Hunters tell Prime Minister to abide by European Court ruling
The hunters' federation, FKNK, is calling on Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to publicly abide by the European Court of Justice's ruling that had justified limited spring hunting.
"The Maltese hunters' status as equal citizens within the EU, now endorsed by none other than Europe's top judicial body, expects that you apply the spring hunting derogation fully in terms of the Birds Directive, no more and no less," the federation said in an open letter.
FKNK assured Dr Gonzi of its full backing and urged him to ensure the "strict enforcement of the hunting regulations without fear or favour".
It responded to BirdLife Malta's claims on the conservation status of turtle doves and quails and the inadequacy of the autumn season as a satisfactory alternative solution to spring hunting and trapping.
The federation said the ECJ decision "amply vindicated" the government's arguments that the two bird species enjoyed a healthy conservation status in the wild and, in the particular case of Malta, autumn was not a satisfactory alternative solution to spring hunting.
It reminded Dr Gonzi that the ECJ judgment was final and definitive and demolished the main contention of the EU Environment Commission. It also made the opening of a spring hunting season a justified necessity for Maltese hunters and trappers.
It said BirdLife Malta's campaign, featuring an orchestrated anti-spring hunting petition, stemmed "from its refusal to accept and abide by the findings of the ECJ". The illegal shooting of protected species was never part of the ECJ case and was irrelevant to the issue.
"We are certain you will recognise it for what it is: the manipulative confusing of public opinion by an organisation that plainly thinks it knows best," FKNK told Dr Gonzi.
The ECJ ruling had highlighted the "government's ethical and moral obligation to do justice to all the hunters and trappers and their families".
BirdLife Malta has initiated a petition, which received a worldwide response, to ban all forms of hunting in Malta. So far, over 22,000 people have signed it.
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Johnny Xerri
Jan 29th 2010, 21:22
@ R Curmi,
What massacres may I ask?
If you are referring to protected species kindly update yourself, since:
1.FKNK & hunters have never lobbied for seasons on protected birds.
2.Illegal hunting was never an issue in the ECJ court case and has nothing to do with legal hunting, just like road rage has nothing to do with normal drivers, and bogus lawyers have nothing to do with sincere lawyers, and pedophiles have nothing to do with normal adults.
3.Please not that illegal hunting has never hindered other countries from applying derogations.
4.BLM or any anti must prove massacres. Showing a photo of a bird every day for 365 days a year (although bad) can hardly be termed a massacre. A massacre would run into hundreds of birds, not as BLM claimed 187. Come on 187 from 17000 hunters that’s 1.1%
If the massacres you refer to is the legal game bags, I'd say grow up I killed more birds on a 5 day hunting trip last spring in the UK in which I bagged app 387 wood pigeons, 17 crows and a few other pest species, than in 10 years hunting in Malta
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Jan 28th 2010, 19:16
R Curmi, can you elaborate on what you are basing your calculations? Bear in mind that the 22,000 signatures collected by BLM include foreigners. Not to mention BLM's email, packed with inaccuracies, urging individuals to sign the petition! Many Maltese citizens are not bothered at all with hunting.
Meanwhile, the Maltese Government is expected to open the Spring Hunting Season, using the tools provided by the ECJ ruling!
r cumri
Jan 28th 2010, 17:38
you must have had a drink or 2 Mr Xuereb if u think that 140000 of maltese popluation is in favour of your massacres
N Xuereb
Jan 28th 2010, 12:16
Regarding the last paragraph about the worldwide 22,000 signatures in the petition by Birdlife, I think its meaningless. The online pol by the times always showed how accurate it is, and this time, those in favour of hunting in spring was 35%, that is 140,000 of Malta's population. Dr. Gonzi should take good note of this result and his promise to stick to the EJC decision unless he wants to see a similar result in the next elections.