Moviment Graffitti has said in a statement that “while tomorrow the country will be commemorating its Freedom from British colonial rule, these celebrations will be held under the rule of speculators who are exploiting our country for the benefit of the few.”

Moviment Graffitti is today, into the third day of its camp Assedju PA, which has found the support of many local NGOs.

Moviment Graffitti said that it is “symbolically sieging the Planning Authority that is putting our country under siege with unbridled development which is ruining our quality of life and compromising our future on this island.”

It argued that “for decades, the business class has accumulated power of a disproportionate nature in our country, with the result that politics ended up becoming a slave to the interests of this class.”

“The fuel station policy is a clear example of all this,” said Moviment Graffitti. “Although it was the same authorities who admitted that this policy is doing a great deal of harm since it permits 3,000m² petrol stations on natural and agricultural ODZ land, it has remained unchanged. It is for this reason that applications continue to be presented under this flawed policy.”

The NGO pointed out that at present that are 14 applications for petrol stations on ODZ land, with four of them already approved, and others which are still being processed. It said that, “together these make up a total stretch of land five time the size of the Floriana Granaries.”

Moviment Graffitti stated that “it is crucial for the people to fight with all their might against this rule by big business and their politician friends, which is ravaging our countryside and bulldozing over the interests of the majority.”

It concluded by saying that, “we hope to see the day when we will be able to celebrate our freedom from the rule of speculators.”

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