Lino Farrugia, secretary, FKNK, Msida
Reports of illegal killing of protected birds (1)
While as always firmly condemning any act of illegal killing of protected wild birds, the Federation for Hunting and Conservation - Malta (FKNK) notes the steep escalation of such "reports" since the September 10 European Court of Justice verdict, which "reports" emanate from the BirdLife Malta Raptor Camp and David Conlin's CABS whose foreign groups of people are at present roaming the Maltese countryside.
These "reports" are clearly intended to jeopardise the milestone verdict which Malta, through its perseverance at exposing the truth, was served with by the highest European Union institution. A verdict that noone can change.
The FKNK has asked to be supplied with details of persons that have been apprehended and will be arraigned by the police for alleged killing of protected wild birds, since the arrival of the Camp and CABS personnel.
The FKNK has also devised a system to verify these and any further similar "reports" until the departure of both organisations' groups.
Finally the FKNK emphasises its warning to hunters, wherein it stated that, now more than ever, it will adopt zero tolerance measures with any of its mem- bers who might persist with illegal hunting acts, and therefore will not put up with anything that might again ever jeopardise the traditional Maltese socio-cultural passion of spring hunting.
The FKNK also appeals to the three other hunters' and trappers' associations to adopt similar harsh measures with their members, and that they should never accept any hunter as member who may have had his membership revoked by another association or by the Federation for having been convicted of a hunting/trapping related offence.
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Chris Finch
Sep 23rd 2009, 13:19
The landmark judgment stated that a derogation can be APPLIED FOR. It is not a foregone conclusion, and IF the derogation is granted it would be under strict conditions which the hunters would have to adhere to.
Why is Mr Farrugia so sure that the EU will grant a derogation? Isn't he just raising false hopes amongst his membership? If the derogation is not granted, his position as secretary will surely be untenable.
As we have seen since the opening of the hunting season, hunters cannot even stick to the conditions they have been set.
Joe Genovese
Sep 23rd 2009, 12:07
Mr Farrugia I'm back to you earlier than I expected.
Remember me?
You really don't remember? Go back a few days and find : "The best-laid trap ever concocted by any member of FKNK pales into significance compared with the one you are pussyfooting your way into."
My, my.
We're still in the opening days of autumn and look what you're faced with.
What's it going to be like when the hunters themselves spring the trap in....Spring.?
Richard Cachia Zammit
Sep 23rd 2009, 11:55
One thing that Mr Farrugia did not mention is the fact that the Birdlife Malta Raptor Camp kicked off on the 12th September. So it is not a case, as Mr Farrugia is trying to imply, that Raptor Camp participants suddenly escalated reports of illegalities as soon as they heard the ECJ verdict. Before the 10th and up to the 11th, the camp had not even yet started. Now that the camp is in full swing, the participants are reporting illegalities as always, because here in Malta, such illegalities are so common that cannot be missed. I wonder if Mr Farrugia has heard about the two Black Storks shot down last Sunday evening in the vicinity of Buskett. I just hope that now the FKNK will take illegal hunting seriously because as I have always said, the real enemy for the Maltese hunter is not BLM but those many irresponsible shooters who roam our countryside.
J. Borg
Sep 23rd 2009, 11:25
“Whilst always condemning illegal hunting…..”(we try to find some excuse or divert attention)
“….now more than ever…” may FKNK publicly state how many reports about illegal hunting it lodged with the police….how many names and car registration-numbers it has handed over so that the police may take action to round up the sick minds brandishing a shotgun and shooting at anything?
May FKNK explain why so many (protected) dead birds were found within the “hunting-reserve” it manages – does FKNK know who hunts there? Is there one “law-abiding” hunter amongst them? And if so, why didn’t he/she reported the criminal acts that were committed within FKNK’s reserve?
These illegalities are uncovered simply because currently we have a group of dedicated persons whose “delizzju” is protecting birds for others to enjoy (but not kill).
It shows how ALE “entrusted” to control and deter such abuses, is so understaffed that it's a sick joke to expect illegal hunters to get apprehended.
And all FKNK can do in the meantime is to rest our minds that such sick hunters will be suspended….guess initiatives to set up observation teams and identify these culprits is a bold step to far for FKNK to take…….
carmelo aquilina
Sep 23rd 2009, 10:57
So is the FKNK going to translate its zero tolerance policy into action... how many reports has it submitted reporting poachers to the police and asking for a lifetime ban on repeat offenders ? Stop making excuses and start acting... maybe start with Mizieb where your members seem to be killing protected species ?