Zero tolerance to violence

Racism is an issue in the latest tragic occurrence in Malta’s Paceville. But it is not the only one and many people are not facing the whole problem.
Violent behaviour is the main concern in this case. There are many people whose comments rankle in their racist views, but I doubt that many of them would accept violence as the answer to their grievances.
The latter are disgruntled that their children are not getting jobs because certain employers are exploiting immigrants, illegal or not. The authorities are ignoring this issue perpetuating a ‘them and us’ unhealthy environment.
Unfortunately, the fatality in Paceville, as unacceptable as it is, is also being exploited in its own way, by people with blinkered vision.
A Sudanese migrant, Suleiman Abubaker, allegedly drunk, was refused admission to a bar in Paceville (Malta’s entertainment centre). He ended up dead.
Now despite that it is common knowledge that a form of apartheid has been in practice in Paceville for years and it has been tacitly accepted by all, people who are drunk are a nuisance and it is understandable that they are refused entry to public venues.
What is definitely unacceptable is that violence is used to eject inebriated people of whatever nationality. It is a matter of zero tolerance to violence.
It is also unacceptable and illegal that people who are not drunk are refused entry to nightclubs and bars on the basis of the colour of their skin. Yet, this has been happening on a regular basis for years, with very little noise from our great ‘holier than thou’ brigade.
They only jump on the bandwagon when the scent of sensational publicity catches their nostrils.
Mr Abubaker was either pushed in self-defence, or punched to the ground, according to which version one credits. He was also brutally kicked by an unknown person and ended up dead. He suffered a fractured skull and was taken to hospital in a critical condition. He later succumbed to his injuries.
According to The (Malta) Times, a French student, who was with Mr Abubaker, testified that his friend had been punched as he tried to enter the club drunk.
He was thrown to the ground by the punch from a bouncer, Duncan Deguara, who is being charged with seriously injuring Mr Abubaker on May 29. Since Mr Abubaker later died of his injuries “eventually leading to his death” was added to the charge against Mr Deguara.
Yet, it could be that it was the kicking from the unknown person that led to Mr Abubaker’s demise.
Has his description been given to the police? Have they done anything about it?
Mr Deguara’s defence is that he had refused to let Mr Abubaker in because he was drunk. He had also been drunk the week before and had not been allowed in then either.
Mr Deguara said that on the day of the incident, Mr Abukarer tried to get in three times. At one point Mr Deguara went to the toilet and when he returned he saw Mr Abubaker having a drink at the bar. He then escorted him to the door where the victim hit him with a bottle.
Mr Deguara is only admitting to pushing the victim. He claims he pushed him on his chest out of the bar, he fell over, hit his head on the pavement, stayed down for a few minutes, got up and fell again.
His friend, presumably the nameless French student, helped him up and they walked down the road. He testified, “After he was helped up he stumbled and hung on to a signpost, only to be kicked by an unknown person.”
It may not be the bouncer’s push or punch that killed Mr Abubaker and serious attempts should be made to find the unknown assailant, but it is about time that strict guidelines on the use of force by bouncers be introduced and enforced.
This is not the first time that a bouncer has found himself in court following the death of a ‘bounced’ victim.
There is a lot of outrage, then the status quo reigns.

Non sequitur

The summer murtali attacks have started in Malta. I went to bed to the sound of explosions after 23 hours on Saturday and awoke to another attack at 08.00 accompanied by loud, persistent church bell ringing.
As I was writing this at noon we had another spate of ‘bombing’, which lasted for three quarters of an hour.
A foretaste of other peaceful Sundays to look forward to.