Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1177088
17.10.19 2 NEWS MASSIMO COSTA THE US embassy has said that it is not too late for the persons behind Daph- ne Caruana Galizia's murder to be brought to justice in a credible way. e embassy said it had supported the Maltese government in the investi- gation which led to the arrest of three men suspected to have carried out the murder, and once again offered to sup- port the investigation if requested. In a statement on Twitter, which ap- pears to have gone beyond diplomatic formalities, the US embassy said the government was still in time to prose- cute Caruana Galizia's murderers "in a credible manner." e statement, issued on the second anniversary of Caruana Galizia's as- sassination, noted that since 2010, 19 bomb attacks - five of which were fatal - had taken place, and that "too many remain unresolved." It said that the crime stood apart be- cause it involved "an influential jour- nalist and a blogger of international renown who took risks to promote greater transparency and speak un- comfortable truths to those in power." "Following the Maltese government's initial request for assistance, we sup- ported our Maltese partners in the in- vestigation that led to three arrests so far," the embassy said. "We stand ready to support the inves- tigation in any way we can, if requested by Maltese authorities." e embassy wel- comed the decision to hold a public inquiry into the murder, and reiterated its call for a "thorough, transparent, and timely conclusion to the investigation into Daphne's death." "A c c o u n t a b i l i t y , strong judicial pro- cesses, transparency, and convictions are the best ways to support freedom of expression and rule of law, and deter future would-be criminal." e embassy added that "it is not too late for Malta to bring Daphne's killers to justice in a credible manner." Government's commitment e Maltese govern- ment has reiterated the commitment to "con- tinue delivering justice", two years after the as- sassination of Daph- ne Caruana Galizia, a statement released yes- terday affirmed. e government described the assas- sination as "a shocking attack on the whole country". e statement noted that investiga- tions, with the involvement at various stages of international organisations such as FBI and Europol, are ongoing. "Within 50 days of the murder, three persons were arrested and ar- raigned in court accused of the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. Earlier this year, they were placed under a bill of indictment. e government has full faith in the ongoing work of the investigators, and the independent inquiring magistrate, who should be allowed to continue car- rying out their duties in a serene and independent manner," the statement read. e government said an independent inquiry is also being established. e set- ting up of the independent inquiry was announced last month but the government has held meetings with the Caruana Galizia family after it raised objections about the people chosen to sit on the inquiry. Government appointed for- mer judge Michael Mallia, law professor Ian Refalo and forensic expert Anthony Abela Medici and tasked them to probe whether the murder could have been prevented. Malta government reiterates commitment to 'deliver justice' DAPHNE CARUANA GALIZIA MURDER A tweet by Mark A. Schapiro, the US Chargé d'Affaires to Malta KURT SANSONE HUNDREDS of people gathered in Valletta yesterday to remem- ber murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia on the second an- niversary of her death. Her memory was marked by a Mass, followed by a walk down Re- public Street to Great Siege Square in front of the law courts. At the foot of the Great Siege monument, which has become a makeshift memorial for the slain journalist, the crowd was ad- dressed by speakers, calling for justice to be done. e speakers included the prolif- ic Italian anti-mafia campaigners, Leoluca Orlando, the current may- or of Palermo, and Luigi Ciotti, a priest. Caruana Galizia was murdered in a car bomb on 16 October 2017, shortly before 3pm. She had just left her house in Bidnija when the bomb was detonated. Around 50 days after the shocking murder, three men were charged with planting the bomb and setting it off. e case against the three is ongoing but the mastermind is be- lieved to be still at large. People gathered in silence, hold- ing candles, pictures of the jour- nalist, flowers, and messages de- manding justice be done. Some of the speakers accused the government of fostering a culture of impunity, which they said was to blame for Caruana Galizia's assassination and the continued vilification of her name when the makeshift memorial in Valletta is repeatedly cleared by government workers and ordinary individuals. Two years on, Daphne Caruana Galizia remembered in Valletta Daphne Caruana Galizia's family and relatives lead the cortege down Republic Street to Great Siege Square