Front Against Censorship Press Release 18-01-2010

The Front Against Censorship would like to applaud the efforts of Minister Dolores Cristina for ordering the creation of a draft document which would reform censorship laws. The Front hopes that this draft document will be accepted by the Cabinet and also by the Opposition. The Front would also like to applaud Owen Bonnici who will in the near future present a bill to parliament to abolish censorship on film and theatre. We also hope that this bill will be approved by all members of parliament.

The Front would also like to respond to Minister Carmelo Mifsud-Boinnici who claimed in parliament, that the abolition of censorship would result in the exploitation of children, people with special needs and other vuvulnerable sections of society. The Front would like to assert once more its view that it is wholeheartedly against the exploitation of vulnerable sections of society and also believes that the government should always be there to protect these citizens. However the abolition of censorship has got nothing to do with the exploitation of vulnerable communities becayse despite the censorship approved by the state, such exploitation is still being carried out. The Minister's argument was thus irrational.The Minister also stated that his government has a moderate approach to legal reforms on censorship, but threatening people with imprisonment if they artistically convey themselves in a shocking manner does not constitute a so-called "moderate approach".

We would like to re-state our position with regard to these comments so as to prevent any false accusations and misunderstandings on the movement against censorship. The movement believes that censorship should be applied when hatred wich can lead to violence is spread through any from of meidum or discourse. The censorship imposed on any artist who would like to express him- or herself in a shocking way should be stopped. The reasons given to justify such an action - such as "obscenities" and "vilification of religion" - are only facets of an authoritarian and a theocratic state. A document of legal proposals will soon be presented by the Front to parliament during a national protest in Valletta which will take place on the 24th of February.

Apart from independent citizens,the Front Against Censorship is made up of:

Alternattiva Demokratika Zghazagh
Forum Zghazagh Laburisti
Kollettiv Ir-Realta'
General Workers Union Youths
Unifaun Theatre Productions
Moviment Graffitti
Zminijietna
MOVE – Progressive Students
Pulse

Mark Camilleri