TIMES OF MALTA
28 March 2010
AFP
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas yesterday ruled out US-brokered indirect peace talks with Israel unless it backs down on settlements, as Arab leaders closed ranks over Jerusalem at a summit in Libya.
Abbas, at the opening of the two-day summit in the Mediterranean city of Sirte, echoed widespread concern that the Middle East peace process was in peril and urged his Arab peers to "rescue" Jerusalem.
"We cannot resume indirect negotiations as long as Israel maintains its settlement policy and the status quo," he said in a speech after UN chief Ban Ki-moon had addressed the summit seeking Arab support for the talks.
Abbas accused Israel of seeking to wipe out the Arab identity of Jerusalem through "ethnic cleansing" and insisted that Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem must be the capital of any future Palestinian state.
"We have always said that Jerusalem is the jewel in the crown and the gate to peace," he said.
The UN chief urged Arab leaders to facilitate the "proximity" talks between Israel and the Palestinians, saying "our common goal should be to resolve all final-status issues within 24 months".
Ban also reiterated that Israel's settlement activity in mainly Arab east Jerusalem was "illegal" and stressed that Jerusalem must emerge "as the capital of two states".
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, another guest speaker, blasted Israel's policy of dealing with the whole of Jerusalem as its united capital as "madness".
"Jerusalem is the apple of the eye of each and every Muslim ... and we cannot at all accept any Israeli violation in Jerusalem or in Muslim sites," Erdogan said.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who was likewise invited by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to address the summit, said "now is the time to give peace a chance".
"We have the possibility, we have the responsibility and we feel the urgency," he said.
Berlusconi hoped Israel's hardline Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would "respond to the call made by the international community to improve the living conditions of Palestinians", especially in the Gaza Strip.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100328/world-news/arabs-close-ranks-on-jerusalem-at-libya-summit
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Low racist crime figures 'shocking'
TIMES OF MALTA
28 March 2010
Caroline Muscat
Just four people were charged in court for racist crimes in the last 10 years, a figure described as "shocking" by Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil.
Two people were arraigned in 2006, and another two were charged in 2008 and 2009, according to figures released in Parliament by Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici.
The figures pale in comparison to claims made by NGOs and humanitarian organisations over what they describe as the worrying xenophobic and racist trends in Malta.
The most recent Eurobarometer surveys show 77 per cent of Maltese respondents perceive discrimination based on ethnic origin to be widespread, while five per cent of those interviewed in Malta the previous year said they had personally experienced racial discrimination.
Asked whether the figures or race-related crimes were low because racism was not an issue in Malta or whether it was due to a lack of enforcement, Dr Mifsud Bonnici replied: "The authorities have taken the necessary steps whenever reports related to racist crimes were made. The robust law that came into effect last year laid down clear definitions for such crimes, introduced new ones, and raised the penalties."
Yet, nobody has been charged with racist crimes since the regulations came into force last July, and according to the ministry, this is because the new law was acting as a deterrent.
But Dr Busuttil expressed shock at the low figures, saying he was concerned about the rising tide of xenophobia and racism.
"One only needs to visit timesofmalta.com for regular contributions which are overtly xenophobic and others which verge dangerously on racism... I regularly receive hate mail in relation to my work on immigration. In the beginning, I found them quite traumatic but I have learned to live with them," Dr Busuttil said.
He was not the only one targeted, as international human rights organisations have regularly documented the rise of racism in Malta.
Amnesty International last year expressed concern about a pattern of arson attacks in 2005 and 2006 that occurred against those who had spoken out against racism, demanding the authorities bring those responsible to justice.
It is still not possible to confirm the arson attacks as racist crimes because the perpetrators were never brought to justice. The Sunday Times last week asked the police to provide an update on investigations, but no replies were given.
When contacted, the National Council for the Promotion of Equality said it received a number of requests for assistance and complaints for investigation referring to allegations of racial discrimination.
The council said although the number of prosecutions indicated in Parliament did not seem to reflect the state of affairs, the council was often faced with alleged victims who did not wish to make their case public.
For this reason, the council said it would be carrying out an EU co-funded project this year to study the reasons related to underreporting of discriminatory cases.
"The enforcement of the illegality of racism has to be a relentless and comprehensive commitment by all stakeholders who have a role in combating racial discrimination and racial hatred, hence safeguarding equal treatment to everyone, irrespective of their race," council manager Therese Spiteri said.
But the council also emphasised education as essential to increasing tolerance.
This was also stressed by the representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Malta Jon Hoisaeter who said "often, intolerance stems from a lack of information or wrong assumptions" and that interaction between communities was essential to address this.
Mr Hoisaeter said he was not surprised at the low figures, because "it takes a lot before someone is criminally charged for making statements". While underlining that the UNHCR understood the pressures Malta faced, the agency pointed out that immigration was a relatively new experience for the country.
"The public debate on online fora is very discouraging in terms of the language used, which tends to be rather aggressive towards immigrants.
"But I have seen these kinds of statements in other countries that have had to come to terms with this reality. It takes time," Mr Hoisaeter said.
"What is seen as an extreme situation gradually becomes something that is manageable, and ultimately can be recognised as enriching," he added.
But it was not all bad news, he insisted, as there were other, less visible voices promoting tolerance.
"People come to UNHCR asking how they can play a part. That is encouraging."
cmuscat@timesofmalta.com
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100328/local/low-racist-crime-figures-shocking
28 March 2010
Caroline Muscat
Just four people were charged in court for racist crimes in the last 10 years, a figure described as "shocking" by Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil.
Two people were arraigned in 2006, and another two were charged in 2008 and 2009, according to figures released in Parliament by Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici.
The figures pale in comparison to claims made by NGOs and humanitarian organisations over what they describe as the worrying xenophobic and racist trends in Malta.
The most recent Eurobarometer surveys show 77 per cent of Maltese respondents perceive discrimination based on ethnic origin to be widespread, while five per cent of those interviewed in Malta the previous year said they had personally experienced racial discrimination.
Asked whether the figures or race-related crimes were low because racism was not an issue in Malta or whether it was due to a lack of enforcement, Dr Mifsud Bonnici replied: "The authorities have taken the necessary steps whenever reports related to racist crimes were made. The robust law that came into effect last year laid down clear definitions for such crimes, introduced new ones, and raised the penalties."
Yet, nobody has been charged with racist crimes since the regulations came into force last July, and according to the ministry, this is because the new law was acting as a deterrent.
But Dr Busuttil expressed shock at the low figures, saying he was concerned about the rising tide of xenophobia and racism.
"One only needs to visit timesofmalta.com for regular contributions which are overtly xenophobic and others which verge dangerously on racism... I regularly receive hate mail in relation to my work on immigration. In the beginning, I found them quite traumatic but I have learned to live with them," Dr Busuttil said.
He was not the only one targeted, as international human rights organisations have regularly documented the rise of racism in Malta.
Amnesty International last year expressed concern about a pattern of arson attacks in 2005 and 2006 that occurred against those who had spoken out against racism, demanding the authorities bring those responsible to justice.
It is still not possible to confirm the arson attacks as racist crimes because the perpetrators were never brought to justice. The Sunday Times last week asked the police to provide an update on investigations, but no replies were given.
When contacted, the National Council for the Promotion of Equality said it received a number of requests for assistance and complaints for investigation referring to allegations of racial discrimination.
The council said although the number of prosecutions indicated in Parliament did not seem to reflect the state of affairs, the council was often faced with alleged victims who did not wish to make their case public.
For this reason, the council said it would be carrying out an EU co-funded project this year to study the reasons related to underreporting of discriminatory cases.
"The enforcement of the illegality of racism has to be a relentless and comprehensive commitment by all stakeholders who have a role in combating racial discrimination and racial hatred, hence safeguarding equal treatment to everyone, irrespective of their race," council manager Therese Spiteri said.
But the council also emphasised education as essential to increasing tolerance.
This was also stressed by the representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Malta Jon Hoisaeter who said "often, intolerance stems from a lack of information or wrong assumptions" and that interaction between communities was essential to address this.
Mr Hoisaeter said he was not surprised at the low figures, because "it takes a lot before someone is criminally charged for making statements". While underlining that the UNHCR understood the pressures Malta faced, the agency pointed out that immigration was a relatively new experience for the country.
"The public debate on online fora is very discouraging in terms of the language used, which tends to be rather aggressive towards immigrants.
"But I have seen these kinds of statements in other countries that have had to come to terms with this reality. It takes time," Mr Hoisaeter said.
"What is seen as an extreme situation gradually becomes something that is manageable, and ultimately can be recognised as enriching," he added.
But it was not all bad news, he insisted, as there were other, less visible voices promoting tolerance.
"People come to UNHCR asking how they can play a part. That is encouraging."
cmuscat@timesofmalta.com
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100328/local/low-racist-crime-figures-shocking
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Major discrimination against gay and lesbian
The Malta independent online
26 March 2010
by Annaliza Borg
There are major cases of discrimination against gay and lesbian people everywhere, including in employment and the social rights sphere, said a Malta Gay Rights Movement representative last Wednesday during a debate entitled ‘Move Opens the Closet’.
The debate was organised by the progressive students organisation Move and led by Alistair Bugeja. Psychologist and university lecturer Mary Borg Cunen, Cyrus Engerer from the Malta Gay Rights Movement, Anthony Galea, a psychologist from LGBT Labour and Xarabank presenter Peppi Azzopardi were on the panel. A number of students (although much fewer than the number of those who confirmed attendance on facebook) participated.
Mr Engerer, who is also a Nationalist Party councillor, said the road ahead was very long but we must start with defining family and adoption regulations in state legislation. Cohabitation, adoption and marriage rights were MGRM’s priority, he noted. Pointing out that single people and heterosexual couples who lived together could adopt children but gay or lesbian couples could not, Mr Engerer said this was unfair. Moreover, several LGBT people were having children from heterosexual encounters just for the sake of having children. Even children’s rights were not being protected because of lack of legislation, he said.
Addressing LGBT in education was very important, Mr Engerer said, as teachers did not know how to tackle bullying cases against students of particular sexual orientations. Gay people were still being sent away from home and deprived of shelter when they came out to their families explaining their sexual orientation. Cases of 14 to 20 year olds who sought refuge away from home were common, Mr Galea agreed.
Ms Borg Cunen said studies showed no problems in the upbringing of children by gay couples however discrimination in schools against children brought up by gay couples existed. She explained that homosexuality was not an orientation people chose, but which they realised when growing up. Some research points out it is genetically inherited. Slight differences in chromosomes, the brain and biology of heterosexual and homosexual people were noted.
Asked whether there was a need for a specific LGBT group within the Labour Party and whether this emphasised differences rather than ironing out difficulties, Mr Galea said the PL had taken the first initiative to give LGBT people a direct voice. The group was to help the PL in its work and work to abolish discrimination against gays.
However he did point out this group was made up of five to 10 members and “still very fluid”. It was working on a set of guidelines for its members and proposals for the party. “The PL may not agree with our ideas but we will push for them,” he said.
Peppi Azzopardi accused the PL of trying to make everyone happy but taking no particular stand in favour of LGBT. Being a left-wing party, it should act otherwise, he said.
“Imagine the case of a man and a woman who decide they want to get married and have children but the state does not allow them. This is the situation with gay couples and it is totally unfair,” he said.
Although before the last general elections, the Nationalist Party had called for a stop against gay discrimination, promised that cohabitation would be recognised and the promotion of equality would be taken care of by the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality, nothing was done.
Alternattiva Demokratika was the party speaking in accordance with full LGBT rights.
Meanwhile, the state was still providing books with illustrations of the stereotype cereal box family – a man and a woman with two children, a boy and a girl.
“I have to show and explain to my son that other family structures are normal,” Mr Azzopardi said.
He also noted that homophobia was linked with false impressions that LGBT people abused others.
Participating students had harsh words about MEP Simon Busuttil who attended the last gay pride parade but then took a particular vote against gays recently.
“What did he come for,” they wondered.
Similarly, students complained against a recent statement which President George Abela made in favour of traditional families while excluding other family structures, during a conference on the family. Gozo Bishop Mario Grech also seemed to pick on gays, discriminating against them time and time again.
The panel believed the Church had its own ideals and should only act as a lobby group. State legislation should be completely independent.
http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=103642
26 March 2010
by Annaliza Borg
There are major cases of discrimination against gay and lesbian people everywhere, including in employment and the social rights sphere, said a Malta Gay Rights Movement representative last Wednesday during a debate entitled ‘Move Opens the Closet’.
The debate was organised by the progressive students organisation Move and led by Alistair Bugeja. Psychologist and university lecturer Mary Borg Cunen, Cyrus Engerer from the Malta Gay Rights Movement, Anthony Galea, a psychologist from LGBT Labour and Xarabank presenter Peppi Azzopardi were on the panel. A number of students (although much fewer than the number of those who confirmed attendance on facebook) participated.
Mr Engerer, who is also a Nationalist Party councillor, said the road ahead was very long but we must start with defining family and adoption regulations in state legislation. Cohabitation, adoption and marriage rights were MGRM’s priority, he noted. Pointing out that single people and heterosexual couples who lived together could adopt children but gay or lesbian couples could not, Mr Engerer said this was unfair. Moreover, several LGBT people were having children from heterosexual encounters just for the sake of having children. Even children’s rights were not being protected because of lack of legislation, he said.
Addressing LGBT in education was very important, Mr Engerer said, as teachers did not know how to tackle bullying cases against students of particular sexual orientations. Gay people were still being sent away from home and deprived of shelter when they came out to their families explaining their sexual orientation. Cases of 14 to 20 year olds who sought refuge away from home were common, Mr Galea agreed.
Ms Borg Cunen said studies showed no problems in the upbringing of children by gay couples however discrimination in schools against children brought up by gay couples existed. She explained that homosexuality was not an orientation people chose, but which they realised when growing up. Some research points out it is genetically inherited. Slight differences in chromosomes, the brain and biology of heterosexual and homosexual people were noted.
Asked whether there was a need for a specific LGBT group within the Labour Party and whether this emphasised differences rather than ironing out difficulties, Mr Galea said the PL had taken the first initiative to give LGBT people a direct voice. The group was to help the PL in its work and work to abolish discrimination against gays.
However he did point out this group was made up of five to 10 members and “still very fluid”. It was working on a set of guidelines for its members and proposals for the party. “The PL may not agree with our ideas but we will push for them,” he said.
Peppi Azzopardi accused the PL of trying to make everyone happy but taking no particular stand in favour of LGBT. Being a left-wing party, it should act otherwise, he said.
“Imagine the case of a man and a woman who decide they want to get married and have children but the state does not allow them. This is the situation with gay couples and it is totally unfair,” he said.
Although before the last general elections, the Nationalist Party had called for a stop against gay discrimination, promised that cohabitation would be recognised and the promotion of equality would be taken care of by the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality, nothing was done.
Alternattiva Demokratika was the party speaking in accordance with full LGBT rights.
Meanwhile, the state was still providing books with illustrations of the stereotype cereal box family – a man and a woman with two children, a boy and a girl.
“I have to show and explain to my son that other family structures are normal,” Mr Azzopardi said.
He also noted that homophobia was linked with false impressions that LGBT people abused others.
Participating students had harsh words about MEP Simon Busuttil who attended the last gay pride parade but then took a particular vote against gays recently.
“What did he come for,” they wondered.
Similarly, students complained against a recent statement which President George Abela made in favour of traditional families while excluding other family structures, during a conference on the family. Gozo Bishop Mario Grech also seemed to pick on gays, discriminating against them time and time again.
The panel believed the Church had its own ideals and should only act as a lobby group. State legislation should be completely independent.
http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=103642
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