Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1115758
21 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 MAY 2019 Mikiel Galea Abortion in Malta LAST year Ireland changed its Consti- tution to remove what was, effectively, a ban on abortion. This happened after a referendum preceded by a lengthy debate, during which the public was addressed by medical professionals, politicians, cam- paigners and clergymen. Information and opinions were aired in discussions and exchanges which were, at times, acrimonious. Perhaps most important- ly, the public was also invited to "walk in the shoes" of those who had experi- enced abortion. Irish people realised, when we listened to the stories told by these women, that they were our sisters, our daughters, our wives, our neigh- bours, our friends. They were us, and they were all around us. We had been exporting them in their hour of need so that we could pretend Ireland was abortion-free. It never was. No country is. In the end the Irish voters decided, by an overwhelming majority (2:1) to trust women, in conjunction with their doctors, to make their own decisions regarding healthcare in pregnancy. We voted to stop our most shameful export and to offer care and compassion to our own people, at home. Our law was changed. Indeed, some would say our country was changed, forever. One thing, however, did not change – the need for abortion, which is as old as pregnancy itself. It hap- pens in countries where it is legal and in countries where it is banned. It happens in Ireland and it happens in Malta. It is universal. Last year Ireland grew up. We stopped pretending and we started caring for ourselves. Isn't it time Malta did the same? Bernie Linnane et al, Leitrim Abortion Rights Campaign, Dromahair, Ireland Nazism protest vote I refer to Raphael Vassallo's column (8 May, 2019). Contrary to what has been stated, Imperium Europa's statute, Section II (a) states: "Any person older than fifteen (15) years of age, whether Maltese or foreign, can become a member of the Party, regardless of gender, race, creed, financial status and sexual orientation. The Party leader- ship retains the discretion to refuse any application for membership on other grounds without giving a reason for such refusal. Imperium Europa mem- bers shall not support, promote and finance other political parties during the MEP campaign formally launched by the Party up to the end of the elec- tion." Section III of our statue lists the aim of the party: "The aim of the Party is to contest local elections, general elections and European Union Parlia- mentary Elections. The Party stands for European Unity, the fraternity between the Union's members, and the safeguarding of their Identity and common interests. It does not sup- port the current set-up which renders it inoperative/ineffective, undemo- cratic and a threat to Members' sov- ereignty. Imperium Europa believes in a smaller, highly effective, democratic Union and looks forward to forging a basic Constitution for the safeguard of its members in matters relating to identity, eurozone, immigration, ter- ritory, environment, individual rights, and high culture. Imperium Europa promotes higher levels of local politi- cal autonomy for every member state, equality between men and women, good governance, the rule of law, re- spect for work, effective education and accessible, well-developed healthcare and the re-alignment of Human Rights to its intended original aims." "Imperium Europa reserves the right to join existing political groups accord- ing to compatibility with its principles and best interest thereof, should it be elected to Brussels." Neither Imperium Europa nor Mr Lowell, as its leader, stated that "[omis- sis] are all 'non-human', and therefore can be conveniently exterminated at will". It is also not true that Mr Lowell "proposed using the AFM patrol boats to sink immigrant boats at sea" - in his Safi 2005 speech, Mr Lowell stated 'duru lura 1, duru lura 2, duru lura 3'. This does not mean that immigrant boats are to be sunk with people on- board, although this is what other countries had done in the past years. Imperium Europa believes that Fron- tex has exacerbated the problem by offering hope to those who planned to cross illegally. Had the European governments adopted a hard stance on immigration, as suggested by Impe- rium Europa in 2005, many lives would have been saved for people would have understood that there are alternative methods to apply for asylum. Charles Sammut, Imperium Europa Letters & Clarifications