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.