Three years after her assassination, still no justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia

IPI joins media freedom partners in demanding end to impunity

On 16 October 2017, journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated in Malta. Three years later we, the undersigned 19 international free expression, anti-corruption, civic participation, and journalists’ organisations, once again demand an end to impunity for this heinous attack.

As alleged murder mastermind, Yorgen Fenech, is facing criminal proceedings and the three defendants charged with carrying out the contract killing Alfred Degiorgio, George Degiorgio and Vincent Muscat, are awaiting trial, we recall that justice delayed is justice denied.

We call for thorough and effective criminal investigations and prosecutions that ensure the whole truth is uncovered and all those responsible for Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder are held to account in court.

We welcome the fact that a public inquiry has been established into the broader circumstances of the assassination and whether it could have been prevented,   albeit only following sustained pressure and in the face of ongoing government obstruction.

To date, the public inquiry has uncovered extensive failures of the state and its entities to protect the life of Daphne Caruana Galizia and a pattern of intimidation and harassment of her and her family, as well as other independent journalists, steered from the highest levels of government.

For the public inquiry to be effective, the Board of Inquiry must be allowed to continue to independently fulfil its Terms of Reference. In this regard, we have been gravely concerned by Prime Minister Robert Abela’s attempt to impose a time limit, unduly interfering with the fair and effective fulfilment of the Board of Inquiry’s task.

Daphne Caruana Galizia wrote that people suing her for libel were doing so “as an intimidation strategy as they retreat under siege.”

It is unacceptable that three years after her death, her family must continue to fight these Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) brought against her by former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and his wife Michelle, former Minister Konrad Mizzi and his wife Sai Mizzi Liang, the oligarch and governing party donor Silvio Debono and others.

We will continue our campaigning and joint advocacy until there is full justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia.

We hope that this year will be the last time that, in commemorating her, we must call for an end to impunity and the continued harassment of her family, so that we can fully focus on honouring her legacy as a fearless investigative reporter.

Signed:

ARTICLE 19

Civil Society Europe

Committee to Protect Journalists

European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

Free Press Unlimited

Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)

IFEX

Index on Censorship

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

International Media Support (IMS)

International Press Institute (IPI)

Justice and Environment

Media Diversity Institute (MDI)

Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)

PEN America

Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

Scottish PEN

Transparency International EU

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CPJ joins statement demanding justice for Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia
Tomorrow marks the third anniversary of the assassination of Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who reported on corruption and as part of the Panama Papers investigation. Impunity persists in Caruana Galizia’s murder, and CPJ continues to call on the Maltese government to carry out an independent inquiry and hold those responsible to account.

RSF, Malta: Three years on, pursuit of justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia stalled by constant obstacles and lack of press freedom reform
Three years after the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, the pursuit of justice remains elusive as the 10 month-old administration of Prime Minister Robert Abela fails to implement meaningful reforms. Those accused of planning and carrying out the attack have still not been brought to trial, whilst Abela has attempted to interfere with the ongoing public inquiry. Meanwhile, the country’s media climate remains deeply divided, and journalists who continue to pursue in-depth investigative reporting do so at great risk. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls again for full justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia and broader press freedom reforms without further delay.

FNSI, Tre anni senza Daphne Caruana Galizia, Giulietti: «Non archiviamo la richiesta di giustizia»
«In questo 16 ottobre ricordiamo chi ancora attende verità e giustizia. Penso a Daphne Caruana Galizia, ma anche ad Antonio Russo, ucciso 20 anni fa in circostanze ancora misteriose, a Ilaria Alpi e Miran Hrovatin, a Giulio Regeni, Italo Toni, Graziella De Palo, Andy Rocchelli, solo per citare alcuni nomi». Così il presidente della Fnsi, Giuseppe Giulietti, durante la cerimonia di inaugurazione a Ronchi dei Legionari (Gorizia) del murale dedicato alla giornalista maltese uccisa il 16 ottobre di tre anni fa. «Noi – ha aggiunto Giulietti – non archivieremo mai la richiesta di verità e giustizia per Daphne Caruana Galizia e per tutti i cronisti minacciati. Non è possibile archiviare, né nei tribunali né, soprattutto, nelle coscienze».