“We, citizens of the Republic of Malta, have seen reports in the international media showing a woman being dragged out of a Tripoli hotel by Ghaddafi security forces as she tried telling her story to the journalists present in the hotel’s lobby. 

We can’t stand this display of wanton violence any longer. We demand its end. 

As Col. Muammar Ghaddafi orders the shelling of Libyan cities and the abduction of his own fellow citizens, he remains the holder of honours conferred onto him in the name of our republic. 

We, citizens of the Republic of Malta, a democratic republic founded on “work and on respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual” as Article 1 of our Constitution says, do not believe that Col. Muammar Ghaddafi is worthy of these honours any longer. 

As the provisions of the law governing the award of honours and medals in name of our republic say, the awards, when bestowed to individuals who are not citizens of Malta, are awarded on the basis of “exceptional merit in the service of Malta or of humanity” (Article 3(2),Gieh ir-Repubblika Act, Chapter 251) and when, these individuals distinguish themselves by their service in the “promotion and fostering of international relations” or would have “earned the respect and gratitude of the people of the Maltese Islands”.  

The conditions for Col. Ghaddafi’s honours are no longer being met. 

The very foundations of these honours are being shaken by his actions. 

We therefore demand our Members of Parliament to empower our Prime Minister to instruct the President of Malta to terminate all honours bestowed on Col. Muammar Ghaddafi by means of a resolution of the House of Representatives.”