Il-pajjiz tal-valuri – I wonder what the numbers are for arson attempts on homes?
Published:
June 15, 2010 at 11:31am
timesofmalta.com – this morning
189 ‘bombs’ reported since 1970, only 12 cases solved
A total of 189 explosive devices were placed behind the doorsteps of private residences or public buildings between 1970 and this year, but only 12 cases have been solved by the police.
The information was given in Parliament by Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici in reply to a question by Labour MP Anthony Agius Decelis. The numbers include bombs which did not go off.
The figures show that 41 devices were reported between 1970 and 1980, 69 between 1981 and 1990, 58 between 1991 and 2000 and 21 since 2001.
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“69 between 1981 and 1990”
I wonder what the bomb-count was between 1981 and 1987? … 68? … 67?
We mustn’t forget that peace and tranquility returned to Malta in the spring of ’87.
Since 1981, the numbers have been going down. Does this mean that the (badass) people behind these explosives are diminishing or are they just getting older? Also one might suggest that the the 12 solved cases locked up 70% of gangs causing causing trouble.
Hmm, probably such attempts would be filed in a folder “s/he asked for it”. I mean, if we are in a country where a participant in an attempted murder leaves a handprint and gets off scott free, why should a mere arson attempt cause any ruffled feathers?
Mhux biss il-valuri problema kbira illum il-gurnata, imma ukoll li tkun gifa sar virtu ippremjat minn gurnalisti bazwin li jfittxu s-sensazzjoni flok id-dmir lejn il-pubbliku.
’12 cases solved by the police’. Wow that’s fantastic! X’cuc huma tal-FBI.
try solving them yourself since you think so highly of yourself.
Problem with arson, bombs and poison when they are premeditated by people who are very good at dissimulation and are not directly connected to the victim/s.
The only chance the police have of catching the perpetrators is if somebody close to the criminal suspects him/her and is civilised enough to break the social bonds to betray a friend/family.
We will get there when most of the citizens will believe that the state (judiciary and police force) actually represents them, when they believe that they are better off being loyal to the state than to some psychopath in their family/social circle.
My office front door was set on fire …that’s no 1 for the statistics.
Kev, you were very lucky to have your office door set on fire only once. My dental surgery door in Zejtun was burnt down three times.
No magistrate was ever notified to conduct an inquiry as this was considered everyday occurrence in Zejtun when Labour was in government. Another strange thing was that the police sergeant who always came to “inform” me of what was happening during the night used to brag that he was a card-carrying Labour supporter.
Ex Police A.C. Joseph Psaila was the only person who knew how to solve these cases. Saqsu lil Martin Gaffarena u lill-Banana.
It was from there that I could see my Asti Guest House (in partnership with my father-in-law) on the upper part of St. Ursula Street and behind the block where The Times Press was built that I could see The Times employees fleeing with fear from death, climbing down ladders (desperately) from the balconies to save themselves.
And, again, it was there that taxi drivers never got guests, who booked beforehand, to stay at my Guest house, telling them that my place no longer existed, instead taking them to another hotel in South Street where they could afford to pay them higher commission.
It was a day or two, after, that they would call to see my guest house but since they had settled and because they came for a peaceful holiday, they would prefer not to report the case to the authorities.
Besides they had nothing to lose since I didn’t take any deposit from them. Instead they missed the warmth that our family run business was renowned for. No extras for cups of tea/coffee/cold, bottled water (a luxury then) or a few snacks.
After 9/11, 2001, when we were told that the world would never be the same again, there was a substantial increase in the installation of security devices in most of the western world. Same happened in Malta, as products became more affordable. This has probably played a part in making properties a bit more secure.
However, a more civilised political engagement has also contributed to the improved statistics above.
This is a good opportunity to extend solidarity with all those who suffered terrorism in their own home.
I fingered and I named the people who exploded a bomb on my doorstep and who tried to burn down the door of my office actually inside the Police General Headquarters in Floriana. The police were not interested and I consider myself lucky to have escaped the failed attempt to dismiss me from government employment but not the “miscarriage of justice” of compulsory retirement “on grounds of public interest”.
Arson, bombs on doorsteps. Fusspots.
Please let the police concentrate on all the hotel rooms in Malta and Gozo and check what is going on there.
This is the REAL problem.
Let us hope they are more successful with curbing hotel porn than they are with human beings incinerated or blown up.
dear Anthony, what’s the problem with hotel porn, should we take permission from the parish priest or the mayor?
@ Anthony
Spot on my friend. Today they mention porn in hotels. In the 70s and 80s we were shocked at arson, bombs and frame-ups.
We’ll have to ask Angolino to solve this problem, we all know how good he is, after NOT solving the for sale votes.
A couple of garage owners in Haz-Zebbug (Malta) throw urine out into the street, drawing mosquitoes.
Is there a health inspector who can see to this? If there is, what does he do? Does he carry out his duties come si deve or does he simply enjoy his salary every four weeks without going round to see that sanitary laws are being respected?
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Spot on, Zebbugi, but what is perhaps even more outstanding is that the urine-producing garages in question happen to be located only a couple of metres away from the Local Council office.
Come on people, let’s cut the bull here, okay. Don’t compare utility bills with the purchase of a good LCD TV. I bought an LCD 37″TV because my old TV just passed away, a good 24 years of service.
My bloody car is nearly 20 years old, and guess what? I can’t afford to buy a new one. Hang on, my wife and I both work, have good employment, yet it seems that the Joneses next door can still afford a BMW, a Smart car, and a family of six on the modest salary of just one person.
My wife and I have no children, but we have utility bills that rocket up €1800 annually for two persons. We live in a humble two-bedroom apartment, while the Joneses utilty bill amounts to half that. Need I say more?
[Daphne – Oh dear, Malta, Malta, such a sheltered life! You do realise, I assume, that Eur 1,800 is what used to be LM770, which means roughly one month’s salary to cover all the utility costs of a two-bedroom household and the two people who live in it: one month’s salary out of the 24 + bonuses that the two of you earn between you. This kind of thing makes me so cross: what do you think salaries are -pocket money or 90% disposable income? Of course you can afford a new car, but it all depends on what kind of new car you want.]
Eur 1800 in utility bills for a two-person household? Do you leave the aircon on and the water running while you’re at work?
New cars aren’t remarkably expensive, and you can definitely afford a new one. And your neighbour’s Beemer is probably not new. Are you aware that you can import a relatively modern luxury car like a BMW 3-series for around 12K?
Live a little. Do yourself a favour and spend some of that money you’re earning.
@ Drew
Read my last comment. By the way thank you for your ending note, it has enlightened me. I never thought of that….
To say new cars aren’t remarkably expensive, in Malta, where they’re the most expensive in the world bar nowhere, is INSANE, Drew.
Switch your TV on and see what they pay in Italy, Romania, England . . .only in Denmark do they cost a little more – and Danish salaries are 300-400% higher than ours.
@ Daphne
It seems that I did not explain myself properly in my previous comment.
For your information, I have always paddled my own canoe and have never presumed and don’t even expect any handouts from the state.
As regards to my utility bills, I do not expect the state to subsidise my electric and water consumption. However I firmly believe that I am paying through my nose for such, due to lack of serious planning and foresight from our politicians (past and present).
I do not waste any water or electricity needlessly as Drew seemed to point out. I mean my wife and I are out for most of the day, for crying out loud.
I know what salaries are Daph, so please, let’s leave it at that. Yes I can afford a new car, sure. What I tried to point out is this, if lets say one knows for a fact that John Doe#1 earns a lot less then John Doe#2.He has a sizeable family to sustain with a lesser amount, affords a brand new Beemer and his utilty rates are half as that of John Doe#2 whose household consists of only 2 persons, while that of John Doe#1 consists of 5 persons. Isn’t that mind boggling, or is it?