Friday, 25th April 2008 - 22:25CET
Hunters: 'We will continue the fight with all legal means'
The Federation for Hunting Conservation has described the decision taken by the European Court to ban spring hunting this year as "unjust".
"The FKNK, reiterates in the strongest of terms that it will continue to fight with all legal means at its disposal for the rights of all Maltese hunters and trappers to practise the sport which they have been practising since time immemorial," the federation said.
It also expressed "clear and unequivocal condemnation" at the action taken by the European Commission which during Malta's accession process never objected to Malta's declared intention to apply the derogation of the Birds Directive for spring hunting, but then proceeded with such recourse to the European Court of Justice even to the extent of requesting this interim measure until the case was decided.
"The FKNK formally calls upon the government to step up its firm contestation of all the procedures instituted by the European Commission in stark contradiction to the position taken by the European Commission prior to Malta's Accession to the EU, in particular with the presentation of the Reply to the main Court Case which is due to be presented in the coming days, and in its subsequent active defence of the Court Case," the federation said.
"The government is once
again also requested to formally bring to the European Commission's
attention the fact that the actions taken against Malta in this
instance are both unfair and unjustified and that they go against the
understanding which the government has publicly and formally advised
that it had reached with the European Commission up to the eve of the
EU referendum."
This, the federation said, was not only a fight for the right of hunters and trappers to the spring hunting
period. Given the formal and unequivocal manner in which agreement with
the European Commission on this issue was made public by the highest
authority within the government, this was also a fight for Malta to
ensure that whatever was agreed with the European Commission prior to
accession was safeguarded, protected and defended.
"The FKNK on behalf of all its members, as also the entire hunting community and the public at large expect the government to act accordingly."
The federation also strongly criticised BirdLife for its role in the case,
"It has also emerged very clearly that BirdLife (Malta) acting in connivance with BirdLife International has worked behind the scenes to spearhead this action against Malta. The FKNK cannot but conclude that the decision given today is the end result of the action taken by BirdLife (Malta). The fact that BirdLife (Malta) was the first to break the news of the Decision to the general public and seems to have had information even ahead of the Government itself, is indeed quite significant, " the federation said.
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Comments
The EU is giving the hunting community a fair hearing now. Both political parties (which I am sure can represent Malta's interest better than FKNK) have also stated that they would abide by the ECJ's ruling, confirming their faith in the ECJ, that justice will prevail. The FKNK is noticing that they are now on their own, it is isolated. They bring other issues such as abortion and foreign interference, to try and harness some sympathy and support. It's clutching at straws and they know that it would be only a matter of time.
you are right. this is just a tradition. at some point or another this is meant to stop. For your egoistic pleasure, just to see a bird in a display in your living room, you are taking away a life of a creature. What would you think if human beings are treated the same.
FKNK should know better than trying to play the role of the victims here. They should also know that they are speaking for "all the hunters". Most of the hunters are not acting upon what they say therefore this means that we are being surrounded by anarchists.
I FULLY AGREE with what Mr. Henwood says. In addition to this the FKNK is to realise that the hunting community is just composed of 5% of the Maltese population. A day is composed of 24 hours out of which 15 hours make up the daytime. Having said this there are 8 hours which are working hours the rest are for leisure. This means that normal citizens are to enjoy this leisure time in the country side or in entertainment ares. With those 5% of egoistic souls around, there is no way that one can go "a spasso" and enjoy our beautiful island. FKNK should change its position and moreover start promoting "plattini" shooting.
Trappers on the other hand are squatting pieces of land and placing their nets and traps thus taking more of the area available.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EU FOR TAKING OVER THIS DECISION FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION THUS ELIMINATING ANY POSSIBILITY THAT BRIBES COULD DEVIATE.
THANKS EU
(Chris Said, Birkirkara)
If FKNK thinks that the world revolves around their despicable ‘sport’ and nothing else, then they are grossly mistaken. Like when they think that FKNK is also a conservation group besides a destructive one. Conservation has more to it than conserving a habitat to kill its inhabitants.
engage on to another sport always keeping in mind ,the Islands resources !!!..wrap it up and call it a day..cannot turn the clock back....
How can the EU be considered as being credible when it twists justice according to its needs?
"The FKNK on behalf of all its members, as also the entire hunting community and the public at large expect the government to act accordingly."
I cannot understand how they came to the conclusion that they can speak on behalf of 'the public at large' , when it is a well known secret that the majority of the Maltese public is against hunting in whatever shape and form that it comes disguised in.One can see it from all surveys ever conducted on the subject.
The Maltese public at large had to deal with being denied from their 'passion' of enjoying the country side with it's God given natural habitat 'Since time immemorial' to please the hunting community, and finally the EU came to the rescue of the 'Public at large' by stopping hunting. I hope that the Government stops spending the money collected from 'the public at large' in defending this lost battle and heed to the public majority's opinion.
Furthermore given the 316 km sq area of the islands (including built up area) and 20000 hunters, what chance does a bird have in escaping unharmed or caged for life? because by simple mathematics if Malta was not built up their will be a hunter every 316KM sq/20000=.0158 KM sq or 15.8m!
What happened with the EU decision is through their own making,they never regulated themselves .The EU is only defending the inability of both the Government and the Opposition to regulate hunting for hunter's votes in lieu of the environment. Thanks EU,Well Done.
I find it pointless to cry over spilled milk, very simple " We got Coned " Some of us who believed all those who promished us heaven and starts with the EU , where nothing but Vote Hunters.
Tony