Speaking at a book launch in the presence of President Emeritus Fenech Adami, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat stated that Freedom Day thirty-five years ago had been part of the plan which had been aborted in 1958 by the resignation of Dom Mintoffs first government. Independence and the Republic were stages along the way. All led to the life we live today.

The book which was officially launchedIL-ELSIEN: Il-mixja lejn il-31 ta Marzu tal-1979 (FREEDOM: The road leading to 31 March 1979)was researched and written by historian Mark Camilleri, and published by SKS (Sensiela Kotba Sojalisti).

The book is packed with new historical information backed by documents freshly unearthed from the British national archives in London and the Labour Partys internal archives at amrun.

It reveals new facts about what made Mintoffs undertakings during the sixties and seventies at all possible.

During the event, Prof. Dominic Fenech stated that Freedom Day had been an independence beyond Independence itself.

He said that the new publication excellently provides the residential context of Maltas freedom from foreign rule.

The event was also attended by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and various Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries.

The new publication brings new historic material out in the light.

It discloses for the first time documents shedding new light on the legendary Labour meeting in Gozo of May 1961, on the extensive foreign connections forged by the Labour Party while in opposition during the sixties, Che Guevaras 1964 reference to Maltas anti-colonial struggle, Mintoffs correspondence with Bertrand Russel, and more.

It also features many photographs related to Freedom Day which have never been publisehd before.

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Freedom Day part of aborted 1958 plan