21 August 2007 Rating 44% No Comment  

This is an unedited press release from the The Leone Philharmonic Society, the allegations contained within it are the sole responsibility of the authors: "The Leone Philharmonic Society deplores in unequivocal terms the incidents that took place before and during the festivities of Santa Marija at Rabat-Gozo. On 14 August 2007, late in the evening, when the band march in Republic Street was arriving close to the La Stella Band Club, a noxious substance, probably ammonia, was thrown from the direction of the Club in the middle of the street in front of the entrance to the same club. At that moment, the street was packed to capacity, and this noxious substance caused severe eye and stomach irritations as well as considerable breathing problems to those who happened to be in the vicinity, including a number of policemen and many children. This criminal action caused a panic among those present and a crash downwards that could have had serious repercussions. Moments after the incident, one of the containers with the noxious substance that was thrown at the public, was picked up by a Committee member of the Leone Philharmonic Society and passed to the police for further investigation. This type of container is normally available only at the Gozo General Hospital. The Leone Philharmonic Society requests the police to initiate a magisterial inquiry to investigate this serious incident and to take the necessary steps against the criminals involved. It should also investigate how a substance normally available only at the Gozo General Hospital found its way outside the hospital to be used with the manifest intention of causing panic and serious incidents during the band march on the eve of Santa Marija. Another grievous fact is that at the time of the incident, the main entrance of the La Stella Band Club was wide open in breach of a Court Order handed down by Magistrate Victor Caruana-Colombo in 1976. Not only was it not closed, according to the Court order and contrary to an understanding reached by the organizers of Santa Marija with the police, but the La Stella Philharmonic Society was given permission to set up an open-air bar at the very entrance of the club. It must be noted that the entrance door to the same Club was dislodged to make it impossible for the police to order its closure. The Leone Philharmonic Society also deplores in unequivocal terms the continuous peeling of the bells from the Basilica of St George during the morning march on 15 August. This peeling of bells that went on until 2.00 pm was done with the manifest intention to disrupt this popular band march. The Society hopes that the police take the necessary measures so that the persons responsible for this criminal action are taken to court. The smooth running of this march had in fact been promised by the police authorities themselves during a meeting with the Committee on 11 August in the morning. It has also come to the knowledge of the Society that the Basilica authorities refused to give permission to the police to go up on the roof of the Basilica and this makes it crystal clear that the disruption was planned beforehand. The ringing of bells for such a long period of time and with the manifest intention to disrupt a band march is not only criminal, but is also counter to the rules and regulations on the ringing of bells issued on 21 December 1989 by the Council of Parish Priests of the diocese of Gozo and specifically to clause number (8) regarding the duration of the peeling of bells. The Ecclesiastical authorities of Gozo should take note of this and of the fact that some persons are using church property to cause trouble and sow hatred. The Ecclesiastical authorities should also see that the official website of the Basilica of Saint George is not used to instigate trouble by consistent and continuous attacks against the Cathedral Parish and the Leone Philharmonic Society. Even His Lordship Mario Grech, Bishop of Gozo, received a scathing attack on the website on 15 August for his Santa Marija homily. The attack was posted just after midday and removed by the following morning. A website with supposedly pastoral purposes is being used to sow division and hatred. The Leone Philharmonic Society also requests the police to investigate a number of intimidatory and fascist-style emails sent to various persons on the days preceding the feast of Santa Marija. The police have been handed copies of these malicious emails. In this planned attack against the celebration of the feast of Santa Marija, the Leone Philharmonic Society requests the civil as well as the ecclesiastical authorities to take the necessary measures. The Society is determined to see that this chain of planned incidents are investigated seriously." Dr Michael Caruana - President Joseph Apap - Secretary Il Leone Philharmonic Society