What on earth did George Abela say there?
Kim Jong Un of North Korea: according to Malta's head of state, George Abela, North Korea is thriving under his wise guidance.
Our head of state, not content with embarrassing his position and his country by trundling off to do missionary work in Peru, on an expedition “heavily subsidised by Rocs” (the travel agency run by Rachel of Tista Tkun Int) and with flights part-sponsored by the Community Chest Fund which is meant to buy fridges for the starving Maltese, just had to go right ahead and say this to the North Korean ambassador.
He said that he is pleased “with the great achievements made by the DPRK in building a thriving nation under the wise guidance of Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.”
It’s painful. Really, it’s painful. We have three options to examine here.
1. George Abela knows of the terrible suffering caused by this rapacious hereditary dictatorship, the phenomenal violations of human rights, the transgressions and abuses, the murders and the oppression, and he thinks they’re ‘great achievements’, that North Korea is ‘thriving’ and that North Korea’s dictators provide ‘wise guidance’ to their people.
2. George Abela knows nothing of North Korea.
3. George Abela will lie to your face and does not find it necessary for the head of a democratic state to reiterate that state’s commitment to democracy, liberty and human rights when meeting the representative of another state which disavows these things.
Quite frankly, I don’t know which option is worse.
But I do know this: we shouldn’t have found out through the North Korean dictator’s news agency.
———
I have a suggestion for President Abela. He should try getting a ‘tim ta’ Maltin’ together for a spot of missionary work in Pyongyang, and get Rachel Vella to help fly them out to build lavatories for the latest Kim Wotsit’s oppressed subjects. Then he’ll find out.
But given what he said up above, he probably thinks there are no starving people in North Korea because the Kims’ guidance is wise and the nation is thriving.
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Forsi qed iwettaq it-triq ghal-meta’ jkun hemm tal-Labour fil-gvern minflokk in-nazzjonalisti.
Labour – They never cease to surprise (in the wrong way).
Well this is the result of the first blunder Lawrence Gonzi made in choosing George Abela instead of Louis Galea for the presidency.
Such things are expected from a leftist person.
[Daphne – George Abela is not left wing. He is a right-wing conservative.]
Is that why Nationalists wanted him to be leader of the LP?
In a lineup of Labour’s mediocrity, George Abela would have been one or two steps ahead of Joseph.
That being the case, I hate to even think what Joseph is (in)capable of doing if he becomes prime minister.
In the PL leadership race I remember commenting that George Abela is a Gonzi clone, i.e. a right-wing social conservative. Unfortunately he is proving me more right by the day. A bible-basher for PM, deputy PM and President. Isn’t this country wonderful.
Thriving nation? They’re literally starving to death in that place. No one outside the country knows how many have perished since the harvests failed.
The UN, China, the US, Japan, you name it, have been trying hard, for over two years, to convince the central leadership in Pyongyang to allow aid to penetrate into the country to no avail.
What is this?
Mela, il-Korea ta’ fuq thriving nation, u Malta mejtin bil guh.
Lanqas imhadded ghall-isptar. X’gharukaza.
His comment is almost identical to that of Muscat. It might have been some sort of party line that they use in an attempt to flatter that country. I am being really giving the benefit of the doubt here.
Here’s a quick tip to whoever it was who thought those words were a good idea- if your country stands against violence, oppression and the violation of human rights, then don’t go back on yourselves. Do what all other respectable countries do and say it to their faces-we think you are monstrous and want nothing to do with you.
He was doing so well until now. At the end I guess one’s ideology always prevails.
Ok, so, I just headed off to the timesofmalta.com to catch up with the news of the day and I see this. Then I see what Muscat said with regards to North Korea.
Are we sure this is not April 1st? Because if it isn’t, then it is surely a fitting way to end Friday the 13th.
I mean, really! North Korea. Oh God, I think I’ll keep on burying my head in my work and just try to forget there are these nincompoops about. Well, I have to say I’m sorry about George Abela and his shooting his mouth offlike this but he must remember that he’s the head of state now, not just some obscure individual having a chat over dinner with some beer-mates.
OMG. This is quite a serious matter. And I fully agree that we should have known about these statements from local sources. We wouldn’t want to appear less transparent than North Korea, now, would we?
Just have a look at the North Korean News Agency website here – you can choose English at the top right hand side.
http://www.kcna.kp/goHome.do?lang=eng
One of the articles on the right, with the date of April 12, comes under the heading “Congratulations to Kim Jong Un from Syrian President.”
“Pyongyang, April 12 (KCNA) — Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and supreme commander of the Korean People’s Army, on Wednesday received a congratulatory message from Bashar Al-Assad, president of the Syrian Arab Republic.
The message said:
“Greeting April 15, 2012 marking the centenary of the birth of HE President Kim Il Sung, the eternal leader of the Korean people, I, on behalf of the Syrian Arab people and on my own behalf, extend warmest congratulations to Your Excellency and wish Your Excellency happiness in good health and the friendly Korean people greater progress and prosperity.
Availing myself of this special opportunity, I express belief that the cooperative relations between the Syrian Arab Republic and the DPRK will growing stronger in the interests of the friendly two peoples. -0- “”
He is just a chip of the old bloc (k purposely left out), conveniently and politically appointed, and who put on a temporary sheepskin but in reality the sly old fox still lives inside.
Truly, if a ‘reputable’ man, occupying the highest office cannot contain himself a while longer, how does one expect lesser mortals within the (M)LP to have changed any, since the ‘golden years’ of the Socialist regime?
George Abela should have waited until he is relieved of his presidential duties and then embark on missionary trips. Can anyone imagine an American president taking time off to take up missionary trips while in office? Jimmy Carter is known for helping out in a zillion works of charities, but he did that well after he left office.
Dr Abela has lowered the office of the Presidency several notches in one doubtful move. This can be construed as a camouflaged ‘sympathy’ vote catcher for the Labour Party. The timing is impeccable.
This is utterly shameful!
This is getting worse by the minute.
Don’t forget that George Abela was also the only Western leader who accepted the invitation to Gaddafi’s 40th anniversary in 2009.
I’m not sure whether he’s genuinely naive or whether he’s silently carrying the torch for Mintoff’s misguided dream of non-alignment.
The roots run much deeper than one would have thought.
No matter how hard George Abela tries unsuccesfully to present himself as a decent person, we have to remember that he was deputy leader of the MLP. Enough said.
Don’t forget that his son will be a PL candidate and his daughter in-law is the PL Secretary. Even if George Abela is all good intentions, the positions they chose to occupy will leave ample room for others to doubt his actions.
Well said.
Has our President gone bananas?
“Gone to the dogs” would be more apt.
The only reason why Labour accepted EU membership is the vote Malta has as a member state and how it can be used.
I guess they’re trying to sell it to the highest bidder, now that Gaddafi’s gone. Our liberty will depend on how closely the buyer intends to guard the investment.
I’d call Joseph’s bluff.
Some good background on Malta and North Korea:
http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=101298
At the end of the day, he’s just another Laburist with all the implications, in spite of his charisma and popularity.
I hadn’t noticed the charisma. Then again, I might just be choosy.
In my opinion the president should do this missionary work after he leaves office. He can always help them out by sending money in the meantime, and qualifed personnel to do the job.
We have to believe one of two versions.
If we accept that issued by the North Korean news agency, then George Abela should be given all the support he requires in his venture to Llamaland.
He should also be asked politely to stay there. Forever.
The official statement from the Office of The President gives a completely different version.
I must admit I am strongly prejudiced against anything emanating from the DPRK.
In this case I will give George Abela the benefit of the doubt.
Shameful, and frankly I think the President should either RESIGN or clarify his position immediately. I am uncomfortable living in this country with a president making such statements.
Who is writing his speeches? AST?
I still think what was reported is an embellished version of what was actually said. It’s north Korean press for heaven’s sake … Less trustworthy than all the propaganda news rags on this island put together. Joseph Muscat may not be the brightest star. But I bet he knows which side his bread is buttered.
I choose 2. George Abela knows nothing of North Korea.
Then he’s not fit for office.
I’ve started to include the DPKR central news agency as one of my daily sources of news, with maltastar.com. I wouldn’t want another secret agreement between Labour and the DPKR to escape my attention.
Do they have a Kim Jong Kurt the Lychee?
First N. Korea, now Libya. What is going on? The Labour Party under Joseph is becoming more frightening than the one under Mintoff & KMB.
http://www.maltarightnow.com/default.asp?module=news&at=Muscat+fi+triqtu+lejn+il%2DLibja&t=a&aid=99836445&cid=19
I think you missed the whole point here . Firstly I do not understand why you think that it is wrong for a president to do voluntary work. Secondly do you believe everything that the North Korean News Agency publishes ?
I can’t believe you’re all taking a quote lifted off North Korean media at face value!
Honestly! Come on!
What on earth did Tonio Borg say?
[Daphne – http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120414/local/government-condemns-n-korea-s-attempt-to-launch-rocket.415423 ]