Joseph M. Mangion, president, BirdLife Malta, Ta' Xbiex
Unfounded allegations about BirdLife
Mario Vella in his letter BirdLife Malta And 2010 Spring Hunting (October 9) replicated false information stated by Mark Mifsud Bonnici, secretary of Kaċċaturi San Ubertu (September 24). BirdLife Malta has already corrected the misinformation given in the first letter by Mr Mifsud Bonnici, through a letter signed by BirdLife Malta's campaign coordinator Geoffrey Saliba but since the same libellous claims were published again, we are obliged to set the record straight.
Both Mr Vella and Mr Mifsud Bonnici claim that I had stated in 2003 that BirdLife "expected the government to at least allow hunting in spring of turtle dove and quail". This is not true.
What both hunters are actually referring to is not a BirdLife Malta statement but a press release issued by the FKNK in March 2008, where the federation twisted BirdLife's statement to their advantage.
BirdLife's statement in 2003 had read: "If protected birds are being shot in autumn when hunting is allowed, how can we reasonably foresee that the law will be observed in spring when hunters and trappers are expected to target 'only' two species, the turtle dove and quail? ... BirdLife Malta has made it clear from the outset that it opposes the granting of any concessions [derogations] that are against the spirit and provisions of the EU Birds Directive."
It was a letter BirdLife Malta had sent to the Prime Minister, Eddie Fenech Adami, in September 2003 drawing attention to the illegal killing of protected species in both autumn and spring that year. A month later, BirdLife Malta had held a press conference in which a statement was issued based on the letter sent to the Prime Minister.
In March 2008 FKNK published a brief summary of BirdLife's press release while trying to pass the statement off as the original version.
The FKNK version of the press release and what Mr Bonnici and Mr Vella claimed in their letters published in this paper stated that: "the Society [BirdLife] expects the government at least to implement what it negotiated namely: 1. to allow hunting in spring of turtle dove and quail only".
Nowhere in the BirdLife Malta press conference or in the letter sent to Dr Fenech Adami did BirdLife say that which the hunting lobby is shamelessly claiming.
The hunting lobby chose to paraphrase and edit BirdLife Malta's statement to suit its purposes, thereby continuing in its crusade to make unfounded allegations about BirdLife. This misrepresentation of material facts shows in no uncertain terms that the hunting lobby will stoop to the lowest of levels in its attempt to win sympathy.
The Maltese government did not have an agreement with the EU to allow spring hunting of turtle dove and quail - but Malta had expressed its intention to apply a derogation. The only agreement reached between the EU and the government was the phasing out of trapping of seven finch species, which expired at the end of 2008.
BirdLife Malta also repeatedly warned the government that Malta could end up at the European Court of Justice for allowing spring hunting and that it could lose the case. BirdLife's was proven right when Malta was found guilty by the ECJ for allowing spring hunting between 2004 and 2007.
It is striking to see how far the hunting lobby can go to maintain the unsustainable practice of spring hunting. They not only ignore the ECJ ruling but also resort to issuing fabricated statements. It is evident that legitimate hunters in this country need people to represent them who have the ability to understand what they read and stick to the facts rather than hiding behind smokescreens.
11 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Nov 5th 2009, 12:56
JBORG
"Those who live near the countryside can attest the number of shots that are fired in the early hours and throughout the day (no they are not related to vineyards) - thus either the birds this autumn have inexplicably surged in numbers"
I live in the countryside and also hunt. This season has been the worst in my 40 years of hunting. Good weather conditions have seen birds bypassing Malta entirely in their return migration. With the exception of one day in September and another in October the number of birds seen has been dismally poor. The number of birds caught even worse.
So what exactly are you referring to when you state hunters dilute numbers? What do you know about the number of birds killed apart from what your fertile imagination concots and what Birdlfie would have you believe.
You oppose hunting, you have every right to. But you have no right to accuse hunters of forging data. If you doubt what the hunters report as they have a vested interest you should equally doubt what Birdlfie report since they too have an interest in exagerrating matters.
J. Borg
Nov 4th 2009, 21:47
@ MMB
what i know is that the number of birds shot in autumn was compiled by the hunters themselves who have a vested interest to dilute the numbers (and different species) of birds killed.
Elementary my dear Watson!
r sammut
Nov 4th 2009, 20:02
‘BirdLife Malta also repeatedly warned the government that Malta could end up at the European Court of Justice for allowing spring hunting and that it could lose the case.’
How true of BirdLife; always warning the Government about this and that. They and their foreign management team seem to be at the helm to run the Malta affairs. It’s to their great disappointment that ECJ did not fine Malta heftily as also repeatedly warned by same BirdLife!
‘It is striking to see how far the hunting lobby can go to maintain the unsustainable practice of spring hunting.’
Wonder why all the fuss of unsustainable practice by BirdLife, if millions of birds are recorded migrating by none others than themselves!
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Nov 4th 2009, 18:57
It is truly a case of "L-ispizjar milli jkollu jaghtik"!! Having the ardour of asking the hunters' representatives to "stick to the facts rather than hiding behind smokescreens." ! Well, BLM have not as yet got over the ECJ ruling! M Mangion, what, may I ask, are facts?! Your statements that:
1. Malta is on a main migratory route?
2. The turtle-dove and quail are threatened species?
3. Autumn is an alternative to Spring Hunting?
Were the above 3 statements BLM's smokescreens?!
Sir, the above are objective observations from someone who is not a hunter!
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Nov 4th 2009, 18:12
J Borg
"Those who live near the countryside can attest the number of shots that are fired in the early hours and throughout the day (no they are not related to vineyards) - thus either the birds this autumn have inexplicably surged in numbers, or hunters have decided to down a cloud or two!"
What you hear now are shotst on game birds migrating during this period. So if you relate these shots to their being an alternative in autumn you really show how idiotic some anti hunters truly are. Not that I ever doubted it mind you.
There not being an alternative in autumn as confirmed by the ECJ ruling refers to Turtle Doves and quail that actually migrate during the month of September. But then what would you know about birds? So do carry on with your nonsense its the best entertainment ever.
David Borg Cardona
Nov 4th 2009, 16:38
@ Joe Mangion...
Your letter shows once again that its "sour grapes" in BLM's camp... The ECJ has blatantly washed both your battle cries that turtle doves and quails are endangered and that Malta is an avifauna haven spot on the middle of the Central Mediterranean Flyway.. Nothing could be further from the truth !!!
And yet you persist in twisting facts to suit your convenience.. Something which your organisation has been doing for ages I'm afraid. Sensationalism, half truths and vile exagerations seem to be the mantra for you lot.. I wonder what would have been your reaction if the court's decision was otherwise. Is it so difficult for you to fathom that the ECJ's ruling has left us hunters with the possibility to have a spring season open with certain restrictions which we are ALL prepared to accept.
The people representing us (FKNK) do have the ability to understand and have always presented us the facts black on white.. unlike BLM who seem to excel in inflaming the whole situation over and over again !!! Your foreign management team has only managed to bring the situation between FKNK & BLM to an all time low. Incredible !!!
Henry Fenech Azzopardi
Nov 4th 2009, 14:11
Why is so difficult to accept a European Court Of Justice Judgement? Autumn is no alternative season for Spring and The Malta Government may apply the much awaited derogation to allow spring hunting in a more controlled manner to result in less number of turtle doves/quails caught. May I suggest you concentrate on illegal hunting and let the legal hunters exercise their option to hunt turtle doves/quails. Maybe we shall soon see a correction of the Tshirts worn, only this time these will be worn by hunters.
J. Borg
Nov 4th 2009, 13:53
@ MMB
the only flying species that are not endangered in Malta are flies and mosquitoes
and maybe so since they are too small for hunters to lash out their lethal, noisy and polluting "hobby" on.
Mentioning the ECJ decision, one wonders what "strict controls" hunters can "tolerate" considering that they are outnumbered and/or coward enough not to report their criminal peers when they persist in breaking the law.
Those who live near the countryside can attest the number of shots that are fired in the early hours and throughout the day (no they are not related to vineyards) - thus either the birds this autumn have inexplicably surged in numbers, or hunters have decided to down a cloud or two!
Andrew Gatt
Nov 4th 2009, 13:39
Coming from the experts in misinformation, exaggeration, untruths, sensationalism and hype, this sure is a case of the pot caling the kettle black! Mr Mangon, your foreign-led organization can give lessons about "unfounded allagations"! The same goes for your ban-all-hunting CABS buddies, whom I define as hunter-haters rather than birdlovers. Your own website is so packed with anti-hunting garbage there's hardly any mention of.....errr....birds?!
Go chew on the ECJ Court ruling some more. And guess what? It's final. No more rubbish about quail and turtle dove being endangered, please. No more fairy tales about the mythical super-migration-highway please.
Joe Camilleri
Nov 4th 2009, 10:36
Look who is talking about twisting statments.
Could Mr Mangion correct me if I say that birdlife used and still says that
1) Malta is in the main migrotary path
2) Autumn is an altenative for spring hunting ??
Both statments proved wrong by the ECJ verdict on the 10thSept.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Nov 4th 2009, 10:34
Mr. Mangion claims that "this country need people to represent them who have the ability to understand what they read and stick to the facts rather than hiding behind smokescreens." and that hunting associations " not only ignore the ECJ ruling but also resort to issuing fabricated statements."
He conveniently forgot to mention that Birdlife pledged to abide by the ECJ ruling, which specifically states with regards to derogation (63)" Having regard to those very specific circumstances, hunting for quails and turtle doves during the autumn hunting season cannot be regarded as constituting, in Malta, another satisfactory solution, so that the condition that there be no other satisfactory solution, laid down in Article 9(1) of the Directive, should, in principle, be considered met."
One of Birdlfie's main points of contention was that the Turtle Dove and quail are endangered species yet the court exposed this untruth (62)"from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species that the species in question are listed in the ‘least concern’ category.
Can Mr. Mangion please explain what else Birdlfie intends to add to the numerous smokescreens, untruths and fabricated statements already discredited by the ECJ judgement. What cheek.