Lest we forget

Twenty-five years ago today - on October 5, 1977 - fourth year medical students chained themselves to the railing outside the Office of the Prime Minister, carrying placards that read 'I Want to Study in Malta'.

Malta's professors and doctors were expelled by a Labour government after their partial industrial action at hospital. Students had to pursue their studies abroad.

The annual general meeting of the Students' Representative Council was taking place. We left Tal-Qroqq to express solidarity with our colleagues outside Castille. Within minutes of commencing our peaceful protest, Dom Mintoff, the prime minister, and Lorry Sant, works' minister, walked out of Castille, totally ignoring the student protest.

A number of policemen led by Police Commissioner John Cachia arrived. Although George Hyzler, head of our action committee, informed him that the protest was only meant to last 10 minutes, the police started kicking students about. We tried to walk through Republic Street. The police blocked our way and attacked more students.

A number of us were arrested, including Alan Muscat, Joe Gerada, Paul Gauci and Stefan Frendo who was dragged out of hospital.

A tribute is due to all who displayed courage. The words of Martin Luther King inspired us: "Fear knocked on the door. Courage answered. There was no one there."

A special tribute is due to those who chained themselves: John Aquilina, Raymond Aquilina, Albert Bonnici, Anthony Borg Grech, James Catania, Abraham Cutajar, Joe Patrick Ellul, Dennis Gatt, George Grech, Kurunat Grech, John Mamo, Victor Mercieca, Ivan Muscat, Joe Said, Charles Savona Ventura, Ray Scerri, Tony Schembri, David Spiteri, Mark Vella, and George Xuereb. A special edition of 'L-Istudent' edited by Michael Frendo documented the events.

The plight of students in the Faculty of Medicine became the plight of the entire student body. Students were split into two streams: those who work and those who study - it was the 'Student Worker' doctrine.

The university lost its autonomy, was split into two institutes: the Old and the New Universities, the Faculty of Theology was removed and the Church had to provide for it elsewhere, while other faculties including Arts and Sciences were totally suppressed. The university was meant to become utilitarian in order to place intelligentsia in cold storage. That was Labour's first freezing experiment!

The present Labour Party leader, Dr Alfred Sant, then presided a selection board that determined who could and could not enter university. A points system that discriminated against students coming from Church schools became part of the set-up.

In those turbulent years, I had the privilege to head KRS and then KSU.

I shall never forget how Labour brought down the student population to 700, a far cry from the over 8,000 students who now attend university.

Another episode I shall remember involves my colleague Michael Frendo. A month later it was Graduation Day. Michael delivered a speech on behalf of graduands, observing: "We are to spread the appreciation of the value and the necessity of a person's ability to think on his own account rather than have others think on his behalf. This witness must be borne ... so that every Maltese may be able to distinguish truth from propaganda, sincerity from hypocrisy, integrity from opportunism, freedom from slavery." At this juncture, the President of Malta and the minister of education walked out.

Michael was charged in court for allegedly looking askance at them!

The country has come a long way as a result of the work put in by those who had the courage to stand up and be counted. Lest we forget.