The hunters' federation (FKNK) yesterday sued the government and the former EU information centre over what it termed as their betrayal on the spring hunting issue.

In an application filed by lawyer Alex Perici Calascione on its behalf, the FKNK asked the court to declare that hunters' rights are being breached by the hunting regulations introduced after Malta became an EU member.

The federation is claiming that the promise made by the government then, through a letter sent by the Office of the Prime Minister to hunters and trappers before the 2003 election, promising that spring hunting would remain unchanged after EU accession, amounted to a formal commitment.

This, the federation argues, gives hunters the acquired right to expect that the legal regime would remain the same and, therefore, that the changes implemented in the years since accession breach this right.

The lawsuit follows the government's statement that it will abide by the decision of the European Court of Justice should it uphold the request by the European Commission to declare spring hunting in Malta in breach of the Birds Directive.

The hunters' federation said it was defending the hunters and trappers whose "legal expectations" had been raised by documented evidence, released by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Malta EU information Centre before EU accession, in connection with the derogation granted to Malta under the Birds Directive with regard to spring hunting.

All documents, the federation insisted, unequivocally stated that through the derogation obtained by Malta, the EU would still allow sustainable hunting in spring to continue provided the parameters of the derogations are respected.

The federation hinted that the lawsuit filed yesterday is likely to be the first in a battle possibly even in the European Court of Justice.

Coming on the eve of an election this can hardly be good news for the government, which is deemed by the federation as having deceived them with the "tacit complicity" of the European Commission about the implications of EU accession on their hobby.

Contacted shortly after the federation filed its application, federation secretary Lino Farrugia described the mood among hunters as "very angry".

Notices posted on the federation's website yesterday morning called on hunters to "wake up" and mount a campaign of protests and civil disobedience against the government. One even suggested a protest in which hunters would bring their hunting dogs along with them outside Castille.

On the possibility of a protest, Mr Farrugia said the committee has still to decide what to do and it would only call a protest if it felt such action would be effective.

Asked about the possible implications for the election, he said there will surely be an effect but one could not say as yet what sort of effect that would be.

"I'm not saying that this will favour one party or the other... even though the Nationalists are the real culprits in this but we haven't seen a ray of hope from the other side either, so one still has yet to see," he said clearly referring to the Labour Party. The MLP has declared it would have no choice but to abide by EU regulations.

Recalling that the federation had changed its statute, which previously barred it from involving itself in politics, he said he did not exclude the possibility of the federation taking sides politically with a party that supported its plea to keep the present hunting regime.

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