Kurt Sansone
MEP candidate's no to spring hunting irks MP
Nationalist MP Philip Mifsud had confirmed with the party's general secretary that the PN had not changed its stand on spring hunting before writing an article criticising his own party's MEP candidate Edward Demicoli.
Mr Mifsud yesterday wrote in The Times criticising Mr Demicoli's categorical stand against spring hunting, accusing him of "compromising" the party to "gain some personal political mileage".
It transpired that PN general secretary Paul Borg Olivier was aware of the bad vibe Mr Demicoli's declaration created among Nationalist hunters.
Mr Mifsud was elected for the first time to Parliament in the last election from the seventh district, a hotbed for hunters and trappers.
"I am not contesting whether Mr Demicoli is right or wrong on the issue but as a party we promised hunters and trappers that we will defend their right to spring hunting and we have to keep it. The article was my personal reaction but it also reflected that of my constituents," Mr Mifsud said when contacted yesterday.
He said constituents were annoyed by Mr Demicoli's declaration that he will work to stop spring hunting.
While acknowledging that the MEP candidate spoke in his personal capacity, Mr Mifsud insisted the comments gave the perception that the party had changed its stand on the matter.
"Just under a year ago we passed through an electoral campaign during which I was constantly telling constituents that the PN would defend its promise to keep spring hunting to the very end and with the best means possible. What I told constituents was with the party's blessing," he said.
"Before writing the article I verified with Paul Borg Olivier whether the party had changed its position on the matter and he told me no," he added.
Contacted yesterday, Dr Borg Olivier confirmed the version of facts as given by Mr Mifsud.
Dr Borg Olivier said the PN's position on hunting and trapping is "the same as that negotiated and agreed by the government with the EU and is part of the Accession Treaty".
The interpretation of this position is now subject to a case before the European Court of Justice, Dr Borg Olivier added.
He said the PN would not be pressuring the government to open the spring hunting season this year because there were no new developments that warranted a change in the position adopted last year.
The government had said it viewed the opening of the spring hunting season as harmful to Malta's interests in the case before the ECJ.
When asked for his reaction to the criticism levelled at him, Mr Demicoli was very cautious in his reply.
"I believe everybody is entitled to his opinion so I will not dwell on the article. What is important is that people have a right to know who they are voting for and how they are going to be represented. I have made my personal opinion against spring hunting and on several other issues clear. Now it will be up to the people to decide come June," he said.
The MEP candidate was at the centre of controversy last week when the hunters' federation, FKNK, directed its members not to vote for him in the European Parliament election after he publicly denounced spring hunting during the launch of his electoral campaign.
"If the hunters' association believes it is going to shut me up, it had better change strategy because it will not work. I will continue to push for spring hunting to be stopped," Mr Demicoli had said, reacting to the directive.
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johny xerri
Jan 24th 2009, 15:02
forgive me, i should have expressed myself more clearly. I do not have any objection with killing animals for food, such as fishing, killing a cow for beef etc etc etc. It is how we live, and it is the way of the world. It is a natural scope for survival. Tell me, Mr Formosa, is there anything natural about killing fellow living animals for fun?
so Mr Seychell re the comment you made above(copy & paste so you cant say you were misqouted)
are you aware that amatuer fishing is done primarily for fun & secondry as a food source. Of course amatuer fisherman do not blast fish from the sea they just hook them out of their throats from the sea. An innocent fish supplied with food just so someone can hook it out of the sea.
Yet for you this is more natural then hunting.
For me this is just another form of hunting using different prey and different methods, which is more deceptive & cruel.
Just imaging eating a fillet and being hooked up & pulled for 10mts out of your comfy seat with your body wieght opposing the pull.
is someone living in cokoo land!!
M Vella
Jan 24th 2009, 12:46
Question. Is the NP Pro Hunting, Anti-hunting or cool on hunting?
Answer: All three (of course).
Andrew Gatt
Jan 23rd 2009, 12:17
I Borg...............Always the usual extremist and insulting comments. Grow up.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Jan 23rd 2009, 11:16
Mr. I. Borg, are you in a hysteria with all those No's?! It appears like a child throwing a tantrum!
I, in turn would like to pose a question to you: Do you know what a Yes, a Guarantee, an Assurance means?! If not, I suggest you ask the Govt., MIC and others what these mean.
Sorry, Sir, but you seem to expect that the Maltese citizen be treated inferior to the EU citizen. Whatever the issue, be it hunting or any other thing, I DO NOT ACCEPT BEING TREATED INFERIOR TO OTHERS.
l borg
Jan 23rd 2009, 10:07
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
hunting in spring
UNDERSTAND EVERY ONE WHAT NO IS
NO MEANS YOU CANNOT KILL DEFENCELESS BIRDS AND ALSO MEANS YOU CANNOT PRACTISE YOUR SADISTIC HOBBY
Maria Dolores Fenech
Jan 23rd 2009, 09:23
Dan x'tahwid hu? L-id ix-xellugija ma tafx x'inhi taghmel il-leminija!
I have noticed that this thing have already happened. Last Sunday while Dr Gonzi kept harping that the LP has not yet sent its suggestions about the Rent Law, Mr Dalli promptly corrected him (in front of all present) that in fact the LP HAS sent its suggestions.
I think that since Dr Eddie Fenech Adami and Mr Joe Saliba has resigned from the PN, the party has lost its direction. And everyone does and says whatever one wants. Addio party policies!
j n ebejer
Jan 23rd 2009, 09:00
To what extent, can a party candidate, act according to personal convictions? Should these be discussed with his costituents fist and then presented for discussion in a party to have these as Party credentials? How do parties work?
Has party club 'politics' scared constituents away from partecipation in discussions on which agendas should be based?
Do we get the phoney phone calls just prior an election asking about this or that issue to have our opinion or as a pretext for some sort of pre-election survey?
It would be interesting, if not, necessary, to have input from all our politicians because more other issues are at stake now, even more than ever, since these are presented for a decision to be taken upon on the European parliament. Thank you
J Pulis
Jan 22nd 2009, 18:44
Mr. Mifsud you said That as a party we promised hunters and trappers that we will defend their right to Spring hunting and we have to keep it. I ask you a relative question, IS THIS A JOKE OR AN INSULT? We had written and signed promises from a person that today enjoys the highest position in Malta i.e. The President and he did not keep them.
Mr. Demicoli of all people an ex-MIC champion who use to feed us with all that RUBBISH.
SHAME ON YOU POLITICANS YOU ARE PEOPLE WITHOUT PRINCIPLES.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Jan 22nd 2009, 18:38
The case being presented here is that the PN is trying "li mill-mitluf jiehu li jista"!! Mr. Demicoli (as an official of MIC) had assured hunters and trappers of the continuance of their traditional pastime. Now he is trying to gain votes from the anti-hunting lobby. Mr. Mifsud and PBO are realising that losing the hunters' / trappers' votes is detrimental to their party. Hence this article. However, these two gentlemen should state facts and admit that the PN promised one thing and is now doing the opposite. If indeed the PN is in favour of hunting and trapping, then the Spring Season should have been opened. Again, here, the PN is trying to hide behind the ECJ.
How's that for credibility?! I believe that hunters and trappers have learnt their lesson by now. Foundless promises are only vote snatchers!
Paul Zarb
Jan 22nd 2009, 17:58
@lgalea
You took an extreme newsagency and I took a news website and a news agency which are on the other side. You may note that EU Observer's editor is Lisbeth Kirk, who is the wife of Jens-Peter Bonde, the former Danish MEP who Sharon Ellul Bonici used to work with. We can go on cutting and pasting articles from all sides saying ours are right and the others are wrong.
...and obviously - as you say - anything that is against the EU is the truth whilst anyone who speaks in favour is either a puppet or a europhile. Nevermind the realistic middle way. The style of your message smacks of Mugabe style propaganda or MLP back in the 80s.
Charles Sammut
Jan 22nd 2009, 17:47
Politicians will promise you heaven and earth to get your vote. It works time and time again. Voter gullibility is a prerequisite to democracy. It is how the EU expands.
Mak Seychell
Jan 22nd 2009, 17:31
@ Anthony Formosa
forgive me, i should have expressed myself more clearly. I do not have any objection with killing animals for food, such as fishing, killing a cow for beef etc etc etc. It is how we live, and it is the way of the world. It is a natural scope for survival. Tell me, Mr Formosa, is there anything natural about killing fellow living animals for fun?
HOWEVER I must contradict most (not all - as mentioned above) of your comment directed to me...What exactly is HEALTHY about shooting at birds, disrupting biodiversity and increasing toxens and polutants (how ever slight) into the air through gunpowder? What is FUN about killing fellow senient creatures, if not to fill your bellies? Pray explain to me (and everyone else) how anyone can CULTIVATE FIELDS through shooting down bird after bird after bird?
Don't get me wrong, as mentioned above, I bear no grudge to anyone who hunts for food, it is the way of the world. But there can be no excuse on this earth for killing birds, fish, wolves, deer, or whatever for the reasons of HEALTH, FUN, AND CULTIVATION that you gave me.
Simon Vella
Jan 22nd 2009, 16:23
In my opinion PN Government found us guilty before we had a fair trial and a chance to be heared by the EU Court of Justice, because he Banned Spring hunting and reduced hunting in September. He should have left us practise our traditional hobby, which he promised and Guaranteed it would not be abolished,but improve, and he told us that he negotiated derogations to safeguard our practise.
Edmike Cassar
Jan 22nd 2009, 16:16
This incredible..!!!!.Does Mr Demicoli know that the party he is repreasanting is IN FAVOUR OF SPRING HUNTING..??.Does he know that the MIC were he works issued a paper declaring that spring hunting will continue..this man does not deserve the baking of the pn and of the prime minster.
King regards
Edmike Cassar
Mark Seychell
Jan 22nd 2009, 16:12
spot on J Dimech
lgalea
Jan 22nd 2009, 15:03
Paul Zarb
p.s.
http://www.google.com.mt/search?hl=mt&q=EurActiv&btnG=Fittex+bil-Google&meta=
EurActiv.com - European Union Information Website (EU and Europe)
Directory of EU institutions, federations and non-governmental organisation's, and special reports on EU topics.
http://www.google.com.mt/search?hl=mt&q=Agence+Europe&btnG=Fittex&meta=
Agence Europe - European Union press agency
This International Press Agency publishes news about activities of the European Union and its institutions. Daily bulletin in 4 languages.
Do you really expect eu information websites to publicize eu problems Paul?
lgalea
Jan 22nd 2009, 14:55
Paul Zarb
You write to euobserver.com and see what they tell you about being eurosceptic.
The two articles are the truth Paul, or now you even want to deny the truth as all europhiles do?
Agence Europe or EurActiv are not more pro-eu, they are it's puppets.
Chris Galea
Jan 22nd 2009, 14:53
@ James Dimech
What do you mean - No derogations- ?!! If derogations are used by other countries,why can't we use them too ? Are we different EU members ?
Anthony Formosa
Jan 22nd 2009, 14:45
I don't agree that the PN committed itself to support hunting, the PN refused FKNK assistance in the negotiations, and preferred a well known anti hunting and trapping to negotiate with the EU. Mr Mifsud surly knows that the minority is a large number of citizens with a false promise a fake guarantee and an organized scam, which Mr Demicoli was involved during negotiations and now presenting himself to defend the rights of certain individuals.
@ Mark Seychell, We define today's hunting as a means to socialize, recreational, healthy, adventure, fun, cultivating our fields, and most off all the goodness and healthy meat, so basically hunting is not just killing, fishing with a rod is not just killing a fish, it's far more than that.
@ James Demicoli, as a non hunter or trapper you can never understand our situation, here we depend only from migratory game birds in spring and this is proven by well known Maltese ornithologists, and theirs no other alternative. Mediocrity is not embedded in Maltese society only it's a worldwide fact. Please visit the site below, it's only a dream for us and a lifetime for others its one day.
http://www.sportinggun.co.uk/gunshow/141432/Readers039_Gallery_Page_1.html
,
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Jan 22nd 2009, 14:26
James Dimech
Unlike all countries in Europe, Malta has a particular hunting season that occurs in Spring. The PN recognized this and applied for derogation, just like any other EU country can, from the Law all other EU countries observe.
For your information the UK, that also has particular circumstances, also applies derogation and spring hunting is allowed there. So Malta is asking for no less and as such has an equal chance of obtaining derogation.
Maltese hunters are irritated because what the PN guaranteed was based on total incompetence. since the PN entrusted the anti hunter Saviour Balzan for advice about hunting.
The hunters are not accepting the fact that what is obtained by other countries and could easily be obtained by Malta was totally messed up during negotiations.
The PN realized its error at not allowing the hunters federation in the negotiating stage and is now expecting them to present a good defense in the court case next year.
It"s like playing a game of football where after the result is not in your favor you start sending in your best players in order to try and save face!!!!
C. Brittian
Jan 22nd 2009, 14:25
@Paul Zarb
you mean the British are reading l-Orizzont ? I always thought that was a Maltese newpaper... interesting. hmmm
(Nothing new here: the majority of British are Eurosceptics and they are becoming even more, and no, they don't read l-Orizzont. I'm still wondering what l-Orizzont has to do with all this but anyway... please enlighten me)
John F Borg
Jan 22nd 2009, 13:53
It is nice to know that Mr Mifsud's conscience on the matter is clear, and that he has the party's blessings for his speaches. However it is hard to make out who is gaining the political mileage out of all this!
Maybe a few hunters were annoyed, but surely the rest of us were happy to see someone with the courage to voice his opinions publicly without being afraid of repercussions.
The hunting lobby group have been allowed to bully the government, and all mortals living on this island for too long.
Paul Zarb
Jan 22nd 2009, 12:50
@lgalea
thanks for the information. You just copied and pasted two articles from EUObserbver which is a newsagency with a eurosceptic leaning. I can paste two other pro-EU articles from say Agence Europe or EurActiv which are more pro-EU.
Big deal. You might as well start sending us articles from l-Orrizont.
James Dimech
Jan 22nd 2009, 12:44
As a citizen of Malta who is not into hunting I believe that as to hunting we should have the same laws as other EU countries have - no more no less - insignificantly of what PN promised or not. No derogations but no discrimination against Maltese hunters either. Maltese hunters should have the same rights and obligations as their European counterparts. Why doesn't the hunting lobby accept this ?
The fact that hunting is a major political issue all the time also shows two things about us:
- that we are living a decent life without any major problems so much so that we can make a hobby a major political issue
- that mediocrity is still embedded within Maltese society
Franco Farrugia
Jan 22nd 2009, 12:35
Reading what this MP had to say about Mr Demicoli, whom he called a 'newcomer', anyone would think that he, the MP, is some seasoned politician. In fact, he's the opposite.
That makes TWO newcomers, if at that.
Mark Seychell
Jan 22nd 2009, 10:37
How about we all just start killing poor innocent birds for the fun of it? Let's all get together and have a blast by stuffing the poor things and keeping them in a trophy cabinet. Or else, we can just keep them in a 30cm x 30cm x 30cm cage, it's enough for them to fly around in, they only had the whole sky to do their ridiculous flying previously...
lgalea
Jan 22nd 2009, 10:37
http://euobserver.com/tickers/4593
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Today @ 07:10 CET
Czech eurosceptic MEP Vladimir Zelezny has registered a branch of the pan-European, anti-Lisbon treaty Libertas political party in the Czech Republic, the Lidove Noviny newspaper reported on Wednesday. The move comes ahead of a parliamentary vote on Lisbon ratification next month.
http://euobserver.com/tickers/4592
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Today @ 07:10 CET
Sixty four percent of people in the UK would vote against joining the eurozone in a referendum, a survey by YouGov and the Tax Payer's Alliance has shown, with just 24% in favour. Just 41.5% of Danes would like to join, a Danske Bank poll showed, ahead of a parliament debate on the euro on Thursday.
C.SAID
Jan 22nd 2009, 10:00
Of what I have seen the PN is again trying to fool the Maltese Hunters and Trappers by still promising them about the Spring hunting and trapping season,when first of all we all know what Dr Gonzi said when he cut short the Spring hunting season two years ago when he said that he is not afraid of the HUNTERS VOTE and secondly we all know that half of September the Hunters only have halve day open for shooting just to accomodate foriegners entering our private land and ordering us what to do.To me this is just to try and get back our MEP`s VOTE but I`ve learned MY LESSON WELL as long as I live PN will never get one VOTE from any MEMBER of MY FAMILY.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Jan 22nd 2009, 09:59
"The PN would not be pressuring the government to open the spring hunting season this year because there were no new developments that warranted a change in the position adopted last year." UTTER NONSENSE!!!!
Compared to last year. the EU now has a report on the 2007 season as specified in the use of a derogation. Last year interim measures were imposed because the Government report was not available to the ECJ. Subsequently they imposed interim measures in order to safeguard birds on the off chance that opening the 2008 season could be detrimental.
This year the ECJ will consider this report and decide whether the opening of this season is possible.
PBorg Olivier does not know what he is talking about. Also if the PN was sincere in its guarantee it would have opened last season and this season. After all this is what their guarantee was all about.
It transpires that PN were not even aware of the fact that the use of a derogation is no guarantee. It is up to the EU to decide according to annual reports.
THE PN SABOTAGED ITS GUARANTEE BY FAILING TO SEND REPORTS.