalties for judicial corruption were too low.
• Abuse
A number of sources consistently claimed that authorities did not pursue cases of alleged sexual abuse of children by Catholic clerics unless a parent or adult filed a formal complaint but instead allowed the church to handle the matter internally. Once a complaint was filed, however, authorities followed the same police investigative and judicial processes as for other such complaints.
The law prohibits trafficking in persons for all purposes; however, there were rare reports that persons were trafficked to the country for sexual exploitation.
The number of cases was too small to constitute a pattern, but the country has been a destination for women trafficked from Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Sweden, and other European countries. In addition irregular migrants from African countries who arrived en route to Italy and elsewhere may be vulnerable to human trafficking.
Most traffickers appeared to be Maltese nationals acting independently. In some earlier cases, traffickers appear to have identified vulnerable targets for sexual exploitation after the potential victims arrived in the country. In other cases traffickers recruited their victims abroad, telling them they would be performing legitimate work in Malta, and later forcing them into prostitution.
There were no reports that authorities condoned or facilitated trafficking in persons during the year; however, a police officer convicted of complicity in trafficking in 2005 remained free on appeal.
http://www.di-ve.com/Default.aspx?ID=72&Action=1&NewsId=70451¤tPage=5&newscategory=36
Monday, March 8, 2010
Police call for 'prudence' from Fr Montebello
The Times of Malta
Thursday, 4th March 2010 - 21:48CET
The police have called on Dominican priest Mark Montebello to be prudent and let the rule of law prevail in a case where he has criticised the police over their treatment of Nigerian man Monday Iseki.
Referring to statements issued by Fr Montebello, the police said a tirade of serious allegations had been made against the officers who effected the arrest of Mr Iseki.
"We appreciate the fact that Fr Montebello has, in a democratic country, the right to air his views, however, Fr Montebello should be aware that his right of expression is not total or absolute as it comes also with its limitations," the police said.
It explained that the case is still sub-judice but the allegations made by Fr Montebello as to what happened in the court room on Tuesday March 2 were completely unfounded.
"If one resorts to and compares the transcripts of evidence tendered by the two police officers referred to in Fr Montebello’s statement, it becomes clear that at no stage were there any contradictions in their testimony. This is a far cry from what was stated by Fr Mark that “in general the witnesses were in agreement but cancelled out each other in the details”.
Moreover, Fr Mark Montebello was also incorrect as regards the days Mr Iseki had been in detention, the police said By the next sitting, tomorrow, the Nigerian national would have been detained for 23 days and not 32 as erroneously stated in Fr Montebello’s statement.
He was arraigned in court on 12 February 2010 and denied bail. During the second sitting, on February 23, he did request bail and the case was put off for March 2. It was during this last sitting that he asked again for bail and a decision to this effect will be delivered by the presiding Magistrate tomorrow.
Mr Iseki is charged with slightly injuring a policeman, disobeying a legitimate police order and resisting arrest.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100304/local/police-call-for-prudence-from-fr-montebello
Thursday, 4th March 2010 - 21:48CET
The police have called on Dominican priest Mark Montebello to be prudent and let the rule of law prevail in a case where he has criticised the police over their treatment of Nigerian man Monday Iseki.
Referring to statements issued by Fr Montebello, the police said a tirade of serious allegations had been made against the officers who effected the arrest of Mr Iseki.
"We appreciate the fact that Fr Montebello has, in a democratic country, the right to air his views, however, Fr Montebello should be aware that his right of expression is not total or absolute as it comes also with its limitations," the police said.
It explained that the case is still sub-judice but the allegations made by Fr Montebello as to what happened in the court room on Tuesday March 2 were completely unfounded.
"If one resorts to and compares the transcripts of evidence tendered by the two police officers referred to in Fr Montebello’s statement, it becomes clear that at no stage were there any contradictions in their testimony. This is a far cry from what was stated by Fr Mark that “in general the witnesses were in agreement but cancelled out each other in the details”.
Moreover, Fr Mark Montebello was also incorrect as regards the days Mr Iseki had been in detention, the police said By the next sitting, tomorrow, the Nigerian national would have been detained for 23 days and not 32 as erroneously stated in Fr Montebello’s statement.
He was arraigned in court on 12 February 2010 and denied bail. During the second sitting, on February 23, he did request bail and the case was put off for March 2. It was during this last sitting that he asked again for bail and a decision to this effect will be delivered by the presiding Magistrate tomorrow.
Mr Iseki is charged with slightly injuring a policeman, disobeying a legitimate police order and resisting arrest.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100304/local/police-call-for-prudence-from-fr-montebello
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