Hunters pull out of Ornis

The hunters' federation (FKNK) has called on the government to revise its decision to prohibit the trapping of two bird species beyond the end of the year and, as a sign of protest, has withdrawn its representation from the Ornis Committee.

In another declaration, FKNK public relations officer Joe Perici Calascione claimed the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds was recruiting volunteers "with confrontational abilities" to come to Malta between October and November to ensure that no hunting and trapping takes place.

He warned that FKNK action teams will be in the countryside ensuring that no damage is done, adding that the challenge of confrontation was being accepted. The federation will be writing to German and British bird watching groups and will be copying the Maltese authorities as well as the German Chancellor and Britain's Queen Elizabeth.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Mr Perici Calascione warned of "confrontation" with the "spies" from Germany and Britain whom he claimed are planning to come to Malta to look for trouble with hunters and trappers.

Describing the Ornis Committee as a "farce", Mr Perici Calascione said the government had, for the seventh time running, ignored the committee's recommendations. He said this was "a form of dictatorship".

After seeking advice from the Attorney General, the Ornis Committee had controversially recommended that trapping of golden plover and song thrush be allowed from October 20 to January 10.

But the government rejected this recommendation and instead decided that golden plovers and song thrushes may be trapped between October 20 and December 31. Hunting on land will be permitted from September 1 to January 31, 2009, two hours before sunrise and two hours after sunset from Monday to Saturday and from two hours before sunrise to 1 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays.

In order to protect birds of prey, between September 15 and September 30 hunting from land will not be allowed after 3 p.m.

The new regulations were unjust and abolitionist, Mr Perici Calascione said, adding that this confirmed the government's attitude towards the Ornis Committee. He questioned why the government set up the committee if it ignored 80 per cent of its recommendations.

All other European countries permitted hunting and trapping in the last two weeks of September, he said, claiming that this decision was "discriminatory".

Despite its various promises, the government was treating hunters and trappers as second-class citizens.

The government should not continue using BirdLife Malta and the European Union as excuses for its bad decisions, which are negatively affecting hunters and trappers and their families.

While calling on the government to revise its recent decisions, Mr Perici Calascione said the federation will be seeking legal advice on instituting judicial proceedings against the government for breach of human rights.

Next June, the federation will be backing candidates for the MEP election who support it. It is also looking forward to meeting Labour Leader Joseph Muscat to find out more about his and his party's position on the matter.

Asked about the federation's plan of action if the decisions are not reversed, specifically whether the FKNK will be taking to the streets in protest, Mr Perici Calascione said: "We are the largest organisation after the political parties and have organised mass meetings in the past. However, we know of the risk of hot-headed members who could vent their frustrations in ways that would tarnish our reputation and this would be counter-productive."