Sweeping the dust under the carpet

Has it ever occurred to you that you have basic human rights? Are you quite sure that in some subtle or not so subtle way you are not being deprived of them? Are you convinced they are not being trampled upon?

A particular case in point is the absurdity of the claim made by the FKNK that the "foreign" birdwatchers are depriving the Maltese (hunters) of the enjoyment of their countryside. Apart from the blatant xenophobia of the statement, the FKNK is by inference under the totally misguided impression that the countryside belongs to the hunting confraternity exclusively. What was not taken into consideration was that along with the birdwatchers there was a large group of Maltese artists, myself, among them. Are we depriving the hunters of the enjoyment of the countryside too? We are Maltese and have as much right to be there as any of the hunters.

Such is the enormity of this statement that I sometimes wonder whether the FKNK is on some suicidal collision course. As far as I know the raison d'être of the FKNK is to ensure that its members' rights are maintained within the law and that their transgressing members are reported and thrown out. Any comments about who is or is not entitled to be in the countryside whether foreign or Maltese are purely gratuitous.

For years and years, the rank and file of us who are not in the habit of carrying guns around have been deprived of enjoying our countryside which, as we all know, is shrinking every year. A traipse in the country, as sure as eggs are eggs, is bound to end up like an obstacle race. One faces illegal gates, barbed wire and walls with notices written out in a way reminiscent of Owl's in Winnie the Pooh; "Privet Kep Awt" and words to that effect. In addition, the huge trappers' nets are a hazard and a half. If one does not trip in them you will either be shouted at or threatened by an irate trapper.

The only friendly thing about the hunting community is their canine sidekick.

The only way to enjoy a walk is to stick to the roads that are supposed to be for vehicles. A foot off the road and boy oh boy you're in trouble.

This, Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, members of Parliament and Commissioner of Police, is blatant trampling over my human rights to enjoy what is, after all, as much mine as the hunters'. By not clamping an effective control over these people you are granting them a privilege of the type that I was under the impression Dom Mintoff had abolished along with nobility way back in 1975!

You may recall, dear reader, my reaction to the FKNK's statement. Last Thursday week I was present with a group of artists at Salib ta' l-Gholja, happily painting our magnificent countryside. We were there from 5 p.m. and so were the very friendly birdwatchers. They watched and we painted. Everything was pretty tranquil till the sun started to sink.

Along came a couple of kestrels and a few honey buzzards, protected birds of prey known as raptors. A literal barrage, from guns that we had no idea were even there, suddenly rent the air. It was horrific. We could see a car speeding along the country road, out of which a hunter rode with his entire torso out of the passenger window, firing as he went with the blood-thirsty determination of a Tatar on the rampage!

Then there was the statement by the FKNK. It literally enraged me. Am I an alien? Am I not Maltese as much as any of those hunters? How can the FKNK even try to justify what I saw and what was seen by a group of nature lovers? This time they goofed it and badly too.

To try and be rational about this we have to attempt a simple analysis of the situation. There are rules and regulations. Hunters can shoot at certain birds according to law but not others. If they stuck to the rules, as the FKNK maintains, we would have to live with it; like it or hate it. All Malta knows that some hunters do not as even the Maltese translation of bird of prey, ghasfur tal-priza has a ring of triumph to it. A bird of prey is the ultimate trophy!

Protection is unheard of and conservation, which is part of the FKNK's name, is a pie in the sky (which, if winged, would be shot at too!).

I know several very respectable hunters, gentlemen in fact, who, at great sacrifice and expense, do things the right way. It is however a fact that there are far, far too many who flout the law. This is why I maintain that the FKNK's statement was precipitously dangerous. It is up to the FKNK to cooperate with the police to ensure that the law of the land is upheld. Nothing less than that is acceptable.

Now many of you will be asking why Kenneth Zammit Tabona is sticking his neck out yet again to criticise what many consider to be at worst a volatile and dangerous mob. Many people actually told me I was mad to make that statement to the press last week. They said I could be personally attacked and my property vandalised. All this for telling the truth? In that case I will hold the Prime Minister, the Commissioner of Police and the chairman of FKNK responsible for my safety as it is my God-given right to express the truth and defend the rights of the majority, your right too, dear Sir and Madam Reader. It is our collective responsibility to defend that right with the full power of the law.

The problem is that many people are afraid to express their opinions and prefer sweeping the dust under the carpet thinking that by some miracle it will go away. You know and I know that it will not unless we throw it out. Many of you may be thinking that at one time or another you were deprived of something and felt that you couldn't do anything about it because you were afraid. You have rights as much as the hunters or anyone else. They cannot ride roughshod over the laws of the country and shut the ordinary citizen out of it. It is unacceptable.

I would therefore request that the FKNK's standoff situation, which is tantamount to holding a political gun at the government's head, be withdrawn at once and ask the Leader of the Opposition to make his policy about hunting as clear as crystal. We, the majority of Maltese citizens want to know what the policy will be should Labour be elected. This is not a "vote now discuss later" situation. Both parties have to lay down very clear policies and stick to them. Zero tolerance is the only way that this situation can be resolved.

kzt@onvol.net