Jinvestiga minn suppost qed ikun investigat
Imkien fid-dinja ma jinhatar xi hadd biex jinvestiga jekk kienx hemm nuqqassijiet waqt xi kaz, meta l-istess persuna hija responsabbli li tara li ma jkunx hemm dawn in-nuqqassijiet. Imma hekk gara fil-Forzi Armati ta’ Malta fejn il-persuna li qed tmexxi l-inkjesta dwar il-mewt ta’ Gunner Matthew Psaila hija l-istess persuna li kellha tara li ma kien hemm ebda periklu ghal hadd biex din it-tragedja ma ssehhx.
Din l-inkjesta nghatat l-isem ta’ ‘Board of Inquiry – Training Incident at Wied l-Isperanza 13 February 2009 (Bord ta’ Inkjesta – Incident waqt it-Tahrig fil-Wied tal-Isperanza 13 ta’ Frar 2009). Fuq dan il-bord inhatru tliet persuni. Bhala President hemm il-Logotenent Kulunell Mario Borg li huwa l-Kap Kmandant tat-Tielet Regiment u l-Ufficjal responsabbli mis-Sahha u s-Sigurtà tal-Armata. Mieghu hemm il-Maggur Robert Bonnici, li kien inginier mat-Taqsima tal-Ajru u issa l-Ufficjal Kmandant tal-‘A’ Company responsabbli mis-sigurtà tal-Ajruport u l-Kaptan Jonathan Cutajar mit-Tielet Regiment.
Sorsi fil-FAM qaluli li dawn it-tliet fizzjali inhatru fuq dan il-Bord ta’ Inkjesta skont “General Order 18” mahruga nhar il-Gimgha, 13 ta’ Frar 2009 fl-istess gurnata li sehh l-incident f’Chadwick Lakes. Il-bord qieghed jintalab jinvestiga x’gara ezatt, ic-cirkostanzi li waslu ghal dan l-incident u jekk is-‘Safety Procedures’ (il-Proceduri ta’ Sigurtà) kienux osservati waqt l-ezercizzju.
Izda, qalu s-sorsi, din l-inkjesta mill-ewwel bdiet hazin u kif spjegaw is-sorsi “bdiet tahwida papali”. Dawn qed jistaqsu – xi proceduri ta’ sigurtà kellhom isegwu s-suldati waqt it-tahrig? Jezistu xi “ordnijiet” li jiddeterminaw x’ghandhom ikunu dawn il-proceduri jew x’appart ghandu jingarr waqt ezercizzji bhal dawn?
Fil-FAM, sostnew is-sorsi, hemm regoli, jew ordnijiet, fejn anke meta suldat ikun qieghed jaghmel l-ghassa tieghu, tinhareg ordni minn fejn ghandu jghaddi, x’ilbies ghandu jkollu fuqu waqt ‘details’ jew waqt xi xoghol iehor. Dawn lis-suldati suppost li jinghatawlhom bil-miktub.
Is-sorsi qaluli li tajjeb li wiehed jistaqsi fejn qieghdin dawn l-ordnijiet li jghidu lis-suldat jew lill-fizzjal x’ghandu jaghmel biex issegwi dawn il-proceduri u x’apparat ghandu jingarr jew jittiehed waqt ezercizzji varji li jigu organizati mil FAM.
“Naccertak li dawn l-istruzzjonijiet, jew ordnijiet, ma jezistux u l-fizzjal inkarigat li suppost hareg dawn l-ordnijiet huwa l-istess fizzjal li nhatar biex immexxi l-inkjesta”, sahaq ufficjal fl-Armata mat-torca. Is-sors qalilna li f’kull Armata professjonali barra minn Malta jezistu dawn ‘is-Safety Orders’ bil-miktub f’forma ta’ ‘Orders & Field Check Lists”.
U hawn tkompli t-tahwida bil-hatra tal-Logotenent Kulunell Mario Borg biex imexxi din l-inkjesta. Mario Borg ilu l-Ufficjal responsabbli mis-Sahha u s-Sigurtà tal-Armata ghal aktar minn erba’ snin fejn anke nghata l-opportunità li jaghmel diploma course fl-Università ta’ Malta fuq dan is-suggett ghas-spejjez tal-Armata. U ma’ dan kulhadd jaqbel ghax qed jaghmlu biex jaqdi lill-Armata.
Ghaldaqstant, sahqu s-sorsi, wahda mill-aktar affarijiet essenzjali li kien fid-dmir li jaghmel il-Logotenent Kulunell Mario Borg hekk kif inghata r-responsabbilità tas-Sahha u s-Sigurtà, hija li jara kif jahdmu Armati barranin u kif jimplementaw ir-rogolament u l-ordnijiet waqt it-tahrig u jaddatta dawn fil-FAM.
Is-sorsi qaluli li sfortunatament dan x’aktarx ma sarx minhabba xi skuza jew ohra fosthom nuqqas ta’ finanzi u pressjoni ta’ xoghol. Huma qalulna li Mario Borg kellu tul dawn l-ahhar snin jifli l-ezercizzji kollha li jsiru mis-suldati u jordna permezz ta’ ‘standing orders’ bil-miktub lill-fizzjali tal-FAM x’mizuri ta’ sigurtà ghandhom jittiehdu waqt kull ezercizzju.
Ghaldaqstant fi hdan l-Armata qieghdin iqumu diversi mistoqsijiet kemm verament se tkun genwina din l-inkjesta. “Mhix serjetà li inkjesta, li trid tara jekk fost l-ohrajn kienx hemm nuqqassijiet ta’ sahha u sigurtà, titmexxa mill-istess fizzjal li huwa responsabbli li jara li ma kienx hemm nuqqassijiet”, sahaq il-fizzjal li tkellem maghna.
L-ghazla tal-Logotenent Kulunell Borg biex imexxi din l-inkjesta, ghaldaqstant, qieghda titqies minn bosta nies, l-aktar fi hdan il-FAM stess, bhala attentat sfrenat biex jekk kien hemm xi nuqqassijiet l-Armata se tigi mehlusa minn kull tort. Minn naha l-ohra jekk jinstab li kien hemm xi nuqqassijiet minn naha tal-Armata, il-persuna responsabbli mis-Sahha u s-Sigurtà, u cioè Mario Borg, se jaghmel, staqsew is-sorsi.
Izda ‘t-tahwida papali’, kif qaluli s-sorsi, tkompli tithawwad peress li fi hdan il-FAM hemm fizzjal responsabbli biex jaghmel dawn l-investigazzjonijiet. Dan huwa il-Logotenent Kulunell Alfred Attard li huwa responsabbli mill-Awditjar u Investigazzjonijiet. Dan huwa l-fizzjal li l-Armata stess taghtu r-responsabbilità biex jinvestiga incidenti simili bhal ma gara nhar il-Gimgha, 13 ta’ Frar. Izda dan thalla barra totalment u ghalhekk din l-inkjesta tidher li digà bdiet fuq nota negattiva.
“Hawn qed nitkellmu fuq kollega li halla hajtu waqt il-qadi ta’ dmirijietu u mhux korra, jew forsi tilef parti minn gismu. Zaghzugh ta’ 19-il sena ghadu kif inghata funeral militari kif kien jixraqlu. Imma inutli x-xeni sbieh. Issa li se nigu biex naraw x’mar hazin biex ma titkissirx familja ohra, se jkollna inkjesta farsa”, sahaq wiehed mis-sorsi.
Kronaka f'Malta 
March 3, 2009 at 08.39
I’m looking forward to read the published report, which I hope will be available soon and have some substance. I also hope that this website holds a close look on what comes up on the matter as I was a close person to the victim (unrelated whatsoever to AFM) and I do hope that neither the media nor the people forget about this tragic accident.
Also is being said now… many philosophize on what might have happened, what should have been done etc… Matt left us and all we can do is to put pressure enough so that this story is not forgotten so easily as sometimes happens (The Times Editorial mentioned this point as well).
The Media blew up a lot the military fanaticism of M.Psaila. True close friends who knew him before AFM and even after know that he had future plans apart those that were mentioned, but anyway these were used to sauce up the content and make it more teary as well.
Also about the C company being an elite etc… what I know is that the soldiers have to submit an option. They can ask to join 2 companies and they mark a preference. The term ‘elite’ is used because only a few out of those request are ultimately chosen. The criteria on which basis they are then chosen, however, I don’t know them. At least though I remember Matt having doubts about his second preference as he was unsure if they’d pick him for C company which was his first.
Thanks and I hope to see more updates soon.
February 28, 2009 at 08.39
Mr. Joe Borg is evidently NOT in the Maltese military, as YES, there are SOPs and ROEs in the AFM, like any other standing self-defence force!!!
SOPs exist to the extent and beyond what Borg imagines, the argument here is to ascertain that they were in place, of the right kind, and with somebody qualified/present to implement them.
The “Only in Malta” complex syndrome Borg allures to is much more strictly restricted to poor Policemen, who are placed on guard picket duties WITHOUR any set of orders or ROEs.
What LD argues is what’s already been said in the timesofmalta.com blogs online: there must be a BEFORE JOINING C Coy a pre-selection PRIOR to the selection training within the Coy lines.
This dubbing C Coy an ‘elite’ is farcical in the eyes of REAL specialist units. C Coy is an ‘elitist’ unit with lots of hot airs and prima donnas who are HOWEVER very well motivated and disciplined to believe they are bulletproof and invincible.
This is wrong and is stemmed from wrong visionaries in their leadership.
Realists have always appreciated their role has remained for well over 15 years purely of ‘always rearing/preparing to go someplace’, but not ever being deployed anywhere.When unleashed, they only managed a helluva fracas on migrants in Safi barracks, to the full view of a liberal media pool of leaches and bloodhounds wanting a story or a poor Brigadier to crucify.
‘Nuff said, L D gets me to toast to his health, he surely has nailed the argument fair, full and square in his cross hairs (or crossbow sights!)
We North Americans, emigrated from our mother nation of Malta, know the other side of the reality coin. Some folks in Malta remain oblivious to this, thinking they’re cosy screwing up ‘cos of their egos.
February 26, 2009 at 08.39
What LD is saying makes sense BUT unfortunately in the Malta armed forces these things are considered “unnecessary”. SOPs are the mainstay of every force – here SOPs are evident by their absence. As to eagerly waiting for the report to be published … LD has to wait a while yet.
February 26, 2009 at 08.39
This incident strikes me hard for two reasons – 1. I’m ex army (not AFM) and 2. The victim was just a 19 year old kid.
I am anxious for the publishing of the report of the enquiry. I don’t have the right to judge but my experience tells me that a number of issues that are not in line with military procedures adopted in different countries for their specialized units.
C coy is designated an elite unit. In other militaries, candidates first serve in the regular force for a decent amount of time before they get recommended to apply (APPLY) with a specialized unit. I doubt very much that the victim understood the dangers in serving in an elite unit. Selection should be thorough before these men are exposed to these immense dangers. To meet selection standards in foreign armies, physical and medical tests are at the very lowest level of the list. Virus immunity, endurance and stamina testing are very tough but the most difficult is the physiological assessment. Very young candidates normally have difficulty with this.
Candidates should not be asked what they know. They should be trained and evaluated. A degree of safety should always be in place when the candidates are being exposed to new phases of training. If the standard wouldn’t be met, at that point some militaries have the option of further training those individuals to reach the required standards. Others will be sent back to their old unit.
Since this is a drowning incident I would like to get into some details and SOP’s of water crossing. Swimming in fresh mucky water is different than swimming in the sea. Adding clothing, foot wear, ammo, webbing / combat vest, pack and weapon, will make any one drop like an anchor unless the proper procedures are followed. It is very important to seal tight any objects carried in the pack, pouches on the webbing or combat vest, with air trapped inside plastic bags. Other objects in the pockets of the uniform should also be sealed the same way if crossing have to be performed with the uniform on*.
Another procedure is to wrap the back pack in the poncho with twigs, and small branches so it floats and support both the soldier hanging on and his weapon.
*Some times soldiers strip naked when crossing bodies of water. 1. The uniform will make it harder to swim in. 2. No sense in keeping a cold wet uniform on or in the pack. Better to put on dry clothes on the shore or banks of a river than suffer hypothermia. This procedure would become redundant if contact with the enemy is expected or the candidates are being evaluated.
Was the victim following these SOP’s? Was he evaluated for his swimming before exposed to this environment?
February 25, 2009 at 08.39
Smajt ukoll li wiehed mill-membri tal-bord il-gdid huwa habib kbir tal-Brigadier ta’ issa …. minghalija kellhu x’jaqsam mal-ajruplani heh heh !!
February 24, 2009 at 08.39
Jigifieri issa li l-Prim Ministru ddecieda li jahtar inkjesta ohra, jfisser li din ser tghin li nirrisolvu xi haga ohra? Jew ghax hemm semplici ex-Brigadier li jaf jghum fuqha din ser tkun b’xi ‘insight’ esklussive?
February 24, 2009 at 08.39
L-unika ħaġa l-Bord jista’ jagħmel huwa rakkomandazzjonijiet u xejn aktar. L-unika skop li ssir l-inkjesta maġisterjali huwa li joħorġu l-fatti u jekk jinstab li hemm xi ħtija jew nuqqas, jiġi rakkomandat li jittieħdu passi kriminali kontra min ikun. Pero ma nistax nifhem kif il-PM jerga’ jitlob li ssir inkjesta’ indipendenti maħtura l-bieraħ jew ftit ġranet ilu dwar dan l-inċident minbarra dik l-inkjesta’ maġisterjali u dik interna. Ejja nieħdu l-każ li t-tlett investigazzjonijiet joħorġu ċirkostanzi differenti…fuq min sejjer toqghod? L-unika waħda li ghandha piż hija dik maġisterjali.
February 24, 2009 at 08.39
Ma naqbilx ma Dr Cutajar li l-Bord mahtur mill-armata mghandu sahha ta xejn. Dan huwa mahtur skond il-ligijiet ta Malta ghal finijiet specifici u qatt mghandu jintuza biex “jinhbew” fatti jew jitghawwgu affarijiet skond il-htiega ta’ xi individwi. Kif saru l-affarijiet ma jistghax xi darba jkun hemm fiducja f’dak li qed isir.
February 22, 2009 at 08.39
Il-Bord m’għandu saħħa ta’ xejn. Kull ma’ jista’ jagħmel huwa rakkomandazzjonijiet u xejn aktar. Is-sens ta’ ħtija trid toħroġ mill-inkjesta’ maġisterjali għaliex hija dik biss imparzjali…fis-sens li m’hemm ħadd mill-armata fiha. Pero jibqa’ l-fatt li l-esperti maħtura huma fid-dover kemm morali u legali li jiżguraw li ma jiġux influwenzati minn ħadd speċjalment minn Bord maħtur mill-armata biex jagħmel l-eżami tal-kuxjenza. L-inkjesta ma’ għandha qatt tkun influwenzata b’xi mod minn dan il-Bord u l-anqas minn dak li ssib. Anzi huwa fid-dover tal-Bord li jagħti kull tagħrif lill-esperti maħtura mingħajr tfixkiel jew ħabi. Nispera li l-verita’ ta’ veru toħroġ u minn hu responsabbli jħallas għalih għax l-esperenzja għalmitni li ħadd m’għandu responsabbilita’…nispera li jiena żbaljat.