A number of left-wing and socialist activists have written a letter addressed to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet in relation to recent reports about the possible signing of a State of Foreign Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the government of Malta and that of the United States (see letter and signatories here). Among the signatories are President Emeritus Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, MEP and Former Prime Minister Dr Alfred Sant, Former Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, the daughters of the former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff, Ann McKenna and Yana Mintoff, the former Chairperson of the Malta Drydocks Sammy Meilaq, and other individuals from the academic field, civil society, the clergy, and a number of former dockyards employees and officials.
The signatories have demanded government not to enter into any such agreement for reasons relating to:
1. The neutrality clauses in the Constitution, stating that any such agreement contravenes the letter and spirit of this document;
2. The de facto two-tiered legal system that would come into being if Malta enters a SOFA, which would differentiate between members of the US armed forces and local residents, and would likely be detrimental to the latter;
3. Recent military interventions in the Mediterranean region and beyond being detrimental to peace, security and well-being, and being a catalyst for war crimes;
4. The danger to which Malta would be exposed if it were to host a strong military presence, and the negative effect this would have on the island’s economy and wellbeing.
The letter invited government to actively pursue peace, security and social progress among all nations, while refusing to participate in any military ventures as envisaged by the Constitution. It also urged Cabinet to publicly agree to comply with this request.
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Attivisti tax-Xellug u Soċjalisti jitolbu lill-Kabinet sabiex ma jinnegozjax SOFA jew ftehimiet militari oħrajn
Numru ta’ attivisti xellugin u soċjalisti kitbu ittra indirizzata lill-Prim Ministru u l-Kabinet fir-rigward ta’ rapporti riċenti dwar il-possibilità li jiġi ffirmat State of Foreign Forces Agreement (SOFA) bejn il-Gvern ta’ Malta u dak tal-Istati Uniti (ara l-ittra u l-firmatarji hawn). Fost il-firmatarji hemm il-President Emeritu Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, l-MEP u l-eks Prim Ministru Dr Alfred Sant, l-eks Prim Ministru Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, Ann McKenna u Yana Mintoff (ulied l-eks Prim Ministru Dom Mintoff), l-eks President tat-Tarzna ta’ Malta, Sammy Meilaq, u individwi oħra mill-qasam akkademiku, is-soċjetà ċivili, il-kleru, u numru ta’ eks impjegati u uffiċjali tat-Tarzna.
Il-firmatarji talbu lill-gvern sabiex ma jidħol f’ebda ftehim ta’ din ix-xorta għal dawn ir-raġunijiet:
1. Il-klawżoli ta’ newtralità fil-Kostituzzjoni, fejn iddikjaraw li kwalunkwe ftehim ta’ din it-tip imur kontra l-ittra u l-ispirtu ta’ dan id-dokument;
2. Is-sistema legali de facto b’żewġ livelli li tidħol fis-seħħ kieku Malta tidħol f’SOFA, u li tiddiskrimina bejn membri tal-forzi armati tal-Istati Uniti u r-residenti lokali, għad-detriment ta’ dawn tal-aħħar;
3. L-interventi militari riċenti fir-reġjun tal-Mediterran, li minbarra li kienu ta’ detriment għall-paċi, is-sigurtà u l-benessri, kienu katalizzatur tad-delitti tal-gwerra;
4. Il-periklu li għalih tkun espost Malta kieku kellha tospita preżenza militari qawwija, u l-effett negattiv fuq l-ekonomija u l-benessri tal-pajjiż.
L-ittra tistieden lill-Gvern sabiex isegwi b’mod attiv il-paċi, is-sigurtà u l-progress soċjali bejn il-pajjiżi kollha, filwaqt li jirrifjuta li jipparteċipa f’azzjonijiet militari kif previst mill-Kostituzzjoni. L-ittra talbet lill-Kabinett sabiex pubblikament juri l-qbil tiegħu ma’ din it-talba.
