Activist group thanks residents and farmers, vows to fight on

Moviment Graffitti has announced the end of the first phase of its actions in Dingli, where it has successfully halted illegal works carried out by Infrastructure Malta on a “schemed” road for three weeks.

In a statement, the group thanked the residents and farmers of Dingli for their support and determination throughout the three-week standoff, which culminated in a meeting with Transport Minister Ian Borg and IM head Frederick Azzopardi.

Following the meeting, Borg and Azzopardi gave in to the activists’ demand for the plans to be made public, and also agreed to prevent the further uprooting of carob trees – one of which would have already been lost were it not for the peaceful protest. Moreover, the road has been narrowed by 2m, resulting in reduced uptake of ODZ areas.

However, the group will be monitoring the situation in Dingli closely. A spokesperson for Moviment Graffitti said that “our actions in Dingli are far from over. We will watch IM’s actions closely, especially because these three weeks have shown us what Azzopardi and his staff are capable of. We will remain vigilant, and IM should make no mistake: if they don’t keep their promises, we will be back.”

“We remain completely against this road – and the building of further schemed roads for no reason – and we, like many Dingli residents, believe this is a pretext for the gradual development of ODZ areas.”

The group also highlighted how IM have changed tone on the expropriations issue. “Two weeks ago, they said they had all permits in hand. Now, they promised farmers and residents that works would only start once all expropriations are finalised. By finalised, we understand that all those who will suffer these expropriations will be duly compensated. Before then, any works carried out by IM on their property will amount to trespassing,” the group said.

The first action in Dingli, back in October 2020, had also resulted in the scheduling of a medieval chapel in the area, which had received Grade 1 protection. This action, the group said, has avoided the chapel’s complete destruction at the hands of IM’s select contractors.

However, the group has warned that it will not let its guard down, particularly in view of Ian Borg’s monstrous projects planned for Imrieħel and Burmarrad, as well as scores of schemed roads which are being constructed without consultation, notifications, permits, and relevant paperwork.

“If they are in such a hurry to build roads, it means they didn’t plan their schedules properly. Azzopardi could have applied for expropriations in Dingli back in October, but mysteriously failed to do so. It was only after our action that they agreed to do things by the book.”

The group also said it is discussing potential legal avenues, while inviting residents and farmers from across Malta and Gozo to unite against IM’s bullying and to seek legal assistance on the issue of expropriations.

“Do not simply take IM’s word on expropriations; it is bound to follow Lands regulations, not make up its own agreements on the fly. The Lands Authority has to give its clearance for IM to enter somebody else’s property, otherwise IM is acting in breach of law. Their enthusiasm to carry out roadworks quickly should not be used as a way to trample over citizens’ rights.

Moviment Graffitti also sent its thanks to residents, farmers and supporters who stood by them during these three weeks. “We’re overwhelmed by the show of generosity. This gives us more motivation and courage to fight the next battles,” the group concluded.

Il-grupp attivist jirringrazzja lir-residenti u lill-bdiewa, u jgħid li se jkompli bil-ġlieda

Il-Moviment Graffitti ħabbar it-tmiem tal-ewwel fażi tal-azzjonijiet tiegħu f’Ħad-Dingli, fejn irnexxielu jwaqqaf xogħol illegali li kien qed isir minn Infrastructure Malta fuq triq “skedata” għal tliet ġimgħat.

Fi stqarrija. Il-grupp irringrazzja lir-residenti u lill-bdiewa ta’ Ħad-Dingli għall-appoġġ u d-determinazzjoni tagħhom matul dawn it-tliet ġimgħat ta’ battalja, li laħqu l-qofol tagħhom f’laqgħa mal-Ministru tat-Trasport, Ian Borg u l-kap ta’ IM, Frederick Azzopardi.

Wara l-laqgħa, Borg u Azzopardi ċedew għat-talbiet tal-attivisti li l-pjanti tal-post jinħarġu fil-pubbliku, u qablu wkoll li ma jkomplux jaqilgħu iktar siġar tal-ħarrub – li waħda minnhom kieku diġa nqalgħet, li ma kienx għall-protesta paċifika li saret. Barra minn hekk, it-triq issa se tkun 2m idjeq, li jfisser li se tittieħed inqas art ODZ.

Iżda l-grupp se jkun qed isegwi mill-qrib dak li jkun qed jiġri f’Ħad-Dingli. Kelliema għall-Moviment Graffitti qalu li “l-azzjonijiet tagħna f’Ħad-Dingli altru milli spiċċaw. Ħa nkunu qed insegwu l-azzjonijiet ta’ IM mill-qrib, speċjalment minħabba li dawn it-tliet ġimgħat urewna sa fejn kapaċi jaslu Azzopardi u l-ħaddiema tiegħu. Se nibqgħu viġilanti, u l-IM tajjeb li tifhem li jekk ma jżommux kelmthom, jerggħu jarawna hemm”.

“Aħna nibqgħu kompletament kontra din it-triq – u l-bini mingħajr raġuni ta’ aktar toroq skedati – u aħna, bħal ħafna residenti Dinglin, nemmnu li dan huwa biss pretest, li eventwalment se jwassal għall-iżvilupp ta’ iktar art ODZ.”

Il-grupp ikkummenta wkoll dwar kif IM biddlet it-ton tagħha fuq il-kwistjoni tal-esproprjazzjoni tal-art. “Ġimgħatejn ilu, qalu li kellhom il-permessi kollha f’idejhom. Issa, wiegħdu lill-bdiewa u lir-residenti li x-xogħlijiet jibdew biss meta jkollhom l-esproprjazzjonijiet kollha finalizzati. B’finalizzati aħna nifhmu li dawk kollha li se jsofru minħabba dawn l-esproprjazzjonijiet se jkunu kkumpensati kif jixraq. Qabel ma jsir dan, kwalunkwe xogħol li jsir minn IM fuq il-proprjetà tagħhom ifisser li IM tkun qed tirfes fuq art li mhux tagħha” qal il-grupp.

L-ewwel azzjoni li saret f’Ħad-Dingli, f’Ottubru tal-2020, kienet wasslet biex kappella medjevali fil-post tkun skedata, kappella li rċeviet protezzjoni fuq Skala numru 1. Din l-azzjoni, qal il-grupp, evitat il-qerda totali ta’ din il-kappella taħt idejn il-kuntratturi ta’ IM.

Madanakollu, il-grupp wissa li se jibqa’ b’għajnejh miftuħin beraħ, speċjalment fid-dawl tal-proġetti mostrużi li Ian Borg għandu ppjanati għall-Imrieħel u Burmarrad, flimkien ma għexieren ta’ toroq skedati oħrajn li qegħdin jinbnew mingħajr wisq konsultazzjoni, mingħajr notifika, permessi u d-dokumenti meħtieġa.

“Jekk huma daqshekk mgħaġġlin biex jibnu t-toroq, ifisser li ma kinux ippjanaw l-iskedi tagħhom sewwa. Azzopardi seta’ applika għall-esproprjazzjonijiet tal-art f’Ħad-Dingli f’Ottubru li għadda, imma misterjożament, dan m’għamilx hekk. Kien biss wara l-azzjoni tagħna li aċċettaw li jibdew jagħmlu l-affarijiet kif suppost”.

Il-grupp qal ukoll li qed jiddiskuti possibiltajiet legali, filwaqt li stieden lir-residenti u lill-bdiewa minn madwar Malta u Għawdex biex jingħaqdu kontra l-ibbuljar ta’ IM u biex ifittxu għajnuna legali fuq il-kwistjoni tal-esproprjazzjonijiet.

“Togħqodux sempliċiment fuq il-kelma ta’ IM dwar l-esproprjazzjonijiet; IM suppost issegwi r-regolamenti tal-Awtorità tal-Artijiet, mhux tidħol fi ftehim skont kif ifettlilha. L-Awtorità tal-Artijiet trid tagħti l-approvazzjoni tagħha biex IM tkun tista’ tidħol fi proprjetà ta’ ħaddieħor, inkella IM tkun qed tikser il-liġi. L-entużjażmu li għandhom biex jibnu t-toroq m’għandux jintuża biex jirfsu fuq id-drittijiet taċ-ċittadini”.

Il-Moviment Graffitti irringrazzja wkoll lir-residenti, lill-bdiewa u lil dawk kollha li appoġġjawh matul dawn it-tliet ġimgħat. “Ninsabu verament kommossi bil-ġenerożità li rċevejna. Dan jimmotivana u jagħmlilna kuraġġ biex niġġieldu l-battalji li jmiss”, temm jgħid il-grupp.