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.