50 years from the 1958 Protests organised by the MLP and GWU

50 years ago the rebellions organised by the Labour Party with the help of GWU were rocketing, and are still known as the Rebellions of the 28^th of April 1958. However for a lot of years the labour party depicted a picture of these rebellions as being spontaneous, in which the majority of the Maltese took part to side his campaign against the English government, although the factual story with new statements which were revealed recently, show otherwise.

These facts show that the rebellions were organised by high officials of the labour party, including Dom Mintoff. Facts also show that many Maltese didn't go to work of National Protest day ordered by the GWU because they were intimidated.

Besides this, the results of these same rebellions weren't the ones which the Labour Party wished for as they did not only lead to the resignation of the Government, but also for a suspension of the Maltese Constitution to end up without a government for four years. An interview to ex Deputy Leader of Labour Party Guze Cassar did by historic Joseph Pirotta, and which was published before his death a few years ago, states that the rebellions weren't spontaneous. On the other hand, Mintoff had appointed an Action Committee made up of High Officials of the labour Party to take care of the organisations of these rebellions.

After failing the Integration campaign pushed forward by the Labour Party, which wanted to join Malta with the UK as one country, Dom Mintoff wanted to show that he could still offer something different. He started with the cry of Pay up or Go Home directed to the English. Dom Mintoff wanted to know what were the English' plans for the Dockyard while giving substantial funds to the Budget of Malta. Besides Mintoff wanted for the English government to give he a guarantee that they'll do anything for Malta so it would reach a level of living as the UK within 12 years.

Mintoff's campaign wasn't successful, but by hook or by crook he wanted to get what he had asked for. Hence, the creation of the Action's Committee which used to react independently from the Labour Party's executive.  The street demonstrations started on the 7^th of April and reached their peak on the 28^th of April. The English government, on the other hand, insisted on not giving Mintoff what he wanted, for various reasons. The reasons include that of governor Laycock didn't see eye to eye with Mintoff. Mintoff was considered as one who didn't succeed in improving the economic and social state of the country, and wanted to blame all this on the English.

There was also some sort of a battle between governor Laycock and Mintoff as to who had control over the Police and who decided what was aired on the Rediffusion. Eventually, with the help of the GWU, the 28^th of April became a day for the national protest or national strike. The rebellions are still remembered due to the violent incidents which occurred to side with Mintoff, including Bormla, Marsa, Zabbar and Tarxien.

Luckily enough there were no deaths, with the English being very attentive that the Sette Giugno won't be repeated, when 4 Maltese got killed. The rebellions of 1958 were different to those of 1919 as after the Sette Giugno, the English government started working to give a new Constitution and a new government to Malta. However, after the 28^th of April in 1958, the Constitution had been suspended, Mintoff lost his government, Malta remained without government for four years and Mintoff didn't reach any of his planned aims for the rebellions.