In yet another twist to tonight’s pitiful vigil staged by Repubblika at the Great Siege Monument, the Church-owned online news portal Newsbook has raised eyebrows for what looks suspiciously like selective reporting – or outright censorship.
In its coverage of the so-called monthly vigil, Newsbook gave ample space to quotes from Martina Farrugia of OccupyJustice and Marion Pace Asciak of Repubblika. But curiously, the portal made no mention — not even a passing reference — to Prof. Vicki Ann Cremona, the current president of Repubblika, who was very much one of the speakers tonight.
Given how small and poorly attended this gathering was, barely a dozen die-hard Defnisti, it is impossible to believe that a seasoned newsroom could have “missed” the words of the organisation’s president.
Censorship or Convenient Omission?
Was this an editorial oversight or a deliberate attempt by Newsbook to spare its readers more of Cremona’s stale rhetoric, especially amid mounting backlash over Repubblika’s unwavering support for domestic violence accused Robert Aquilina?
This comes at a time when insiders reveal growing discomfort within civil society — and even within Church circles — about Repubblika’s shrinking credibility and its tone-deaf defence of a man who faced serious criminal charges for violence and the illegal arrest of his own wife.
What Are They Hiding?
Newsbook owes the public an answer: Why was the president’s speech buried while lesser-known speakers were given space?
Is the portal now quietly distancing itself from Repubblika’s leadership while pretending to cover its events?
Or was this simply an act of damage control to avoid broadcasting more hypocrisy from an NGO that once claimed to stand for rule of law — but tonight chose to stand behind an alleged domestic abuser instead?
https://newsbook.com.mt/en/we-will-not-go-away-daphne-campaigners-reaffirm-commitment-to-justice/
One Thing Is Certain
What happened tonight proves once again: when the self-styled guardians of truth start censoring their own words or see their words conveniently silenced, the last shred of credibility is gone.
1 Comment
Gafa. Republika is now toast. Drasticaly dwindling attendance eleminated the chance of the usual photos in the media reporting. Gafa. One other thing that has changed is your sudden open popularity with the female members of occupy justice and republica, Milli jider dawn il-pupi jipreferu ragel bid-daqna.