Is-sovranità tagħna mhiex għall-bejgħ

Hawn sinjali u indikazzjonijiet konfliġġenti dwar x’inhu għaddej bejn Malta u l-Istati Uniti tal-Amerika fuq negozjati dwar kundizzjonijiet li jirregolaw il-presenza ta’ militari Amerikani fuq teritorju Malti. Dak li hu magħruf bħala  Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). Il-presenza f’Malta tas-Segretarju tad-Difiża Amerikan  Mark Esper iktar kmieni din il-ġimgħa jindika mhux biss li t-taħdidiet huma għaddejjin, imma fuq kollox li huma fi stadju kritiku. Uffiċjalment ħadd ma jaf iktar minn hekk, ħlief dawk li għandhom idejhom fil-borma!

Billi hemm skiet kważi perfett – silenzju stampa – dwar il-materja, hu naturali li bħalissa għaddejja ħafna spekulazzjoni dwar dak li għaddej.

L-Istati Uniti ilha s-snin turi xewqa għal ftehim SOFA mal-Gvern Malti, imma kull Gvern repetutament qagħad lura. L-indikazzjonijiet illum huma  il-possibiltà ta’ insistenza Amerikana għal rabta  bejn ftehim u l-proċess tal- Moneyval dwar l-osservanza ta’ standards internazzjonali li jirregolaw il-ħasil tal-flus.

Kemm ir-rappreżentanti tal-Gvern Malti kif ukoll dawk tal-Gvern Amerikan jiċħdu li hemm din ir-rabta. Imma fin-nuqqas ta’ informazzjoni iktar konkreta nistgħu nkunu nafu biss matul il-ġimgħat u x-xhur li ġejjin. Jekk il-Gvernijiet humiex ser iħokku dahar xulxin ikun magħruf diplomatikament, kif jiġri ħafna drabi bejn l-istati  fil-maniġġi internazzjinali globali, kontinwament.

Fil-politika internazzjonali m’hemmx ħbieb, hemm biss interessi. Ir-relazzjonijiet diplomatiċi kontinwament ifittxu l-aħjar mod kif jaġevolaw dawn l-interessi. L-Istati Uniti tal-Amerika qed tfittex u tħares l-interessi tagħha meta tipprova issib mod kif tasal għal ftehim SOFA li jirregola l-presenza ta’ militari Amerikani fuq teritorju Malti. Din hi l-politika internazzjonali.  

Hu magħruf li Malta tablet l-assistenza tal-Istati Uniti biex tegħleb il-pressjoni internazzjonali dwar il-proċess tal-Moneyval li jirregola jekk il-pajjiż huwiex qiegħed miexi sewwa dwar il-ħasil tal-flus fuq territorju Malti.

Id-diċeriji jindikaw li l-Istati Uniti lesta tgħin, imma għal din l-għajnuna hemm prezz: il-ftehim li ilhom jixtiequ. Din hi opportunità li mhux la kemm terġa’ titfaċċa. Kif nafu: ħadd ma jagħmel xejn għal xejn.

Ftehim SOFA jistabilixxi l-qafas li fih il-militar Amerikan jopera f’pajjiżi barranin. Ftehim ta’ din ix-xorta jistabilixxi jekk u kif il-liġijiet ta’ Malta japplikawx għall-militar Amerikan u għall-ħidma tagħhom, inkluż kull apparat (inkluż il-flotta navali) li jistgħu jġibu magħhom. Ftehim ta’ din ix-xorta meta jkun negozjat – jista’ jwassal għal konċessjonijiet u eċċezzjonijiet b’mod li mhux il-liġi Maltija kollha tkun tapplika għall-mistednin tal-Gvern ta’ Robert Abela.

Dan kollu jwassal għal mistoqsija bażika: il-Gvern Malti qed jikkunsidra proposta tal-Istati Uniti li jkun hawn il-militar Amerikan jopera minn teritorju Malti?  Ma għandi l-ebda dubju li ftit huma l-Maltin li jaqblu ma proposta bħal din, jekk teżisti. 

Tul is-snin fil-pajjiż żviluppa kunsens nazzjonali li m’hawnx post għall-militar ta’ pajjiżi barranin fuq artna.  

Nistgħu allura naslu għall-konklużjoni li l-Gvern Malti qed ikun rikattat: Ftehim SOFA jekk trid l-għajnuna dwar il-proċess Moneyval? Sfortunatament ma tantx nistgħu naslu għal konklużjoni differenti.

Iktar kmieni din il-ġimgħa, Alternattiva Demokratika u l-Partit Demokratiku (li fi żmien qasir ser jingħaqdu f’partit wieħed) għamlu sejħa biex l-abbozz ta’ ftehim mal-Amerikani jkun ippubblikat immedjatament. Dan hu meħtieġ biex ikun jista’ jsir skrutinju pubbliku: dan hu obbligu demokratiku bażiku.

Nazzarda ngħid li l-idea innifisha tal-ftehim hi oggezzjonabbli fil-prinċipju u dan billi tmur kontra l-prinċipji bażiċi fil-Kostituzzjoni Maltija:  mhux aċċettabbli li jkollna l-miltar ta’ pajjiż ieħor f’artna. Anke d-dettalji tal-ftehim huma inkwetanti: dawn jistgħu jinkludu l-presenza ta’ elementi tas-Sitt Flotta Amerikana bl-elementi nuklejari tagħha, li jkun opposti bil-qawwa mis-soċjetà ċivili.

Jekk Malta, kif inhu xieraq, tirrifjuta ftehim mal-Amerikani, jibqa’ l-pendenza tal-Moneyval  li tista’ twassal għal miżuri li jkollhom impatt negattiv fuq is-settur finanzjarju f’Malta. Robert Abela xorta jibqgħalu l-obbligu li jħoll l-egħeqiedi li rabtu bihom il-predeċessur tiegħu u ta’ madwaru u dan mingħajr għajnuna Amerikana.  

L-għajnuna Amerikana għandha prezz għoli li Malta m’għandhiex tħallas. Is-sovranità tagħna mhiex għall-bejgħ.

Ippubblikat fuq Illum : il-Ħadd 4 t’Ottubru 2020

Our sovereignty is not for sale

Conflicting signals are flying around as to whether, if at all, there is any sign yet of Malta and the US being close to concluding an agreement on a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).

The presence in Malta of US Defence Secretary Mark Esper is indicative that discussions are ongoing and moreover that they are at a very critical stage. Officially no one knows much more than that, except, that is, for those having a finger in the pie!

As a result of a news blackout on the matter, it is natural that a lot of ongoing speculation as to what is actually being discussed is developing.

A SOFA agreement with Malta has been on the US wish-list for ages: requests being repeatedly declined by successive Maltese governments. Indications point towards a linkage between the US insistence for a SOFA agreement and the developing Moneyval test on complying with money laundering standards. Both the US and the Maltese government representatives flatly deny such a linkage. In the absence of detailed information from both sides, whether such a linkage exists or not will only be clear as matters develop over the coming weeks and months. The possibility of a quid pro quo would only be evident on a diplomatic level, as happens continuously in the games states play globally.

In international politics, states do not have friends, they only have interests: diplomacy seeks to achieve and service these interests. In pursuing a SOFA agreement, the US is seeking its interests. This is the nature of international politics.

It is known that Malta has requested US assistance in the forthcoming Moneyval test. The rumour mill is of the opinion that such assistance will be forthcoming at a price: a SOFA agreement with Malta which has been yearned for by the US for a long time. It seems that this is an opportunity which is not to be missed by the US.

A SOFA is an agreement that generally establishes the framework under which U.S. military personnel operate in a foreign country and spells out how domestic laws of the foreign jurisdiction apply toward U.S. personnel in that country. Exceptions and concessions are normally sought and negotiated.

This begs a basic question: is the Maltese government considering a US proposal to have US military personnel operating on Maltese territory or in Maltese territorial waters? I would not hesitate to state that few Maltese would agree with such a proposal. It is reasonable to state that over the years a consensus has developed on these islands that there is no room for foreign troops on Maltese soil or in Maltese waters.

Should we then conclude that the Maltese government is being blackmailed: a SOFA in return for Moneyval support? Unfortunately, it is difficult to arrive at an alternative conclusion.

Earlier this week Alternattiva Demokratika and the Democratic Party (which will be shortly merging into one party) called for the draft of any Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the USA to be made public immediately. This is necessary for public scrutiny. It is a basic democratic duty.

I would dare say that the very idea of a SOFA agreement is objectionable in principle as it goes flatly against the principles enshrined in Malta’s Constitution: no foreign troops on Maltese soil (or in Maltese waters). The possible details of a SOFA agreement are just as worrying: these could include the presence of elements of a nuclear powered Sixth Fleet which will be opposed tooth and nail by civil society.

Rejecting a SOFA agreement would potentially leave the Moneyval grey-listing possibilities unresolved. But then Robert Abela must seek to disentangle Malta from the suffocating problems created by his predecessor and his kitchen Cabinet without seeking US help!

US help comes at a hefty price which Malta should not pay. Our sovereignty is not for sale.

published in The Malta Independent on Sunday : 4 October 2020

It-triq tal-irgulija – m’hemmx bzonn kummenti !

Irish PM Bertie Ahern to Resign May 6

By SHAWN POGATCHNIK

DUBLIN, Ireland (AP) — Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who helped broker peace in Northern Ireland but couldn’t survive a scandal over his collection of cash from businessmen, announced Wednesday he will resign.

Ahern said at a surprise news conference he would step down May 6 after 11 years as Ireland’s leader. He denied ever receiving a corrupt payment, but conceded that 18 months of growing criticism of his financial ethics had taken a toll on the effectiveness of his government.

“Never, in all the time I’ve served in public life, have I put my personal interests ahead of the public good,” Ahern said, flanked by senior Cabinet ministers during a 10-minute statement during which his voice frequently wavered with emotion.

He said Ireland faced important challenges, including an expected June referendum on the European Union’s next treaty, and the government must “not be constantly deflected by the minutiae of my life, my lifestyle and my finances.”

“I have never received a corrupt payment, and I’ve never done anything to dishonor any office I have held. … I know in my heart of hearts I’ve done no wrong and wronged no one,” said Ahern, 56, who has been Ireland’s leader for 11 years.

Ahern said he also planned to resign May 6 as leader of Fianna Fail, Ireland’s dominant political party, which he has led since 1994. He vowed to continue fighting the accusations against him, and predicted the corruption investigation would conclude “that I have not acted improperly in any way.”

But the leader of Ireland’s main opposition party, Fine Gael chief Enda Kenny, said Ahern had suffered unprecedented public criticism as “a liar and perjurer,” and had “bowed to the inevitable” because of his implausible testimony to an anti-corruption tribunal.

Kenny, whose rival coalition narrowly lost an election last year to Fianna Fail, called on his successor to mount an immediate general election. Analysts agreed this was unlikely.

Ahern’s terms in office have been marked by unprecedented economic success at home and peace in the neighboring British territory of Northern Ireland.

Tributes on his record of achievement flowed in, including from his most likely successor as both government and party leader, Deputy Prime Minister Brian Cowen.

Cowen — who unlike other Cabinet ministers was told of Ahern’s decision Tuesday night — praised him as “a remarkable man who has achieved remarkable things for his country.”

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who built a close friendship with Ahern as they jointly oversaw several summits on Northern Ireland, said Ahern should be remembered for his crucial role in bringing about peace in Northern Ireland.

He said Ahern should also be remembered for “transforming relations between Britain and the Irish Republic, and for presiding over a sustained period of economic and social advance in Ireland.”

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters Wednesday that Ahern’s resignation is “an individual decision that a politician has to make, whether it’s in Ireland or elsewhere. We’ve worked well with him on a number of different issues.”

Cabinet ministers said Ahern had given no hint — as they gathered Wednesday morning for their weekly meeting over breakfast — that he was about to announce an end to his Irish political career. Instead he discussed the day’s government business, point by point.

Then he told them he was resigning and invited them to the news conference for the announcement.

“There was a shocked silence around the room. People genuinely did not expect it,” Education Minister Mary Hanafin said. After Ahern gave the resignation statement, the Cabinet reconvened to finish the meeting.

Ahern’s hold on power has been steadily weakening since investigators discovered cash payments he secretly received from businessmen in the mid-1990s.

Ahern initially claimed to have received just two major payments from personal friends. But the investigation since has uncovered about a dozen undocumented cash deposits in 1994 to Ahern, who is due to resume testimony next month.

Ahern said he intended to remain in office until he delivers a speech April 30 to the joint houses of Congress in Washington. He said that speech would be “one of the proudest moments of my political career.”

Cowen said he hoped Ireland would laud, not lampoon, Ahern in the coming days. He suggested that Ahern would be in line for a higher-profile job on the international stage.

“His application, his political judgment, his determination and his conciliatory manner are among the special characteristics that helped him to shape the Ireland we live in today,” Cowen said.

It-tmiem fil-qrib

Jidher li t-tmiem tal-ħakma ta’ Robert Mugabe qiegħed fil-qrib.

Ir-riżultati tal-elezzjoni ħerġin bil-mod u f’Harare, l-belt kapitali taż-Zimbabwe hemm ħafna għidut. L-Opposizzjoni qed tgħid li rebħet b’maġġoranza komda imma r-riżultati finali m‘hemmx li joħorġu.

Tibet

Illum il-31 ta’ Marzu huwa xieraq li nirriflettu ftit fuq il-qagħda fit-Tibet. Pajjiż okkupat minn forzi barranin.

Il-protesti preżenti fi Lhasa, belt kapitali tat-Tibet ilhom għaddejjin min-nofs Marzu, anniversarju tal-protesti imdemmija li kienu saru kontra t-tmexxija Ċiniża fit-Tibet fl-1959.

L-istorja tat-Tibet hi waħda ta’ sekli sħaħ ta’ dominazzjoni Ċiniża.

Issa it-Tibetani qed iħosshom minoranza f’pajjiżhom. Il-mexxej tagħhom id-Dalai Lama fl-eżilju.

Bil-waqa’ tad-dinastija Qing it-Tibet sar stat indipendenti fl-1913, wara sekli sħaħ taħt id-dominju Ċiniż. Baqa’ hekk indipendenti sal-1951 meta reġa’ ġie anness mar-Republika Popolari Ċiniża. Dak li li llum huwa magħrufa bħala r-Reġju Awtonomu tat-Tibet huwa biss parti minn dik li kien it-Tibet. Il-bqija ġie inkorporat fi-proviċji Ċiniżi ta’ Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu, u Qinghai.

Fl-10 ta’ Marzu 1959 l-armata Ċiniża attakkat il-palazz tad-Dalai Lama, l-mexxej tat-Tibet, li irnexxielu jaħrab lejn l-Indja fejn qiegħed fl-eżilju.

Nhar l-10 ta’ Marzu 2008 mitt patri mill-monasteru Drepung bdew mixja lejn Lhasa bħala protesta għall-arrest ta’ patrijiet wara li d-Dalai Lama ngħata midalja tad-deheb mill-Kungress Amerikan. Il-forzi tas-sigurta Ċiniżi mhux biss żammew il-mixja milli tkompli għaddejja, talli uħud mill-patrijiet ġew imsawta.

Is-sena d-dieħla jaħbat il-50 anniversarju tal-irvellijiet tal-1959.

Dan fil-qosor huwa l-kuntest ta’ dak li qiegħed jiġri llum fit-Tibet.

Il-poplu tat-Tibet jixraqlu appoġġ. Uħud iridu jużaw l-Olimpijadi ta’ Bejing għal dan l-iskop. Fil-passat kien hemm min ipprova jagħmel dan dwar il-gwerra tal-Afganistan (l-Olimijadi ta’ Moska fl-1980) imma l-iskop ma ntlaħaqx.

Għax l-isport u l-politika m’għandhomx jiġu mħallta.

Il-komunita internazzjonali xorta għandha l-obbligu li tagħti l-kontribut tagħha biex l-imperu Ċiniż jisfaxa ukoll bħalma ġralu dak Sovjetiku 18-il sena ilu. Ilhom jistennew 50 sena !