Thread: #Valletta2018 was an international cultural & moral catastrophe, demonstrating the complete lack of accountability with which the @MaltaGov operates.
.@JasonMicallefPL Chairman of Valletta2018, tasked with promoting culture & media freedom, repeatedly and publicly attacked and ridiculed assassinated journalist #DaphneCaruanaGalizia on social media & ordered the removal of banners calling for justice for her murder.
On the 6 month anniversary of the assassination #DaphneCaruanaGalizia, @pen_int & + 250 writers led by .@MargaretAtwood & .@Elif_Safak wrote an open letter to .@TimmermansEU to protest the actions of .@JasonMicallefPL & call for his resignation: tinyurl.com/ybhspzuw
We stressed that this was from appropriate behaviour for an official designated to represent the European Capital of Culture, and served to further the interests of those trying to prevent an effective and impartial investigation into Caruana Galizia’s death. @europe_creative
.@TimmermansEU, in his reply rebuked #V18 chairman Jason Micallef, saying that anyone who represents the European Capital of Culture should express themselves in a manner that reflects the common values on which the #EU is based.’. tinyurl.com/ycrz5d53
Following .@pen_int open letter, 72 Members of the European Parliament, and over 100 local artists from #Malta followed suit in calling for the resignation of Jason Micallef: tinyurl.com/create.php 
Leeuwarden .@LF2018, the twin European Capital of Culture, severed all ties with #Valletta2018 in protest, stating "LF2018 believes that V18 representatives have put the values of a European Capital of Culture under pressure as a result.”
The chair of the jury that selected #Valletta18, Manfred Gaulhofer, criticised both Micallef & Artistic Director, Azzopardi, saying that their behaviour is "absolutely incompatible with their function as representatives of Valletta as the European Capital of Culture 2018.”
During @pen_int meeting with .@JosephMuscat_JM& .@OwenBonnici on 15 October 2018, we once again raised our profound concerns about the vilification campaigns by authorities, including by members of the Office of the Prime Minister and the chair of #V18 .
.@JosephMuscat_JM stated, on the record, that he understood .@pen_int protest and the outcry generated by Micallef’s behavior, that he would study the situation and that would consider calling for his resignation as Chair of #Valletta2018: tinyurl.com/ycos8x3g
However, rather than censuring Jason Micallef, the Maltese authorities promoted him to oversee a key cultural agency:
timesofmalta.com/mobile/article…
timesofmalta.com/mobile/article…
#EU, #UN & cultural actors take note: The debacle of #V18 demonstrates the utter lack of accountability in the @MaltaGov & sends a strong signal that it is failing to uphold their obligations to protect freedom of expression and European values.
pen-international.org/news/a-total-l….
pen-international.org/news/a-total-l….
