BirdLife see no progress in arson attack investigations
BirdLife Malta officials complained this morning that seven weeks after three cars belonging to bird watchers were torched at Buskett, there had been no apparent progress in investigations.
"This is sending a dangerous message as violence continues to be the method chosen by some people to communicate their message," BirdLife Malta president Joseph Mangion said.
He spoke at a press conference on the scene of the incident, which took place on February 17. The press conference was held in front of a large banner which read: "Will will not forget, we will not be silenced".
Mr Magion urged the government and the police to be more aggressive in their efforts to find who was responsible, pointing out that acts of violence at Foresta 2000 grove and at Ghadira reserve had also gone unpunished.
BirdLife, he said, remained committed to promoting a love for birds and protecting the Maltese environment, and would not be intimidated or silenced.
Mr Mangion said that as the spring migration season was picking up, so too were calls from members of the general public to BirdLife’s office reporting on illegal hunting and trapping activities. “Since the election date we have been witnessing a serious increase in illegal activities related to trapping and hunting. The ALE with its limited resources is clearly not enough to cope with the scale of these wild life crimes. “It is imperative that the government takes this issue seriously and does not allow a blanket spring hunting and trapping season. Those who kill protected species are criminals and have to be punished by the full force of law.”Mr Mangion said BirdLife would be holding a "Spring Watch" between April 12 and 29, and it was hoped that this would be the first April during which spring hunting would officially not be allowed.
The European Court is currently considering a request by the European Commission to issue an interim order to ban hunting this spring, pending a final decision by the court on whether spring hunting should be permanently banned. The hunters' federation on Friday wrote to the prime minister urging him to allow spring hunting if it was found that the court was unduly delaying its decision.
Mr Mangion said the international federation of hunters (known as FACE) and BirdLife International had an agreement to respect the EU's Birds Directive and the Maltese federation, as a member of FACE, should do so too.
Picture: The three cars belonging to bird watchers, torched at Buskett in February.
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In Discussion
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Ray Mangani
Apr 5th 2008, 18:20
Referring to part of the message Mr mangion is saying"this is sending...............to comunicate their message'' .Is he referring to birdlife and bella compagnia ?????
C Mallia
Apr 5th 2008, 17:57
Kevin Francica. When people voted for the EU, they voted for the whole package and although the government of the time said that there will be spring hunting, the EU never confirmed it either despite the guarantees from the government of the time. Anyway this is now passe.
The hunters had all the time in the last election not to re-elect the current government knowing that it will have to stop spring hunting.
So now it is the turn of the hunters to shut up and accept the will of the people.
kevin francica
Apr 5th 2008, 16:39
When people voted YES for EU membership, they voted for the whole package including hunting and spring hunting. So please stop the whining.
I sincerely hope that the culprits of this act be brought to justice, but Bird Life Malta should have asked the police to pursue the persons who vandalised the FKNK's general secretary’s car swell. Or aren't all crimes equal according to them?
david Camilleri
Apr 5th 2008, 16:32
This is environmental terrorism and the local police should seek outside help if they are not capable to investigate such crimes. The criminals will do it again like they already have done in the past.
C Mallia
Apr 5th 2008, 16:26
Mr Andrew Gatt. So birdlife is being extremist right? But then is it extremist to ask for justice?
If this was your car burnt and you wanted justice, would you be extremist too?
Asking for justice is never extremist and shamefull.
Let us see if spring hunting is not allowed, how much vandalism there will be in Malta, then talk to me about extremists.
Mark Gauci
Apr 5th 2008, 15:59
Unbelievable !! Cause finally people are standing up for their rights to enjoy birds alive you still find some people complaining. We should all make our voices heard - a small minority of people has been depriving us of our own countryside for years and years and now we are finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.
Keep up the good work BirdLife Malta !! Looking forward to enjoying the spring without the shattering gunshot noises !
Chris Barbara
Apr 5th 2008, 14:14
You're right Mr. Farrugia, this is a national issue. And, given the opportunity of a referendum, the absolute majority of locals would vote a resounding NO to spring hunting. It's about time we start running our own country and not let minority groups dictate their terms to the detriment of the rest of the population, and above all, to the detriment of birds making use of Maltese airspace.
Dion Borg
Apr 5th 2008, 13:26
Fine, want to get rid of BirdLife et all....simple, just let the birds alone!
Andrew Gatt
Apr 5th 2008, 12:54
A shameful act. Equally shameful are the usual insinuations and the slick timing of anti-hunting propoganda, plus more "demands" on the Police. Remember when Birdlife INSISTED the Police Commissioner investigate comments on the online hunting forum? After wasting god knows how much manpower and time, nothing resulted. All this for a few dozen activists unwilling to admit to the real progress made and with their own extremist agenda.
D. Caruana
Apr 5th 2008, 12:47
What a convenient time to remind the people!!!!! - I wonder who the real aggressors are!!
Martin Büttner
Apr 5th 2008, 12:28
Surprise surprise! How many arson attack investigations have lead to a prosecution in the past years?
Be it arson attacks or illegal hunting, the investigating authorities do not seem to do their utmost to catch the people responsible for those crimes.
Where the detection rate for murders is one of the highest in Europe, those for the above mentioned crimes are amongst the lowest.
WHY?