Tuesday, 9th September 2008 - 16:49CET
Hunters vow not to bow to foreign interference
The hunters' federation warned today that Maltese hunters were not prepared to surrender an inch of their culture or their land and would not bow to any offence provoked by some foreigner or, more seriously, by other Maltese.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of forthcoming visits to Malta by a number of foreign birdwatchers, FKNK general secretary Lino Farrugia said these people were not welcome, and he urged hunters to immediately report any offences committed by these people to the police.
He insisted that land owned by the hunters was private and needed to be respected as such.
"Maltese hunters and trappers, thanks also to the FKNK, have so far remained quiet, despite vindictive acts against them. They have not retaliated, despite many malicious provocations, hatred and what has been said about them, instigated by BirdLife (Malta), and not without support from the government.
"However, there is a limit to everything, and we are sure that no real Maltese or Gozitan is ready to surrender one inch of his culture or his country. We will not bow before any offence and interference provoked by some foreigner or, more seriously, provoked by some other Maltese citizen," Mr Farrugia said,
He said that "mercenaries" calling themselves Bird Guards from the German CABS Society were due to start arriving in Malta on Saturday, their plan being to eradicate the Maltese from rural lands which belonged to them. He claimed that these "spies" intended to provoke and could even trespass on private land at night.
These people, Mr Farrugia said, this year intended, for the first time, to combine their activities with those holding a Raptor Camp.
He said that to date, the hunters had never had problems with the Raptor Camps.
"However if the members of the Raptor Camps intend to act in the same way as, and collaborate with CABS, we will treat them in the same way as CABS and other foreigners," Mr Farrugia said.
He added that following them, in October, would be members of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, who, he said would also help BirdLife in another "premeditated and provocative" campaign, this time against trappers.
Mr Farrugia urged these visitors to first look into the hunting abuses in their own countries, insisting that people in glass houses should not throw stones.
In urging hunters to report abuses to the police, Mr Farrugia said that between September 14 and the end of October, the federation would also receive complaints and reports on telephone numbers 9947 4503 and 7999 4860. These reports would be logged, including details on whether problems had been reported to the police, and what police action had been taken.
At his press conference Mr Farrugia criticised the government for collectively punishing all hunters for abuses by a few, saying that hunters' rights were being violated by the ban on hunting after 3 p.m. between September 15 and 30. This even went against recommendations by the government-appointed Ornis committee.
"This is an arrogant and mistaken way of how the government is trying to rid itself of its problems. First it pretends to be listening to whatever one has to say, and then, because it is unable to control the few who appear to be untouchable, it thinks it can settle the issue by imposing a collective punishment."
He said the visit by CABS and the other foreign 'spies' had led the governemnt to stop afternoon hunting in September, thus continuing its servile attitude to BirdLife Malta and encouraging foreign interference.
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Oh and for those who don't know me, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcasm
Or are you scared cause you know the reality......
Why doesn't the Maltese' elected government resolve to finally stop this long-standing farce? Does it have to be Mr Austin to tame down these patriots? If the MLP and PN join forces on this, this farce can be eradicated.
Who knows, maybe one day my children will be able to watch lovely birds fly over Malta once again, outside of a sanctuary.
I believe that camping in the country side after dusk is prohibited in Malta. So how can these foreign bird observers be allowed to camp around the clock in our country side with the excuse of checking over Maltese hunters.
I am also a camping enthusiast and I shall be noting the places where these imported police are camping with probably the government’s blessing.
I would expect to be left in peace should I be caught by our local authorities with a group of fellow local campers camping in these selected areas at night.
After all, the law is equal to everyone.
What an ignorant way to spend a morning. Get up early and shoot a bird. Must be such a rush, such a feeling of power. I wonder if they're compensating for anything.
And I love the quote, "...we will treat them in the same way as CABS and other foreigners". How exactly do you treat foreigners? Do you feel persecuted much?
"However, there is a limit to everything, and we are sure that no real Maltese or Gozitan is ready to surrender one inch of his culture or his country."
You mean like wearing blue jeans or listening to pop music? Or shooting birds with imported guns? Are guns authentic Maltese culture or are you just desperately trying to evoke nationalist sentiment.
I do not think that the bird guards are in any way encroaching on the hunter's pastime. As long as hunter's don;t break the law, theres nothing to worry about is there? AHem..as such I cannot really understand the Ghaqda's ravings.
On the other hand, I find it hypocritical for people to take a stand against hunting because they claim that it is cruel, and then go home and consume lambs, mill fed veal etc.
Killing for food is just as evil as hunting folks, no matter how you portray it.
How many of you ever tipped of the police about drugs? How come in this little island drugs are found everywhere? So with the same argument of yours we are all compliance all Maltese are drug addicts, we should bring a drug squad to control our shores and hot places; driving licenses should be revoked upon first accident, etc etc.
@ C Mallia, persons who were Jailed became Presidents of State.
Weldone FKNK keep it up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4ReClht9PM&feature=related
This is the result of "foreign interference" that the FKNK dream about. If this is the result of "foreign interference", so be it.
Whether these Bird Guards are present or not while I'm hunting, doesn't bother me at all. However as of next Monday till the end of the month I shall not be able to hunt after 3.00pm while Bird Guards will be there. Does anyone think it's fair that I cannot practice my hobby in my own country while foreigners will be free to do what they want in our country?
Like the majority of Maltese hunters,I go hunting only for turtle doves, and after that this spring season was kept closed, the minimum I could expect from the government was that I could practice tutle dove hunting during September without any interruptions..............just like any other EU hunter; or do they expect us to hunt for turtle doves in December!
I actually don't blame the hunters themselves for their never ending arrogance but the Authorities. First they encourage them to buy guns and lower the age limit to own one, then they promise them that hunting won't be touched after we become EU members and now they are losing control with all this senseless shooting on protected species. Why not let them blast everything out of the sky all year round and annihilate all migrating birds. Maybe then they won't have anything to shoot at.
The majority of Maltese have had enough and will surely support seeing Maltese and tourists visit the countryside rather then bullies with shotguns. Go find another decent sport if you really care and stop this barbarism and bullying tactics as it will only turn people further against you.
after all the are not the property of maltese hunters but off all bird loving europe that want to keep them alive for furture generations
also the maltese public proved well enough that they do not want illegal hunting
viva ecc
All law-abiding hunters (and that excludes Mr Farrugia) should thank CABS for investing time and money in monitoring the countryside for them, because ultimately there will be less illegalities. Law-abiding hunters should not fear as CABS is really doing them a service.
Maybe you should go live in North Korea, you might feel more at home there with no foreign interference. You might get a little hungry though!
And what about "land owned by hunters?" When will government tackle the spiny issue of land ownership and right of way. After all, Malta does belong to hunters, but it belongs also to many others who would like to walk about the countryside, as hunters do, without being harassed by armed people or by spurious 'No entry' signs.
If you really cared & knew anything about culture and identity you would not talk in such a way!
That’s why hunters are all put in one basket and punished collectively, cause you appear to prefer to defend the guilty ones, or keep quiet about the illegalities, thus punishing the rest, and tarnishing everyones name, maybe you're afraid of losing members.
Well if you cant control the untouchables and the govt clearly cant, what are you proposing? to tell us that illegalities don’t exist or they are few and far between. Maybe complain about social hatred, or wage war on those rogue hunters giving you a bad name.
If I was a hunter paying my license that’s exactly what I would expect from you, zero tolerance.
Boswell tells us that Samuel Johnson made this famous pronouncement that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel on the evening of April 7, 1775. He doesn't provide any context for how the remark arose, so we don't really know for sure what was on Johnson's mind at the time.
However, Boswell assures us that Johnson was not indicting patriotism in general, only false patriotism.
Is this false patriotism by the bird hunters perhaps?
Why are the bird hunters so anti non Maltese - the world belongs to everyone, and birds fly to Malta from all over the world, they are not Maltese birds, just passing through.
(1) Observe from a distance (not on private land, without being bullied)
(2) They do have a right to take photos and video footage even if this is directed at the shooters staying on private land as long as the footage is taken from public land. This includes any video enhances and telescopic lenses
(3) Bird guards are a llowed to use night vision equipment to their cameras
(4) They have a right to contact ALE and other police emergency numbers to report abuses
(5) they have a right to use equipment that scare away birds from the area in the vicinity
One of the main reasons I voted for Europe is to stop hunting.
I would have thought that FKNK would welcome watchers to prove their case that they are hunting within the rules whilst of course condemning and encouraging the reporting of any rogue hunter breaking the hunters' federation rules and the law.
"Did you hear about the drydocks issue being resolved and everyone is happy now? Big Tony instigated fear and a mediator was appointed who in turn resolved the whole matter."
"Of course. Quite a feat. Don't you think we deserve to have a mediator too who can take us out of this misery?"
"Well done. Good thinking mate. Let's get a press conference organised where we'll show our teeth and say things like 'retaliation', 'foreigner not welcome' and you'll see how we'll get our mediator in no time."