This statement was originally published on article19.org on 4 December 2019.
A group of international organisations have called for close scrutiny as the public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia begins on 6 December, 2019.
ARTICLE 19’s Head of Europe and Central Asia, Sarah Clarke said:
“For two years, the family of Daphne Caruana Galizia have had to fight to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat at every step to establish a full independent, impartial and effective public inquiry into the assassination of their mother and wife, Malta’s leading investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. It will finally begin this Friday.
“The developments of the last few weeks confirm our profound concern at executive interference in all proceedings concerning justice for Daphne aimed at preventing the full truth emerging.
“We call on journalists, intergovernmental organisations and diplomats to monitor this hearing. The State needs to know that the world is watching. Those carrying out the public inquiry must ensure that, at last, there is justice for Daphne.”
The statement by the international organisations says:
The long awaited public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia will begin this Friday 6 December, 2019 at the Law Courts in Valletta. For two years, our organisations have supported the family of Daphne Caruana Galizia in calling for an independent, impartial and effective inquiry. The inquiry will address questions including whether the State knew or ought to have known of the risk to Daphne Caruana Galizia’s life; whether they failed to take measures to protect her life; and whether the State is fulfilling its obligations to protect journalists whose lives are at risk from criminal acts. We will be in Malta to monitor the first hearing where Matthew Caruana Galizia and Peter Caruana Galizia will give statements.
The public inquiry is a critical mechanism to ensure the whole truth emerges in the case of Daphne Caruana Galizia. It is essential for ensuring that lessons are learned and implemented to protect other journalists in Malta who remain at great risk. We urge full transparency in the process of the public inquiry, in particular that information pertaining to the inquiry is made publicly available in a timely fashion.
Our organisations strongly urge media, international governmental organisations and diplomats to monitor this opening hearing.
Our organisations will closely monitor the public inquiry, which is set to last 9 months. Sarah Clarke, Head of Europe and Central Asia for ARTICLE 19, will monitor the first hearing at 9am on 6 December.
Signed
ARTICLE 19
Committee to Protect Journalists
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
European Federation of Journalists
IFEX
PEN International
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
Transparency International
Scottish PEN
The public inquiry
The public inquiry will begin on Friday 6 December 09.00 CET at the Court of Appeal, Republic St, Valletta, Malta. View the Terms of Reference for the public inquiry.
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Source: MEDIA FEED
