Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/911593
maltatoday SUNDAY 3 DECEMBER 2017 28 Letters Resembling ever more a return to the Crusades, al-Qaeda's war with the 'infidel' has now targeted the Hospital- lier Order that tended to the injured Templars in Jerusalem in battle against Muslim rulers. On Thursday, a message posted on websites said to be close to al-Qaeda urged jihadists to carry out a terrorist attack on the embassy of the Sovereign Order of Malta in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. "Do not stint on your attacks, Egyp- tians, either with car or truck bombs," read the message, accompanied by photos of the embassy building and entrance. "These are photos of the Order of Malta embassy in Cairo. I ask Allah to have it closed down or blown up, along with those inside it, who hate Islam and Muslims," the message continued. The message urging the attack on the Order of Malta – today a charitable organisation – follows the publica- tion of an editorial in the United Arab Emirates daily al-Bayan, by Jordanian MP Jamal Muhammad Abidat entitled 'The Knights of Malta - more than a conspiracy'. In the article, Abidat gives a Muslim interpretation of the Order's history, de- scribing the role played by the Knights of Malta during the Crusades. Abidat says the Order is playing the same role in the Middle East today, citing the conf licts in Iraq and Afghanistan. "The painful saga of modern Arab- Muslim history evokes the battles fought in Crusades of the 11th century – when the Knights of Malta began their operations as a Christian militia whose mission it was to defend the land conquered by the Crusaders." "These memories return violently to mind with the discovery of links between the so-called security firms in Iraq such as Blackwater have historic links with the Order of Malta," Abidat argued. He was referring to private security contractors operating in Iraq such as Blackwater Worldwide whose guards on 16 September killed 17 Iraqi civilians in a Baghdad square. Abidat also accuses the Order of Malta of being run by men who are close to US president George W. Bush and neo-conservative political circles. "You cannot exaggerate it. The Order of Malta is a hidden government or the most mysterious government in the world," Abidat writes. The Rome-based Order of Malta, whose full name is the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, is also known as The Knights of Malta. The Order of St John of Jerusalem is one of the oldest institutions of Western and Christian civilisation. Present in Palestine in around 1050, it is a lay re- ligious Order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. Its 12,500 members include Professed Friars and others who have made vows of obedi- ence. The Order of Malta retains its claim of sovereignty under international law and has been granted permanent observer status at the United Nations. It issues its own passports, stamps and coins and has formal diplomatic relations with 99 states. The Order has recently returned to Malta, after signing an agreement with the Maltese Government which granted the Order the exclusive use of Fort St. Angelo for a term of 99 years. Located in the town of Birgu, the Fort belonged to the Knights from 1530 until the is- land was occupied by Napoleon in 1798. Send your letters to: The Editor, MaltaToday, MediaToday Ltd. Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 | Fax: (356) 21 385075 E-mail: newsroom@mediatoday.com.mt. Letters to the Editor should be concise. No pen names are accepted. News – 5 December, 2007 Al Qaeda urges attack on Order of Malta embassy in Egypt No Maltese MEP sponsors attendance for disability plenary The Malta Federation of Organi- sation Persons with Disability (MFOPD) is the national um- brella organisation for the disabil- ity sector and is registered with the VO (VO / 0042). MFOPD is the Maltese representative in European and international fora amongst which the European Disability Forum (EDF). EDF in cooperation with the European Parliament has been actively preparing the 4th edition of a major event: the European Parliament of Persons with Dis- abilities (EPPD). The EPPD is a landmark event which represents a unique opportunity for Europe- an citizens with disabilities, both leaders and grass-root activists, to have a dialogue with their elected representatives and speak up for their rights. It is a unique event which shows Parliament's support to persons with disabilities and the importance of the dialogue between European citizens with disabilities and their MEPs. The discussions will focus on the right of persons with disabilities to vote and participate in politi- cal and public life, the European Disability Strategy 2020-2030 and the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) by the European Union (EU). The event will take place on Wednesday 6 December (whole day) in the European Parliament in Brussels. It will bring together hundreds of delegates of repre- sentative organisations of persons with disabilities from all over Europe, Members of the Euro- pean Parliament (MEPs) and high level representatives of other EU institutions. The President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, and EDF President Yannis Var- dakastanis will be opening the event. In the first semester of this year EDF had suggested for all its members, including us, MFOPD, to contact our MEPs and ask each one of them to sponsor two persons to attend the 4th European Parliament for Persons with Disability. As was done by all EDF's members, MFOPD contacted all our MEPs and asked for their support. Unfortunately, no Maltese MEP accepted to sponsor MFOPD to be able to send its members to Brussels to represent the Maltese umbrella organisation for the disability sector. While all other member countries got positive feedback from their MEPs and have se- cured quite a substantial number of sponsorships from them for this event, unlike their peers, Maltese MEPs failed to support the Malta Federation of Organi- sation Persons with Disability (MFOPD) which is the voice of all Maltese persons with disability. Our MEPs have failed to support us persons with disability and our family members. Notwithstanding the above, MFOPD will still be present in the European Parliament due to the direct input of the Euro- pean Commission. However, it is indeed sad that while our MEPs speak incessantly in favour of persons with disability, some- times words speak louder than actions. This is in total contrast to the actions of foreign MEPs in favour of persons with disability within their countries. Marthese Mugliette President, MFOPD Clarification With respect to the report 'Bunkering bribery suspect launches €25m bond issue' (5 November 2017) the following corrections are to be made in respect of the relevant assertions in the article: 1. Francis Portelli and Anthony Cassar never had any Swiss bank accounts held jointly with Frank Sammut and Tancred Tabone. Francis Por- telli never had a Swiss account and Cassar had a declared account. 2. Frank Sammut never set up any companies for Portelli or Cassar. 3. The charges made against Portelli and Cassar are unrelated to the charges made against others in connection with Enemalta. The case against Portelli and Cassar is not, as alleged in the article, "connected to the Enemalta oil scandal of 2013". 4. Island Bunker Oils Limited has not been restyled as Valletta Bunkers Limited. In fact, Is- land Bunker Oils still exists as such and Valletta Bunkers Limited is a separate company. 5. The bond issue was launched by Virtu Fi- nance Limited, not by Francis Portelli. MaltaToday apologises for the mis-statements in the article related to Francis Portelli and Anthony Cassar. On World AIDS Day The incidence of HIV in Malta is on the increase meaning that there is an increase in the transmission of the infection, the stigmatisation that sur- rounds the infection and the isolation that follows after someone is found to be positive. Throughout the years, we have fought the battle against the infection. So now, Let's End It - which is our message for this year's World AIDS Day – let's end the transmission, let's end the stigma and let's end the isola- tion. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day and it has been celebrated every 1st of December since 1988. Annually, the Malta Medical Students' Association (MMSA), more specifically the Standing Committee on Sexual and Reproductive Health, forms part of the worldwide fight against HIV, showing support for people living with HIV, and commem- orating the lives of those who have succumbed to AIDS. The 90-90-90 strategy is an ambi- tious treatment target set by the UN- AIDS with the goal that by 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status; 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy and 90% of all people receiving antiretrovi- ral therapy will have viral suppression. We believe that it is our duty to be part of this movement and continue moving forward against the infection. HIV is heavily stigmatised in Malta, and misconceptions must be dealt with effectively. On an international level, we believe that our events will help push towards the 90-90-90 goal. The MMSA World AIDS day is an annual public event in Republic Street, Valletta, this year taking place on the 8th of December between 9am and 1pm. The event will incorporate a f lash mob which will be used to attract people's attention followed by MMSA members outreaching to the public and distributing leaf lets regarding AIDS/ HIV. There will be several stands on the day concerning rights of people living with HIV, rights of the LGBT+ community, a children's corner, a fundraising activity in the name of those living with HIV/AIDS and a quiz board where people visiting the stand can answer questions regarding HIV/ AIDS for the chance to win prizes and goodies. So as individuals and as a country, it is essential that we nip the problem in the bud and take the necessary precautions to prevent contracting the infection. Informing oneself about HIV and its methods of transmission will allow us to move forward in our fight against the infection; a collective effort is invaluable in ending the infection once and for all. Mathias Abela, MMSA