Il-Ministeru tal-Gustizzja jwiegeb ghal Press Release ta' Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl

B'riferenza ghall-istqarrija ghall-istampa mahruga mill-ghaqda "Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl (Daritama)" fit-23 ta' Gunju, 1998 dwar il-kaz ta' estradizzjoni ta' Anthony Satariano, l-Ministru tal-Gustizzja jixtieq jaghmel l-osservazzjonijiet li gejjin:

Hu evidenti li l-ghaqda "Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl (Daritama)" qeghdha tidhol fi hwejjeg li ma tifhem xejn fihom u issa qeghda jew tirrikorri biex tghawweg l-istqarrijiet tal-Ministeru fuq is-suggett jew qeghdha ssib diffikulta' kbira tifhem Ingliz semplici jew Malti semplici ghaliex l-istqarrijiet tal-Ministeru saru kemm bl-Ingliz kif ukoll bil-Malti sabiex jigi evitat kull ekwivoku possibbli. Fejn fl-istqarrija tieghu il-Ministru ghamel uzu mill-kelma "obbligi" dak hu preciz li ried ifisser il-Ministru. Il-Ministru qatt ma ghamel uzu mill-kelma "ghazla" in konnessjoni mas-sur Satariano ghaliex mhux dak li ried ifisser. "Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl (Daritama)". X'jidher li qed issib ruha f'tahwid tali li issa qeghdha sahansitra tirrikorri biex taghti tifsira gdida lill-kliem.

L-ghaqda "Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl (Daritama)" messa issa taf li l-materja ta' l-estradizzjoni ta' Satariano hi regolata mhux biss bid-dispozizzjonijiet tal-Att dwar l-Estradizzjoni izda wkoll, skond l-istess Att, bit-termini tat-trattat ffirmat fl-1931 u li l-Qrati Maltin ddecidew li japplika fir-relazzjonijiet ta' bejn Malta u l-Istati Uniti ta' l-Amerika. L-Att dwar l-Estradizzjoni gie emendat l-ahhar fl-1996 u mhux fl-1987 u dan il-fatt juri kemm l-ghaqda kienet il-hin kollu informata hazin. In kwantu ghall-estradizzjoni ta' cittadini l-pozizzjoni vera fid-dritt internazzjonali hi li waqt li f'xi pajjizi l-estradizzjoni ta' cittadini hi projbita, f'pajjizi ohra ma hemmx tali projbizzjoni. Malta taqa' fl-ahhar kategorija ta' pajjizi.

Il-Ministeru tal-Gustizzja jista jassigura lil kull min hu koncernat li l-kaz ta' Satariano qieghed jigi trattat bil-prudenza kollha u b'rispett ghal konsiderazzjonijiet ta' natura umanitarja. Di fatti fuq talba tal-familja ta' Satariano u ta' l-avukati tieghu s-sur Satariano gie moghti permess izur il-familja tieghu id-dar sabiex ikun jista' jkun mat-tarbija tieghu ghal xi hin. Barra minn hekk, l-esekuzzjoni tal-mandat ghall-estradizzjoni ta' Satariano, li kellu jigi esegwit il-gimgha li ghaddiet, gie pospost fuq talba tal-familja ta' Satariano u ta' l-avukati tieghu minhabba li membru tal-familja ta' Satariano marad f'daqqa u ttiehed l-isptar.

Il-Ministeru tal-Gustizzja jichad kategorikament li l-estradizzjoni tas-sur Satariano "ghandha izjed x'taqsam ma' konsiderazzjonijiet politici u ekonomici milli mal-gustizzja" izda jekk l-ghaqda taghzel li tilludi lilha nfisha billi temmen hekk dak privilegg taghha. Ta' l-anqas, izda, ghandha tkun cara u konsistenti fil-hsieb taghha fuq il-kwistjoni u jmessa tinforma lilha nfisha ahjar fuq hwejjeg elementari relevanti dwar is-suggett.

Justice Ministry rebutts allegations in Mid Dlam ghad-Dawl Press Release

With reference to the press release issued by the organization "Mid-Dlam ghad Dawl (Daritama)" on the 23rd June, 1998 in connection with the extradition case of Anthony Satariano, the Minister of Justice wishes to make the following observations:

It is now obvious that the organization "Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl (Daritama)" is dabbling in matters which are beyond its comprehension and is now either resorting to distorting the statements made by the Ministry on the subject or is finding difficulty to understand plain English or plain Maltese since the Ministry's statements were made in both English and Maltese to avoid all possible equivocation. When in its statement the Ministry used the word "obligations" that is exactly what the Ministry meant. It never used the word "choice" with respect to Mr. Satariano because that is not what it meant. "Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl (Daritama)", seems to be finding itself in such a quandary that it is now even resorting to re-defining words.

The organization "Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl (Daritama)" should know by now that the matter of Satariano's extradition is regulated not only by the provisions of the Extradition Act but also, in terms of the same Act, by the terms of the treaty signed in 1931 which the Maltese Courts have ruled is applicable to Malta and the United States of America. The Extradition Act was last amended in 1996 and not in 1987 which shows how ill-advised the organization has been all along. In so far as the extradition of nationals is concerned the true position at international law is that while in some states the extradition of nationals is prohibited in other states there is no such prohibition . Malta pertains to the latter category of states.

The Ministry of Justice can assure all concerned that Mr. Satariano's case has been and is being treated with all prudence and respect for humanitarian considerations. In fact at the request of Mr. Satariano's family and of his lawyers Mr. Satariano was granted permission to visit his family at home so as to be able to be with his child for some time. Moreover, the execution of the warrant for Satariano's extradition, which was due to be executed last week, was postponed at the request of Mr. Satariano's family and of his lawyers because a member of Satariano's family was taken suddenly ill and admitted to hospital.

The Ministry of Justice categorically denies that Mr. Satariano's extradition "has more to do with political and economic considerations than justice" but if the organization prefers to delude itself by believing so then that is it's privilege. At least, however, it should show some clear and consistent thinking on the issue and should seek to inform itself better on elementary matters relevant to the same issue.