Introduction
Campaign for peace and neutrality
Graffitti asks police to investigate
USS JFK visits Malta
Why Should Malta not accept Warships?
Warships in Marsascala
MG on Freedom Day 2005
Yet another warship
Violation of Freedom of Expression
MG on Freedom Day 2004
MG for Neutrality
No to Warships
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Anti Warship CampaignMoviment Graffitti started its anti-warship campaign in 1997. Back then in Malta, warships used to enter the ports just to let the public visit them on board. Moviment Graffitti used to publish press releases and distribute fliers to the public. Fliers explained that Warships where not worth visiting and making people aware that warships contributed to the killing of lots of innocent lives. The anti-warship campaign reached its peak when the debate regarding the 6th American fleet "USS la Salle" warship was aroused. The Malta Dry-docks had signed an agreement with the fleet and decided that from then on, warships could enter the port to be repaired. Moviment Graffitti in a press release issued on the 17/01/01 said that the Maltese neutrality had been betrayed because after all we were being complicit in the act of war. Repairing warships means that we are indirectly participating in wars. Moviment Graffitti believes that as country that boasts so much of its staunch Christian tradition, we cannot be part of the industry of warfare which kills millions of innocent people around the world. "We feel that the argument that the contract is one which offers work is not a valid argument to justify the fact that we are helping the war industry", the press release said. Around February/March of the same year 5 members from Moviment Graffitti were arrested at night after they were caught stucking up posters across all of Malta displaying slogans against warships in port. The posters said: "Peace before Profit", "War = Death", "No to warships in port". The police were reported to have held the activists for more than 7 hours in the police station. Their house was also raided, and their computers checked. Mr. Fiorini from Moviment Graffitti had claimed that they were in fact treated like criminals when all they were doing was to try and promote peace. The activity created a quite of controversial discussions in Malta but the general feedback was quite good. On the 31st of March 2001, a protest was organized at Birgu in order to coincide with Freedom Day celebrations. The movement said it is great irony that we celebrate freedom day when a few meters away the warship USS La Salle which is to blame for thousands of innocent lives was being repaired in our ports. Apart from that, the movement insisted that letting warships entering into our ports is violating the Maltese constitution. On the 4th of July, Moviment Graffitti held a protest on the streets outside Victoria Gate in Ta' Liesse, Valletta. The protestors showed their disapproval about the celebration of the American Independence Day on a warship. "We are not against that the Maltese MPs meet with the new Ambassador of the USA for Malta. And we are also not against that the Maltese MPs celebrate the American Independence Day with the Ambassador, but we are against that the Maltese MPs, who are supposed to represent the People of Malta, attend to activities on warships", a press release issued on that day said. The protest exhibited an almost absurd exaggerated amount of security and police. The Pinto Wharf area was heavily barricaded against the protesters - 'armed' with whistles and drums- by an exaggerated compliment of AFM soldiers, Police, watch dogs and snipers led by assistant commissioner Mr. Alfred Abela. Some soldiers even boarded a tanker off the Grand Harbour. The guests for the US celebrations were barricaded on the heavily guarded USS John F. Kennedy. Unsurprisingly enough, excessive police force was used when the protestors tried to make their way to the warship with their banners. Freedom Day of 2002 marked a very successful protest for Moviment Graffitti. The protestors had increased in size from the previous years, and apart from that two other radical movements "Azzjoni Pozittiva" and the Liverpool based NGO "People Not Profits" took part in the protest. The protestors managed to distract the police officers who tried to ruin the protest. Unfortunately one Graffitti activist was arrested, being accused of toppling off a police officer's hat. Moviment Graffitti in a Press Release stated that the police officers used excessive force and even brutality in their operation. The arrested activist even claimed that he was physically assaulted when he was taken to the police station. Obviously, the police officers denied all allegations. [Pictures here] Since then more anti-warship demonstrations and actions have been done. The latest demonstration was in Freedom Day 2005. [Click here to read the press release] [Pictures here]. Recently new Anti-warship stickers have been printed as part of the anti-warship campaign. Anybody who is interested in having some stickers should contact us here. Pictures from other anti-warship demonstrations can be viewed in the photo archive section. |
