Former Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, who runs a campaign to preserve Malta’s independence and neutrality, has reiterated his position against any form of military intervention in Libya.

Referring to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi’s assertion that Malta’s neutrality does not mean being neutralised, Dr Mifsud Bonnici said he could not understand such an attitude, which, he added, seemed to be aimed at preparing public opinion to accept military intervention.

“We cannot just compromise the national interest to be praised by British Prime Minister David Cameron,” Dr Mifsud Bonnici said, reiterating his suggestion for Malta to play a mediating role.

“When there is a conflict you start by trying to secure a ceasefire not by contemplating military intervention. If there can be mediation between the Jewish people and Palestinians, why cannot there be mediation between Libyans? What theory is this? Or is there another agenda at play here?”

Dr Mifsud Bonnici argues that if this is not a Maltese defence matter, any action would breach the country’s neutrality clause, even if within the framework of a UN Security Council resolution.

He said the Libyan protesters were now evidently armed, so the situation was clearly that of a civil war. Therefore, contemplating any action was “illogical”.

“What happens now if things do not go down the road everyone seems to be anticipating? What if Gaddafi gets the upper hand in the end? What happens to our commercial and security interests?”