Activists gathered in Valletta on Saturday evening for a truth and justice vigil marking four years since the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
The vigil was organised by Repubblika and Occupy Justice and featured representatives of a number of international organisations including Reporters Without Borders, the Civil Hub against Organised Crime in Europe, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the European Journalism Federation and the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom.
The vigil also heard from Italian Senator and journalist Sandro Ruotolo, Palermo mayor Leoluca Orlando and Italian MEP Caterina Chinnici, daughter of the Sicilian judge Rocco Chinnici killed by the mafia in 1983.
Photo: Chris Sant Fournier.Repubblika president Robert Aquilina said that despite the progress that had been made in prosecuting a number of people involved in Caruana Galizia's murder, far more remained to be done.
"Justice for Daphne means knowing everything about her assassination; it means anyone involved in any way in this hideous crime facing justice. These people should be locked away as soon as possible."
Aquilina said justice also meant that the findings of the public inquiry should be put into practice, and that those found to bear responsibility should no longer occupy public roles.
"Our mission will not end until our country is freed from the mafia network that has seized it; it will not end until the only place to see 'crooks everywhere you look' is behind bars."
Photo: Chris Sant Fournier.Rebecca Vincent from Reports Without Borders said the international community would continue to watch the progress of the case until justice was fully served.
"The conclusion of the work of the Public Inquiry has also been a landmark achievement for Daphne and for Malta, and if its recommendations are properly implemented, it could be a model for other countries," she said.
"If Malta can do this right, it can set an example for the rest of the Europe. May part of Daphne's extraordinary legacy be that the state of Malta now protects and supports journalists."
Photo: Chris Sant Fournier.Flutara Kusari, legal advisor for the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, said impunity in the case could end only if the state was serious about it.
Kusari pointed to the "well-organised" campaigns aimed at discrediting Daphne's family, journalists, activists and those fighting for justice in the case.
"The ultimate aim of such campaigns is to undermine investigations and when investigations are undermined criminals get away with murder. This has happened before in Malta. The history must not be repeated.
The Prime Minister of Malta and other politicians must use their power to stop these campaigns against those seeking justice. If anything happens to them or if the cases before the court fail, the Maltese state will be responsible."
Pia Zammit from Occupy Justice said the fight for justice was a question of the sort of country future generations would inherit. Four years on, she said, justice had still not been done.
"Whenever we close our eyes and say there is nothing we can do, we are allowing wrongdoing to flourish. We must continue to speak out. Daphne needed our voices alongside her, but we let her fight alone. We must not make the same mistake again."
Photo: Chris Sant Fournier.The vigil followed an earlier silent gathering in the Bidnija field where Caruana Galizia's car came to a stop after being blown up minutes away from her home on October 17, 2017.
Those in attendance, including Caruana Galizia's family and friends and other members of the organising groups, unfurled a large banner reading 'Daphne Was Right' and laid flowers and tributes at the site.