FKNK confident PM will 'do the right thing' for hunters
The Federation for Hunting and Conservation has deplored what it described as the arrogant attempt by BirdLife Malta and its parent organisation to 'intimidate' the Maltese Prime Minister.
In a statement, the FKNK referred to the international campaign launched by BirdLife International against the illegal killing of protected birds and against spring hunting.
It said:
“We trust that Dr Gonzi will rise to the occasion and resist this unjust pressure from an organisation that plainly considers itself to be above the law.
“This time, the Maltese government has the backing of the European Court of Justice, as well as the total support of the hunting organisations and all the law-abiding hunters and their families.
“In the interest of justice and transparency, there is no doubt that Dr Gonzi will do the right thing for his people, especially the hunters, whose status as equal citizens within the EU is now restored and endorsed by none other than Europe’s top judicial body,” the FKNK said.
The FKNK reiterated its condemnation of illegal killing of protected birds and reaffirmed its resolve for zero tolerance in that respect.
“Our commitment is publicly known. It is evidenced by our total co-operation with the forces of law and order, and by our recent call for the appointment of marshals to supervise the various hunting zones of the Maltese islands during the spring season.
“Therefore, as regards the illegal killing of protected birds, nobody should be in any doubt that we stand four-square with the law enforcers,” the federation said.
The FKNK said that when it came to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) Case, the federation said it was very clear that BirdLife was purposely trying to confuse the spring-hunting issue to give the public the wrong impression.
“As is well known, the EU Commission had brought the case against Malta because it believed that autumn provided an alternative satisfactory solution to spring hunting.
“The ECJ ruled against Malta for the years 2004 – 2007 for allowing spring hunting to take place in those years through a derogation that was incorrectly applied.”
Illegal shooting of protected bird species was never, and at no point, part of the ECJ case, the FKNK said.
“The ECJ’s verdict vindicated the hunters’ argument that, in the particular case of Malta, autumn hunting is by far not a satisfactory solution alternative to spring hunting in respect of quails and turtle-doves.”
The decision, the FKNK said, paved the way for the Maltese government to open spring hunting, albeit within the parameters of the Birds Directive.
The government had an ethical obligation and a moral duty to open a limited and strictly supervised spring-hunting season this year, the hunters' federation added.
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Jason Borg
Oct 31st 2010, 20:16
This is what our heroes think of Dottor Gonzi and his party.
http://kaccaturi.com/eddie.html
Lovely stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kenneth Cassar
Jan 22nd 2010, 11:00
@ M Cardona:
By your own definition, Franco Farrugia is certainly not egoistic. It is just that you cannot understand that in "others" we also include sentient non-human animals.
So Franco, far from having a lack of consideration for others, goes out of his way to defend them.
M. Cardona
Jan 20th 2010, 16:05
@Franco Farrugia
May I quote your ,"People know who is egoistic in his/her assertions and who is not."
May I also highlight the concept of "egoism" which equates to "lack of consideration for others"
Now may I once more quote your kind self''s assertion elsewhere
where despite it being a completely unrelated topic you nonetheless grasped the opportunity to vent your inconsiderate logic, "Which brings me to my conclusion, therefore: that guns are in the hands or, they are around a certain kind of people. There are too many guns around and there should be a major cleanup of weapons!"
vide http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100120/local/man-grievously-injured-by-gunshot
Dear Mr Farrugia, may I conclude that you are so correct when stating "People know who is egoistic in his/her assertions and who is not."
Franco Farrugia
Jan 20th 2010, 13:56
Kenneth, as usual, well done for your factual comments. People in general, the silent majority, we call it nowadays, are aware as to who promotes peace and who is against it. People know who is egoistic in his/her assertions and who is not. Your comments are far from 'ridiculous'.
Andrea Damato
Jan 20th 2010, 12:07
@ M.Williams
With your reasoning and as you don't like or better you hate hunting, we should also hold a referendum on village feasts, a referendum on horse drivern carts in our streets, a referendum on fishing, a referendum on driving in our roads and the list goes on and on............
As a citizen, there are many things that I don't like and that I don't agree with in this country but which are a pastime to/or liked by others and being tolerant to LEGALLY practised activities is a democratic value.
So please stop this moaning abolishionist nonsense about hunting. As long as same is practised within the parameters of the law, it's just another hobby/activity of thousands of fellow citizens and should be left as such. As regards illegalities, these occur in all things in life and are to be left to be dealt with by the competent enforcment authorities.
Kenneth Cassar
Jan 20th 2010, 12:04
@ Anthony Formosa:
1. The claim that all birders are influenced by BLM is a gross exaggeration. I am confident that many foreign birders have not even heard of BLM. In any case, one cannot blame the actions of anyone on anyone else unless it can be proven that the actions of one necessarily came as a result of the actions of another.
2. Regarding 110. (1), this article refers to persons and not organisations. In any case, one would have to prove (in court) the false testimony (which is what this law is about). If regarding the Mizieb case, BLM are already accusing hunters, they are not "above the law to judge". They would be if they mentioned names.
Phil Humphries
Jan 20th 2010, 12:00
Thank you to those bloggers who took the time to answer my serious and reasonable request for information in the spirit it was intended. I am both grateful and enlightened.
M. Cardona
Jan 20th 2010, 11:27
# 4
The issue was the principle of proportionality whereby The Court declared that “66 ….interpreted in the light of the principle of proportionality and, accordingly, has failed to fulfil its obligations under that directive.”
Within this context, Malta breached Article 9 (1) of the directive i.e. the derogation applied was not proportionate and consequently the Court ruled that “68 Having regard to the foregoing considerations, it must be held that, by having authorised the opening of a hunting season for quails (Coturnix coturnix) and turtle doves (Streptopelia turtur) during the spring of 2004 to 2007, without complying with the conditions laid down in Article 9(1) of the Directive, the Republic of Malta has failed to fulfil its obligations under that directive.”
http://curia.europa.eu/jurisp/cgi-bin/form.pl?lang=en&Submit=Rechercher&alldocs=alldocs&docj=docj&docop=docop&docor=docor&docjo=docjo&numaff=C-76/08%20&datefs=&datefe=&nomusuel=&domaine=&mots=&resmax=100
M. Cardona
Jan 20th 2010, 11:26
# 4
The issue was the principle of proportionality whereby The Court declared that “66 ….interpreted in the light of the principle of proportionality and, accordingly, has failed to fulfil its obligations under that directive.”
Within this context, Malta breached Article 9 (1) of the directive i.e. the derogation applied was not proportionate and consequently the Court ruled that “68 Having regard to the foregoing considerations, it must be held that, by having authorised the opening of a hunting season for quails (Coturnix coturnix) and turtle doves (Streptopelia turtur) during the spring of 2004 to 2007, without complying with the conditions laid down in Article 9(1) of the Directive, the Republic of Malta has failed to fulfil its obligations under that directive.”
http://curia.europa.eu/jurisp/cgi-bin/form.pl?lang=en&Submit=Rechercher&alldocs=alldocs&docj=docj&docop=docop&docor=docor&docjo=docjo&numaff=C-76/08%20&datefs=&datefe=&nomusuel=&domaine=&mots=&resmax=100
M. Cardona
Jan 20th 2010, 11:25
# 3
Court finding
“54 Consequently, the two species at issue are in fact present in autumn in the areas open for spring hunting.
55 However, that finding alone is not sufficient for it to be held that there is another ‘satisfactory solution’ within the meaning of Article 9(1) of the Directive.
56 The Community legislature, by using the expression ‘other satisfactory solution’, did not intend to prevent use of the derogation laid down in Article 9(1)(c) of the Directive where any opportunity whatsoever exists of hunting during the open seasons authorised under Article 7 of the Directive, but sought to permit derogations from that provision, only so far as necessary, where hunting opportunities during those periods, in the present case in the autumn, are so limited as to upset the balance sought by the Directive between the protection of species and certain leisure activities.
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.”
M. Cardona
Jan 20th 2010, 11:24
# 2
“37 The Republic of Malta takes the view that the opening of the spring hunting season for quails and turtle doves in its territory meets the conditions laid down in Article 9(1) of the Directive.
38 It observes that, in Case C 182/02 Ligue pour la protection des oiseaux and Others [2003] ECR I 12105, paragraph 9, the Court held that Article 9(1) of the Directive authorises hunting during periods when it is, in principle, prohibited. It states that there is, in the present case, no ‘other satisfactory solution’ within the meaning of that provision. Firstly, the spring period cannot, by definition, be regarded as extending the autumn period. Secondly, the lack of any other satisfactory solution does not refer to the lack of any alternative solution, but to the lack of any acceptable and sufficiently appropriate solution in relation to the objective pursued, that is to say, in the present case, permitting the capture and a judicious exploitation of the birds in small quantities, while maintaining a well-established tradition.”
M. Cardona
Jan 20th 2010, 11:22
# 1
It is evident that a number of contributors are highly misinformed. For their kind enlightenment following reproduced are highlight excerpts of the
JUDGMENT OF THE COURT (Second Chamber)
10 September 2009 (*)
(Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations – Admissibility – Conservation of wild birds – Directive 79/409/EEC – Spring hunting – Prohibition – Derogation from the system of protection – Condition that there be no ‘other satisfactory solution’ – Legitimate expectations)
In Case C 76/08,
“25 The Commission states that…….
“28 After recalling that Article 9(1) of the Directive permits derogation from the prohibition in Article 7 of hunting migratory species during their return to their rearing grounds only ‘if there is no other satisfactory solution’, the Commission asserts that that requirement is not satisfied in the present case.”
“30 Furthermore, where the birds hunted are present, even in limited numbers, during a period of the year when hunting is authorised under the Directive, the condition that there be no other satisfactory solution is not met”
M.SAID
Jan 20th 2010, 07:46
@Phil
After all your request is not serious at all!!!!!!!!
First......it is still open season till last of January,
2nd.........maybe there was clay shooting in l ahrax, sporting competition!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So , as I say to all those who dont understand a thing in our hobby.......................get your facts right before writing comments here. It would be much better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kenneth Cassar
Jan 20th 2010, 07:22
@ Anthony Formosa:
Nice try.
1. The claim that all birders are influenced by BLM is a gross exaggeration. I am confident that many foreign birders have not even heard of BLM. In any case, one cannot blame the actions of anyone on anyone else unless it can be proven that the actions of one necessarily came as a result of the actions of another.
2. Regarding 110. (1), this article refers to persons and not organisations. In any case, one would have to prove (in court) the false testimony (which is what this law is about). If regarding the Mizieb case, BLM are already accusing hunters, they are not "above the law to judge". They would be if they mentioned names.
N Xuereb
Jan 20th 2010, 06:37
@ Mr. Paul Barett; Have you considered that all around the EU and the rest of the world, each country has its own laws and derogations and all have a legal quarry which they can shoot or trap in Spring. Each country has its own reasons like Malta. The EJC confirmed that Autumn is not an alternative, so it has to be limited time in Spring. And have you considered that in all EU states the hunters shoot at the birds as soon as they fly off the nest.
N Xuereb
Jan 20th 2010, 06:33
@ Mr. Phil Humphries: Christmas day is open in the morning and only closed season after 1pm. The list of legal quarry involves 32 species, and during December period practically all of them can be encountered. Also, Mellieha is home to 3 shooting ranges, trap, sporting and live quail, so it could have been anyone within the parameters of the law.
Chris Finch
Jan 19th 2010, 23:01
Are the hunters and their sycophant reading a different version of the ECJ ruling which states:
"The Court has clarified that the spring hunting season in Malta which resulted in a mortality rate for that period some three times higher for quails and eight times higher for turtle doves than for the autumn hunting season did not constitute an adequate solution that was strictly proportionate to the aim of conserving bird species."
So where in there does it say that hunting can be permitted in Spring? The hunters should stop giving their members false hope and instead develop the conservation arm of its membership (after all it is in the organisations title). Maybe hold a photographic competition focussing on the spring migration.
r sammut
Jan 19th 2010, 21:55
@Phil Humphries
Just to answer your request about Christmas day. The Malta autumn season spans from September 1st till January 31st of the following year! Apart the closing at 1.00 pm on Sundays and public holidays the season is open even on days as Christmas and New Year.
In all probability the shooting you heard was on starlings. Starlings while being one of the 32 species of legal game are also considered as pests. They may be dangerous to planes, in their habit of flocking near and around airports!
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Jan 19th 2010, 21:44
Phil Humphries
Have you just awakened. Christmas is nearly a month old and the subject happens to be hunting.
We all know it's the Lords birthday and that hunting on that day is permissable on all legal quarry. So what exactly are you on about?
C Williams
Jan 19th 2010, 21:43
@ Andrew Gatt
I am an abolishionist of bird killing. I am not an extremist manipulator or bigot and certainly not funded by the EU, Does the FKNK receive any funding from the Maltese government, i.e. the tax-payer? If so, how much? If anything can be described as 'diseased', it is a mind that gets pleasure (a passion they call it!) from killing defenceless creatures.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Jan 19th 2010, 20:45
M Williams, are you aware that the "silent majority" includes those who are not hunters, like myself, BUT defend the rights of the Maltese Hunters?! As for the referendum, I refer you to the EU Referendum for Accession which amongst others included the continuance of Spring Hunting.
Hello Phil Humphries!! The Hunting Season is open till end of January. Therefore the shots you heard were legal. This is the stuff the blinkered anti's are made of!!!
Anthony Formosa
Jan 19th 2010, 20:44
@ Phil Humphries, Shooting on Starling to minimize the risks to airlines and passengers. Did you hear the PBS news today?
Franco Farrugia
Jan 19th 2010, 20:42
It's not towards hunters that the PM should 'do the right thing' but toward all the Maltese people, present and future, for the sustainability of the environment and for the natural right of birds to live their own lives in peace.
Johnny Xerri
Jan 19th 2010, 20:38
On various occasions bird watchers have trespassed and caused damage on my land. I don't care if they are BLM members, just like the antis don't care if a poacher is a member of FKNK or not.
FKNK is not the only hunting federation that includes conservation in its title. BASC the British association for shooting and conservation is an example. Furthermore, who plants most trees, waters them, rebuilds rubble walls, and regenerates habitats?
As for the claim of bird watchers and the general public being muscled out of the countryside, please not that Buskett, Chadwick lakes, Ta' Qali, Kennedy Grove, Simar, Ghadira, Luqa airport environs, Xaghra l- hamra commino, xatt l ahmar, Dwejra, Armir, and other places, plus 200mt from buildings, 50mt from main roads and many bays are no hunting zones. Whenever, I go to these places, except on Sunday afternoons they are hardly visited, and one finds more people at Buggiba and Bay Street on Sunday afternoon then in these places.
Moreover, by including spring hunting in the referendum and electoral manifesto, which was the winning manifesto, government is duty bound to open the season. Any incitement to ban it is undemocratic to say the least
Phil Humphries
Jan 19th 2010, 20:13
This is a serious request....
I would be grateful if any of the hunters that regularly contribute to these pages could kindly inform me what species (of animal or bird) it was legal to shoot last Christmas morning?
I am assuming it must be legal to shoot something on the day when most of us celebrate Our Lord's birthday, because the air around Mellieha bristled with the sound of gunshots.
M Williams
Jan 19th 2010, 20:00
@ Stefan Micallef
Who are you to say that 'most of general public just don't care about birds or nature' - haven't you ever heard about the 'silent majority'? Just because people do not write in the newspapers, it does not mean that they do not care about nature, or that they don't appreciate the freedom of being able to walk along country roads without risking being showered with lead, or at the least being shouted at by someone brandishing a firearm; or having the freedom to have a lie-in without being rudely awakened by shots any time from two hours before dawn!
Maybe it's about time a referendum was held to find out what people really feel about this issue. If Mr Micallef and other pro hunting advocates are so convinced that the majority of Maltese people do not care about nature, surely they will not object to deciding the issue once and for all in this democratic manner.
Anthony Formosa
Jan 19th 2010, 19:28
@ Kenneth Cassar, All birders are influenced by BLM, and that is the tip of the iceberg. When the ECJ proved BLM wrong that Autumn is not an alternative, then obviously it is a deciet, and twisting of facts.
Read
110. (1) Kull min bil-qerq johloq jew igieghel jidher li donnu
hemm fatt jew cirkostanza, sabiex dan il-fatt jew cirkostanza jkunu
jistghu ’l quddiem jiswew bi prova kontra persuna ohra, bil-hsieb li
b’hekk din il-persuna tkun tista’ tigi kontra s-sewwa akkuzata jew
misjuba hatja ta’ reat, jehel, meta jinsab hati, bhala xhud falz, bilmod
kif jinghad fl-artikoli ta’ qabel ta’ dan is-sub-titolu.
If the Mizieb case is still under police investigation, how come BLM are already accusing hunters, are they above the law to judge? We read many stories of what activists are capable to do to reach their objectives. Remember the picture of the dead Marsh Harrier downloaded from the internet?
Read
(2) Kull min jiddenunzja lill-Pulizija Esekuttiva reat li jaf li ma
sarx, inkella bil-qerq johloq it-tracci ta’ reat b’mod li jistghu
jinbdew proceduri kriminali sabiex jizguraw li dak ir-reat kien sar,
jehel, meta jinsab hati, il-piena ta’ prigunerija ghal zmien ta’ mhux
aktar minn sena
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Jan 19th 2010, 18:45
I just cannot comprehend how the anti's expect us readers (non-hunters) to believe what IN THEIR OPINION they consider as being true. Sorry, I prefer sticking to facts, namely:
1. BLM have been exposed of three untruths by the ECJ, i.e. that their statements that Malta is on a main migratory route, the turtle-dove and quail are threatened and that Autumn is an alternative to Spring Hunting ARE ALL FALSE.
2. BLI signed an undertaking that they will abide by the ECJ ruling and they are now not keeping their word;
3. BLM tried to make us believe that the ECJ ruling was in their favour, however they are now in a panic seeing that the Spring Hunting Season may be opened and in their frenzy are unjustly tarnishing Malta's image;
THESE ARE FACTS!!
True Maltese citizens expect the Maltese Government to:
1. take action against all those who are inflating matters in order to tarnish our dear Malta's image;
2. open the Spring Hunting Season using the tools provided by the ECJ;
3. educate those who because of their blinkers are unable to see the situation in its true perspective.
Kenneth Cassar
Jan 19th 2010, 17:41
@ Anthony Formosa:
A member on the internet forum you gave a link to, did say "I will kill a Maltese (hunter or not) for every bird slaughtered". And you would be right in saying that this person would consider himself above the law if he acted on what he wrote. And to be honest, your quote doesn't surprise me. You will find such crackpots in most internet forums.
However, I don't think this non-Maltese person is a Birdlife member.
So again, I expect the FKNK to substantiate its serious allegation that Birdlife Malta considers itself above the law. Despite your feeble attempt, you have failed to justify or substantiate FKNK's serious allegation.
salvu abela
Jan 19th 2010, 17:33
It`s like asking the Government to stop all discos and parties because people get drunk and cause fatal accidents and drug overdose. I sometimes wonder what would happen if thousands of birds will start nesting in the Maltese country-side, I guess that the greenies will ask the Government to stop the farmers from farming their land and people from taking walks in the country-side .
Paul Barrett
Jan 19th 2010, 17:31
I may be wrong here but from the way I understand it, we have to apply annually to the EU for an exemption to allow spring hunting.
If we have not applied or the application is refused, then spring hunting cannot take place, this is irrespective of the interpretation of the ruling of the European Court of Justice which referred to the years 2004-2007 and not a ruling to allow spring hunting in later years.
Have the hunters considered that if these birds are not shot in the Spring i.e., before they breed, they may have considerably more to shoot at in the Autumn.
stefan micallef
Jan 19th 2010, 17:28
Anthony Mizzi: hunting is also conservation if it wasnt for the hunters lots of land would be all buildings and hunters also plant alot of trees and built rubbel walls.P. Camilleri:there are moro hunters then birdwatchers and people like that most of general public just dont care about birds or nature just admit that.
C Mallia
Jan 19th 2010, 17:08
Totally agree with J Bonnici. There are simply too many hunters in our countryside.
In addition FKNK is basing all its moral and ethical stance on only a small part of the ECJ ruling and an outdated, purely political, pre-referendum promise. Malta lost its case. Thats a fact no one can deny. The ruling was a judgement about 2007 and 2008. The ruling only may have a bearing on the future of spring hunting, but it is not conclusive, as FKNK try to depict, that its guaranteed.
To say BLM is above the law, it would be interesting to know which law exactly BLM are not respecting or breaking. FKNK can you please specify? While on the subject of law breakers, the same poachers, whom the FKNK are very keen to downplay, have broken the law repeatedly for so many years without any serious commitment from both the FKNK and the authorities. As Rome was not built in one day, so is reputation and track records.
FKNK has not intimidated the PM before? Has it not infact intimidated all voters with their threats in the last election knowing that they may shift power? How easily they forget.
Edgar S. Galea
Jan 19th 2010, 16:39
What about those people who like to watch birds in transit? Should these people stay indoors regretting that they cannot fulfil their ambition because others, on the pretext of hunting, kill these poor creatures that only God knows from which country they migrated!
Chris Finch
Jan 19th 2010, 16:39
In no way did the ECJ pave the way for the opening of the spring hunting season. The leaders of the hunting lobbys are seriously misguiding their members.
The ECj did say that the autumn season wasn't a replacement for the spring season but it then crucially continued its statement with the word 'However' and went on to state that this was no reason to allow a spring season.
It is this paragraph that the hunting leaders are with holding from their members.
The rest of Malta is confident that the PM will cave in to hunters' demands to the detriment of the rest of the population. It is time the PM and other political parties stood up to these people.
J. Borg
Jan 19th 2010, 16:30
FKNK are trying to raise their members' expectations that they will be shooting birds come Spring.....
One wonders to whom they will be pointing fingers - when this expectation fails to materialise.....
Ethical & Moral obligation ... sure there is.....to free the countryside and our islands from thugs shooting and carrying guns around.
(Autumn) Hunting like all other activities should be restricted to specific areas - which will be truely effectrively controlled and not donate our islands (except for 50 mtrs from roads) to a couple of hundred hunters.
As for FKNK's claim that Autumn is no alternative...guess they are basing this on their OWN members' declarations - quite objective and without vested interest indeed!
P. Camilleri
Jan 19th 2010, 16:21
'Do the right thing for hunters'???? since when does the hunters' interest preceed the general interest? The PM should listen to the population's pulse and not to the loud cries and threats of fanatics!
Andrew Gatt
Jan 19th 2010, 16:17
@ J Bonnici...........the "plague" you mention is an apt description of the abolitionists, extremists, manipulators and EU funded bigots who seem to think that, because they disagree with hunting, they have some god-given right to ban it. A diseased bunch indeed!
Henry Fenech Azzopardi
Jan 19th 2010, 16:14
BIRDLIFE AND ANTIS PLEASE NOTE:
THE EUROPEAN UNION DID NOT TAKE MALTA TO THE EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE BECUASE OF ILLEGAL HUNTING. THIS WAS NEVER AN ISSUE AND AT NO STAGE WAS IT EVER CONSIDERED.
Therefore Spring Hunting is considered like any other season for all it matters and should and will be opened according to the judgement delivered by the EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE.
I strongly believe that Birdlife should join in the introduction of the marshals if they really want to stop the poachers. Spring Hunting is about to be opened, so stop moaning and join the forces to stop illegal activity.
N Xuereb
Jan 19th 2010, 16:10
First BLM said that 'they won' after the EJC ruling, and that Spring hunting can never happen, now they publicly confirmed that the derogation is possible since the autumn migration is not an option. They are in panic mode cause they know that our Prime Minister will stick to the EJC ruling as he promised.
J Buttigieg
Jan 19th 2010, 16:01
Dear all remove all cars from the road so nearly 100 peoply a year dont die ,dont eat meat so you dont kill animals ,then remove all your hobby and then talk .you will talk good then.
Anthony Mizzi
Jan 19th 2010, 15:58
How can a Hunting Federation label itself as Conservationist as well?
It can only happen in Malta with a Federation calling itself a Hunting and Conservation Federation.
Who chooses such titles? We'd have the FKNK calling itself pro-life next.
Anthony Formosa
Jan 19th 2010, 15:58
@Kenneth Cassar, The serious allegations were made by BLM, these allegations incurred costs to the government of Malta to prove them wrong, and eventually turned down by the ECJ verdict. You have to be above the law to say that " I will kill a Maltese (hunter or not) for every bird slaughtered.
http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5799
J.Bonnici
Jan 19th 2010, 15:51
The right thing would be to stop all new licences and hopefully with time we'll start getting rid of this plague once and for all.
Henry Fenech Azzopardi
Jan 19th 2010, 15:44
Birdlife International together with BLMalta have finally been exposed by FKNK with regards to the buildup of sensational photos, inflated numbers of birds found in Miziep and continous unfounded reports of illegal hunting.
It is no longer a matter of ILLEGAL SPRING HUNTING due to bird breeding. They lost their argument in the ECJ and have now been planning an agenda stating that Spring Huning should not be opened due to illegal activity.
This is totally unacceptable.The only way that illegal activity may be controlled is through the presence of the law abiding hunters, who know quite well that their cooperation to report poachers will help the authorities to keep the hunting seasons opened.
On the contrary if the seasons are not opened no hunter is prepared to wake up in the morning and report any illegalities. The poachers will have a free hand to act illegally.
Bird life have lost all credibility. The facts, which are confirmed by the police are that illegal activities are less than last year and with the help of the marshalls these will be even reduced.
I expect more sensational report in the press in the near future. I shall be proved right soon.
Kenneth Cassar
Jan 19th 2010, 15:36
@ S Mizzi:
1. The verdict is not irrevocable because regulations can change with changing circumstances.
2. Challenging a verdict by legal means does not make one "above the law". In a democracy, everyone has the right to challenge verdicts and laws by legal means.
So again, I expect the FKNK to substantiate its serious allegation that Birdlife Malta considers itself above the law.
Andrew Gatt
Jan 19th 2010, 15:31
Here go Birdlife again, crying to mummy at the EU, demanding this, insinuating that and implying the other!
Just accept the ECJ Ruling like you SAID YOU WOULD and accept that your lies have come home to roost. The rubbish that Quail and Turtle Doves are endangered. The rubbish that Autumn is an alternative to Spring hunting. The rubbish that Malta is on some main migration route. The rubbish that Spring Hunting is illegal. The rubbish about fines galore. All a load of garbage! Stop harming Malta through your cynical and manipulative media campaigns, using a few incidents to throw mud and collective blame. Government should sue you to Brussels and back for the harm your foreign executives are doing to Malta, and you have the cheek to make more "demands".
Lanqas tisthu! Qazziztuna issa. Il-verdett kien car. Halluna bil-kwiet ingawdu t-tradizzjoni taghna - il-kacca LEGALI fir-Rebbiegha, kif imweghda mill-Gvern, kif suppost u skond deroga applikata b'mod korrett.
M. Galea
Jan 19th 2010, 15:31
"Whether hunting is right or wrong, a spiritual experience, or an outlet for the killer instinct, one thing it is not is a sport. Sport is when individuals or teams compete against each other under equal circumstances to determine who is better at a given game or endeavor. Hunting will be a sport when deer, elk, bears, and ducks are…given 12-gauge shotguns. Bet we'd see a lot fewer drunk yahoos (live ones, anyway) in the woods if that happened.”—R. Lerner, letter, Sierra, March-April 1991
A Cassar
Jan 19th 2010, 15:24
Hunters never believe that they are above the law.....they always abide by the law. Sometimes when hunters shoot at an eagle by mistake they run off with it to the police station to turn themselves in. True law abiding citizens they are!!!
Hunting is virtually synonymous with legality!!!!!
Anthony Farrugia
Jan 19th 2010, 15:16
Mr Prime Minister, Please do the right thing for hunters and abolish hunting and trapping 365 days a year !
Pawlu Bonnici
Jan 19th 2010, 15:14
Stop condemning and start acting because protected birds are still being shot down. All your fellow members should be "marshalls" since all of them are law abiding hunters and are the majority according to your organisation but for some reason or another we hear the same old story year after year. How come you say that poachers are in their minority and yet you never manage to control the problem?
S Mizzi
Jan 19th 2010, 15:12
Well Mr Cassar, the ECJ verdict (which incidentally, BLM said it would respect and uphold), is clear and unequivocal and clearly states that from a Maltese perspective, Autumn hunting for the two species in question is not a satisfactory alternative to Spring hunting. If BLI and BLM are now challenging this verdict , which by the way is irrevocable, cannot be appealed and therefore final, then they really do consider themselves above the law. I would say its a fair statement to make.
Kenneth Cassar
Jan 19th 2010, 14:57
"...from an organisation that plainly considers itself to be above the law".
Could the FKNK kindly substantiate this serious allegation?