Sette Giugno

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Sette Giugno is a Maltese national holiday celebrated annually on the 7th of June.

[edit] Description

Sette Giugno is the Maltese National Day. It commemorates events which occurred on the same day in 1919 when, after British authorities raised the price of bread, riots ensued. During the riots British troops fired into the crowds, killing four: Ġużeppi Bajjada, Manwel Attard, Wenzu Dyer and Karmenu Abela.

These four today are remembered by a monument in the square outside the Presidential Palace in Valletta.

Also on the same day, the National Assembly was formed, and self-government was demanded.

[edit] Chronology of the Sette Giugno

  • 7th May 1917: Began the first strike in the Malta shipbuilding to add 10% of the wage to the workers.
  • 9th May 1917: Shipbuilding workers took part in a demonstration at Valletta.
  • 14th May 1917: End of the week strike from shipbuilding workers
  • 23rd November 1918: Doctor Filippo Sceberras wrote in the Malta newspaper urging the Maltese people to unite for a new constitution.
  • 30th November 1918: The Elected Members of the Government Council appeal to the British Government to "give a say for the legitimate aspirations of the Maltese".
  • 1st February 1919: The Elected Members make another appeal to the British Colonial Secretary to give Malta a constitutional monarchy.
  • 3rd February 1919: Legislation relating to wartime censorship is lifted.
  • 14th February 1919: Another appeal is sent to Lloyd George, British Prime Minister, to give Malta a good constitution.
  • 25th February 1919: For the first time make a meeting the National Assembly. A number of people broke the shopwindows of A La Ville de Londre of Mr. Bartoli Galea. Also these people attacked the Governor Palace. About 300 people went to the Valletta market and told the shop-owners to close their shops. And made damage in a jewellery shop; winery shop and other shops. The National Assembly send a resolution to the British Government to give Malta political autonomy and administration.
  • 31st March 1919: A big number of people go in front of Casino Maltese to told Cassar Torreggiani to make the price of the bread cheaper.
  • 29th April 1919: Governor Mathuen goes away from Malta after resigned
  • 9th May 1919: Begin the strike from the University students because of a drastic change in their academic grades.
  • From 10th to 26th May 1919: Everyday revolution from the university students in St Paul Street, Royal Street and other streets in Valletta.
  • 16th May 1919: The Comitato Patriottico declares a public boycott against the celebrations of the Peace. The students throw eggs and berries at Ċikku Azzopardi in front of the Civil Court.
  • 20th May 1919: The Agent-Governor Robertson said to Sceberras that the Maltese are going to give them some part in the Government but not change the Kingdom's interest
  • 7th June 1919: opened the second meeting of the National Assembly in the Giovine Malta, Valletta. At 3:30p.m. Doctor Sceberras, President of the National Assembly, met with the people with lot of joy. After some time people goes to Union Jack from the shop of Severina. The people attacked Union Club in Royal Street. Remove the British flag from the national library. Another attack on the lyceum, remove and burn the British flag. Happened also the first attack on the Daily Malta Chronicle publisher. Another group of people went to attack Ċikku Azzopardi's house in St Lucy Street. Another attack on Cassar Torreggiani's house in Old Bakery Street. And near Torreggiai's house British soldiers shot dead the first two Maltese citizens, Manwel Attard and Ġużeppi Bajjada. Then another Wenzu Dyer dies near the Daily Malta Chronicle, and people took him to the National Assembly hall. Dr Scebberas closed the meeting, and the public goes to their homes in a silent manner.
  • 8th June 1919: Another group of people meet at Valletta, and attacked the soldier of the R.E., McDougall. Attack for the second time and give fire to the Daily Malta Chroncile publisher. The public also attack Main Guard and the Union Club. Another desperate attack on the house of Kurunell Francia in the Royal Street. And here the British soldiers killed Karmnu Abela. Then a group of 700 people went to Ħamrun to attack Farrugia's home and mill.
  • 9th June 1919: Censorship reinstated for political articles because of the Maltese demonstration. In the morning many people put flower tributes in the place where Dyer died, and begin to collect money for the victims families. Also in the morning a group of 400 people attacked Saint George's Flour Mills of Cassar Torreggiani in Marsa. In the afternoon Mass is celebrated for the deceased - Attard, Bajjada and Dyer. Also on this day attacked Indri Zammit, a cheese businessman, at Żejtun.
  • 10th June 1919: The new Governor, Lord Plumer, arrives in Malta. Also the public attacked some shops at Ħamrun, Qormi and Rabat.
  • 16th June 1919: Opened the Military Court to investigate the Sette Giugno revolution.
  • 23rd June 1919: The first meeting of the Commission to plan the Constitution for Malta.
  • 2nd July 1919: Begun the Marshall Court to investigate 32 people that took part in the Sette Giugno revolutions.
  • 16th July 1919: Karmenu Abela, the fourth victim to the Sette Giugno, who had been injured on 8th June 1919 died in hospital.
  • 19th July 1919: Celebrated the feast of the Peace Celebrations, but the public did not take part.
  • 22nd July 1919: The Council Government ordered to begin "a Commission to investigate and report" on the Sette Giugno.
  • 1st August 1919: The seventh and the last meeting of the Commission to plan for the constitution took place. The Kurunell Amery, assistant-secretary for the British kingdom come for a visit in Malta to investigate about the "Autonomy".
  • 8th August 1919: Held the third meeting of the National Assemblea at Villa Gourgion, Lija.
  • 12th August 1919: Mentioned the people that have to serve in the Commission to investigate on the Sette Giugno.
  • 18th August 1919: Begin the jury about the events of the Sette Giugno.
  • 19th September :Plumer recommends to the British Government to the Maltese have to give them liberal concessions.
  • 20th November 1919: The British Parliament mentioned that Malta was going to have "control of purely local affairs"
  • 1st July 1920: the bodies of the four victims of the Sette Giugno put into one tomb.
  • 28th August 1920: Milner, the British Minister of the Columns, sent a detailed plan of the constituition to the National Assembly to study it.
  • 15th October 1920: Opened "La Camera del Lavoro" (The Chamber of Work).
  • 9th December 1920: Opened the first Malta Labour Party club in 127, St Lucy Street, Valletta.
  • 30th April 1921: Proclaimed the Amery-Milner Constitution.
  • 27th May 1921: Held the last meeting of the National Assembly
  • 15th June 1921: Political censorship legislation that was enacted because of the Sette Giugno revolutions repealed.
  • 6th September 1921: Optained the Executive Council of the Workers Party.
  • 18-19th October 1921: Held the first election under the Amery-Milner Constitution
  • 1st November 1921: The Prince of Wales inaugurated the first Maltese Parliament under the new constitution of 1921.
  • 9th November 1924: The bodies of the four victims of the Sette Giugno put in their tomb in the Addolorata Cemetery.
  • 8th June 1925: Monument of the Sette Giugno's victims inaugurated in the Addolorata Cemetery.
  • 21st September 1964: Malta obtains Independence from Great Britain.
  • 7th June 1986: The Sette Giugno's monument inaugurated at Palace Square, Valletta.
  • 21st March 1989: The Maltese Parliament declared the "Seventh June" as one of the five national feasts of Malta.
  • 7th June 1989 : First official commemoration of Sette Giugno at Palace Square, Valletta with the participation of the Maltese Parliamentary members together.
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