MaltaToday previous editions

MT 29 May 2017

Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/829623

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 19 of 19

maltatoday, MONDAY, 29 MAY 2017 TIM DIACONO PRESIDENT Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca has stepped in to condemn a viral meme that depicts Prime Minister Jo- seph Muscat as a person with Down's Syndrome. The meme, that went viral on Facebook, was a play on the PN's billboard of Muscat with the slogan 'He let us all down'. It first appeared on a satirical Facebook page called 'Mintoff Dreams for Commie Teens' that has since been pulled down. In a statement on Facebook, Coleiro Preca said yesterday it was "heartbreaking" that there are some Maltese people who are bringing political debate to such low levels of maturity, de- cency, respect and ethics. "It is shameful that there are people who use politics as an excuse to insult others and in the process hurt vulnerable, sick and disabled people," she said. PN leader Simon Busuttil also condemned the meme as "unacceptable" during a politi- cal activity this morning. "I condemn it unreservedly as I condemn the attacks on the Prime Minister's children," he said. Commissioner for People with a Disability Oliver Sciclu- na said that the person behind the joke should be traced and that he "should get what he de- serves for such a sick joke". News BAR & RESTAURANT Using only the finest & freshest ingredients we specialise in a selection of delicious pizzas and homemade burgers. For reservations please call: 2346 6666 Fortina Spa Resort, Tigné Seafront Sliema SLM 3012, Malta www.FortinaSpaResort.com LIVE FOOTBALL AVAILABLE. President condemns meme of Muscat with Down's Syndrome Three asylum seekers airlifted to Malta for medical treatment THREE asylum seekers, two women and a man, were airlifted to Malta for urgent medical treatment yesterday. Upon receiving a request for assistance by the Mari- time Rescue Coordina- tion Centre in Rome, the Armed Forces of Malta dispatched a helicopter to a vessel that has been deployed in the Mediter- ranean as part of the EU's Operation Sophia to com- bat human smuggling. The three people were finally transferred to Ma- ter Dei Hospital by ambu- lance. The AFM's statement was short on details and did not give details of the operation or the three people, instead referring to them merely as "migrants". A massive rescue opera- tion is currently underway in the Mediterranean and 1,800 people were rescued from 10 separate vessels on Wednesday alone. However, Italy's coast- guard said that 34 people, including young children, drowned during the opera- tion after an overcrowded boat carrying about 500 people capsized and sent 200 people into the water.

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of MaltaToday previous editions - MT 29 May 2017