Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/542972
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 19 JULY 2015 12 News Journalists demand press law reform THE Institute of Maltese Jour- nalists (IGM) called on the gov- ernment to keep its word to re- form the press law by the end of the year. In a statement issued in soli- darity with two Times of Malta journalists who this week had their assets seized by court, IGM said the asset freeze had underlined the need to elilmi- nate criminal libel by the end of the year. This week a court ordered the freezing of the financial assets of Times of Malta editor-in- chief Steve Mallia and of head of news Ariadne Massa after the newspaper failed to pay dam- ages it owes over a libel case as required by law. The Times of Malta had lost a libel case instituted by the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses and the court ordered the news- paper to pay four MUMN offi- cials €4,000 in damages – down from €11,500. But after the Times of Malta failed to pay the union officials because it had re- ferred the case to the Constitu- tional Court, the court upheld a request by the MUMN to freeze the journalists' assets. IGM described the court or- der as "unjustified" and "a direct threat" to journalists. "IGM expresses its solidarity with the two journalists who have been treated like criminals after los- ing the case," the statement said. No place for politicians in MEPA, say eNGOs ENVIRONMENTAL organisa- tions Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Ramblers' Association, Friends of the Earth, and Malta Organic Agricultural Movement have lashed out at "misleading" government publicity on the de- merger of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. "In a bid to justify the new MEPA laws which increase the politicians' stranglehold on plan- ning and environment, govern- ment publicity is giving incorrect and misleading messages," the NGOs said, insisting that envi- ronmental and planning policies and decisions should be left to technical experts. They said that at no point did they unconditionally support the MEPA split, and that eNGOs would only support the demerger if this strengthened the environ- ment which they said, "always comes second to development interests". "The split being proposed weak- ens the protection of the environ- ment, with the new Environment Authority being reduced to just another government entity to be consulted at whim," they said. They added that NGOs will on- ly be able to appeal against MEPA decisions on development appli- cations that carry Environment Impact Assessments (EIAs) or Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) assessments, "which only make up a fraction of MEPA's caseload". "By sidelining the Environment Authority, the new regulations further weaken the protection of Malta's environment and out-of- development zones," they said. "The overriding drive of the new planning legislation is the strengthening of the minister's control over planning matters, not only in the appointment of board members, but also in the granting or withholding of in- formation to the public… The only reform that will make a dif- ference to Malta's open spaces, to improving the well-being of residents, support of tourism and the economy is a reform in poli- ticians' commitment to the envi- ronment." Fire at Qormi factory Injured in quadbike accident WASTE at a factory in Qormi caught fire shortly after midday yesterday, the police said. Members of the Civil Protection Department were called to the Nylon Knitting factory in Qormi to control the blaze. Nobody was injured. As a result of the smoke generated by the fire, nearby shopping complex PAVI was forced to temporarily evacuate its premises. PAVI reassured its customers that there was no fire – the alarm was triggered by the smoke from the nearby facility. "As part of our safety protocol, we had to tempo- rarily evacuate our premises but at no time were any of our clients or staff at risk," PAVI said. AN Italian man and a Swedish woman suffered grievous inju- ries after their quadbike over- turned at Ix-Xatt ta' San Gorg at around 5am yesterday. The 23-year-old man was driv- ing towards the bay when he lost control of his machine. The quadbike overturned and both he and his 21-year-old passen- ger suffered grievous injures. The two were rushed to Mater Dei Hospital for treatment. Medics have confirmed that neither of them is in danger of dying.