Ombudsman investigates Transport Malta following Momentum’s banner permit refusal
Momentum has received an official reply to its Freedom of Information request from Transport Malta regarding permits issued to political parties for street banners. Transport Malta stated that no political party has requested any permits for street banners in the last 5 years, except for the one from Momentum, which was rejected.
The permit requested was for a public banner promoting an event on animal rights and dignity that took place last Saturday. Transport Malta has refused to issue a permit to Momentum on security grounds. Meanwhile, the Ombudsman confirmed that this case is under investigation by its office.
Dr Matthew Agius said, “It is deeply concerning that our request for a simple banner promoting a public event on animal rights was refused on vague ‘security grounds’. It is strange that we only found out about this when we requested the FOI, and despite presenting alternative sites. We hope that the Ombudsman will help establish clear guidelines to create a fair and transparent system for political advertising in Malta. Currently, the government maintains absolute dominance over political campaigning on our roads, with numerous billboards displaying budget-related propaganda.”
Momentum looks forward to a more democratic society that truly upholds freedom of speech.
L-Ombudsman jinvestiga lil Transport Malta wara ċ-ċaħda tal-permess tal-banner ta’ Momentum
Momentum irċeviet tweġiba uffiċjali għat-talba tagħha għal-Libertà tal-Informazzjoni mingħand Transport Malta rigward permessi maħruġa lil partiti politiċi għal banners fit-toroq. Transport Malta ddikjarat li l-ebda partit politiku ma talab permessi għal banners fit-toroq fl-aħħar ħames snin, ħlief għal dak mingħand Momentum, li gie miċħud.
Il-permess mitlub kien għal banner pubbliku li jippromwovi attivita’ dwar id-drittijiet u d-dinjità tal-annimali li sar is-Sibt li għadda. Transport Malta rrifjutat li toħroġ permess lil Momentum għal raġunijiet ta’ sigurtà. Sadanittant, l-Ombudsman ikkonferma li dan il-każ qed jiġi investigat mill-uffiċċju tiegħu.
Dr Matthew Agius qal, “Huwa ta’ tħassib kbir li t-talba tagħna għal banner sempliċi li jippromwovi avveniment pubbliku dwar id-drittijiet tal-annimali ġiet miċħuda fuq ‘raġunijiet ta’ sigurtà’. Huwa stramb li skoprejna dan biss meta tlabna l-FOI, u minkejja li ppreżentajna siti alternattivi. Nittamaw li l-Ombudsman jgħin biex jiġu stabbiliti linji gwida ċari biex tinħoloq sistema ġusta u trasparenti għar-reklamar politiku f’Malta. Bħalissa, il-gvern għandu dominanza assoluta fuq il-kampanji politiċi fit-toroq, b’bosta billboards li juru propaganda relatata mal-baġit.”
Momentum tħares ‘il quddiem lejn soċjetà aktar demokratika li verament tappoġġja l-libertà tal-kelma.
Feature photo: Chris Sant Fournier
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