FKNK hits back at CABS condemnation of Spring hunting
The hunters' federation (FKNK) said today that if German-based NGO CABS felt that the spring hunting season was "for some hunters an open invitation to illegally shoot birds of prey", the sensible fair solution would be to prosecute these so-called hunters.
Reacting to a statement issued by CAPS yesterday, FKNK said that to suggest that a spring hunting season should not be opened because of illegalities "is equivalent to suggesting that hunting seasons should never be opened because of possible illegalities."
The federation was reacting to a statement issued by CABS yesterday which condemned the governemnt decision to allow limited Spring hunting, It also said it would send 'bird guards' to Malta to monitor the situation.
The FKNK said CABS seemed concerned that turtle-doves and quails had "greatly declined in Germany".
"Seeing in this a good excuse for a working-holiday in Malta, the German organization is not bothered to look first into the cause(s) of the decline of the species in their own country. To imply that this is due to Maltese spring-hunting is a false assumption that has no basis in reality," it said.
"France has a high population of turtle-doves and 1,344,000 hunters, one of the highest numbers in the EU. Most of the turtle-doves breeding in France winter in western Africa, particularly in Senegal, where they are subjected to heavy shooting throughout the winter months. In spite of this intense persecution, far from declining, the large turtle-dove population in France is on the increase (BirdLife International - 2004). In Germany the species is protected. Therefore, there the cause of the decline of the turtle-dove in that country must be due to other factors unconnected with hunting."
The federation said that the Quail (Coturnix coturnix) is a prolific breeder whose secretive habits make it extremely difficult to arrive at a precise estimate of its populations. The species underwent a decline in the 1970s and 1980s mainly due to changes in agricultural practices. In recent years, however, its populations have reached stable levels, and in Southern Europe it is on the increase (EU Management Plan for Quail 2009-2011). Both the Turtledove and the Quail are listed under the taxon Least Concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
"If, as CABS said, a hunting season is "for some hunters an open invitation to illegally shoot birds of prey", the sensible fair solution is to prosecute these so-called hunters. To suggest that a spring hunting season should not be opened because of illegalities is equivalent to suggesting that hunting seasons should never be opened because of possible illegalities. CABS keep repeating an argument that was rubbished many times.
"Without offering an explanation, strangely CABS find a derogation from the Birds Directive to be "legally very questionable". But the legal experts agree that the 10th September 2010 ruling of the European Court of Justice covers any such action of the Maltese government," the FKNK argued,
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C. Sapiano
Apr 14th 2010, 10:37
@Daniel Xriha
@ Anthony Formosa
Abortion is illegal in malta just as killing birds illegally also is. I imagine CABS are also against hunting in Germany.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Apr 14th 2010, 18:22
C Sapiano, it might interest you to learn that amongst the 76 Special Arrangements during the EU Accession Treaty, both Hunting and Abortion formed part of thest arrangements. Now it is Hunting, could Abortion be next?!!
Contrary to what you state, hunting is a LEGAL practice in Malta and all over the world. I agree with you and imagine that "CABS are also against hunting in Germany." Yet they prefer to turn a blind eye on their backyard and come over to Malta! As for abortion, this is legal in Germany but CABS give more importance to birds than human-beings. Well, nothing new, as we also happen to have anti-hunting BUT pro-abortion contributors to The Times Online Blog!!
Tomas Poal
Apr 13th 2010, 22:37
Somewhere I read the argument, that Germans have no right to critizise birdhunting in Malta (first) because they are foreigners in Malta and (second) because they did injustice by themselves when they killed yews during WW2. This comparison is disproportional. The one thing can not exculpate the other. But if you want to compare it, an analogy may be that the Germans were not capable by themselves to overcome the injustice they did in their own land, they were dependent on the help of abroad, especially the UK and the USA, to be freed from themselves. Today the Germans are grateful that the Americans intervened.
Tomas Poal
Apr 13th 2010, 21:52
FKNK may be correct, that there are many other reasons that the amount of birds declines all over Europe. But this is no exculpation to kill them in Malta only for the reason of finding a moving target. This is like one said, there are thousands of people dying in road traffic every year, so I do not need to have a brake at my car. That would just be an unnessasary aggravation.
john Matthews
Apr 13th 2010, 17:23
@ Bonello David
In some respects I agree with you HOWEVER some of us foreigners have declared that it is up to the Maltese citizen to "govern" their own country. IF you are talking about the foreigners that belong to BLM, then I agree with you 100%. Get rid of them and let the MALTESE citizen decide what to do.
John Matthews
Apr 13th 2010, 15:08
@ M Bonello
Personally I agree with FKNK re blacklisting members. This does not necessarily mean publishing their names and addresses etc.
I put it to you and others who disagree the following:- If a person belongs to a trade union, and the majority of the membership took a vote to strike, would you then become a "scab" and pass throught a picket line to work? Scabs go against the democratic will of the trade union membership. They are truly selfish because they go to work but they do NOT refuse the better working conditions and pay rises that the strikers have fought for. Likewise if FKNK negotiates a better deal, should these scabs that go against the majority benefit from any future arrangements. These people load the guns but are to selfish to fire them
stephen baldacchino
Apr 13th 2010, 14:07
@ M. Bonello,
Please look at the link bellow from Paul fava and tell me what do you think. If it was you to be prommised something about your hobby and after you were deprived from it what would you say?????????????????????
Matthew Mallia
Apr 13th 2010, 14:06
@Paul Fava,as i am not a hunter nor a trapper,infact totally far from ever being one as i dont agree with it I must however totally point out that i am in FULL favour of the FKNK's position.I have done some research over that last few days and to my knowledge and understanding the government and the EU commission do NOT have a leg to stand on.How can the European Union state facts and truths in black and white then do nearly totally the opposite.It is now not just a point of disagreeing with hunting ot trapping but down to the point of sheer and utter principle.
What a joke and what a game to get votes!!!!!
Shamefull to say the very least in the yr 2010
M.Mallia Sliema
Fabian Borg
Apr 13th 2010, 13:33
A decline of a bird species in Germany can never be blamed on Malta. Even a toddler can notice that. More and more studies held recently and in the past can prove this.
Even without reading a single line just look at a map of Europe. Malta has a total area of 316 km2 while Germany has an area of 357,021 km2. This is less than 0.1 per cent of Germany so even if all quails and turtle doves that migrate over Malta are held in Spring this will never effect Germany te way Cabs wants to make people believe.
Darren J. Galea
Apr 13th 2010, 13:20
Dear FKNK, your constant refusal (yes, REFUSAL!) to self-regulate has cost your credibility dearly over the years. Your failure to report even ONE illegality by one of your members has ensured your position as one of the laughing stocks of Malta. Maybe, in years to come, the damage you caused to your own image by blatently allowing your members to flout the law may fade, but be warned - it will take HARD WORK and sticking to the letter of the law. In the meantime you ought to shut your collective mouth and face the music for the years you allowed those indisciplined members among you to shoot protected species with impunity. This is 2010 and things will only get worse for you before they get better. I feel I am not alone when I say, serves you right.
m.g.farrugia
Apr 13th 2010, 12:45
@paul fave, Il-ligi tal-indhil barrani il-Gvern ta Gonzi difina darba ghal dejjem tant li anki ried inehhija izda kien hemm min ma qabilx. Din il-ligi kien ghamilha minn jibza mill-kritika barraninija,bhal ma jaghmlu il-korejani u ic-cinizi li kienu jaghtu l-pariri fiz-zmien meta saret habib. Illum fis-seklu 21 ligi bhal din thammar wiċċ mhux min ghamilha biss imma anki wicc min isemmija. Ghadek tghix f'mentalita komunista ta qabel waqet il-purtiera tal-hadid.
Jason Borg
Apr 13th 2010, 12:35
Did'nt the FKNK welcome the CABS arrival a couple of weeks ago? Is this change of heart doe to the fact that they will not be out hunting? Is this new policy trying to cover-up illegal spring hunting?
Bonello David
Apr 13th 2010, 12:15
To all the foreigners who want to dictate my life in my own country, pls stay away from our lives. Hunting is practiced in all EU countries so you can monitor your own hunters. Our forefathers always fought for our freedom & nobody is taking it away from us. The damage our Goverment is doing by allowing these so called bird lovers to come & interfere in our way of life is irreparable for the PM personally & for the PN party. They're putting a bad image on the whole nation with their never ending LIES & worst , they are invited to do it. WE hunters & our families will never trust the PN again. NEVER NEVER AGAIN.
Gavin Camilleri
Apr 13th 2010, 12:12
Meta zort il Germanja lanqas gol bars ma dahluna(u ma gibnix ruhna hazin) ahseb u ara nidhlu go propjeta privata taghhom... u ahna nhaluwom jghamlu li jridu go pajjizna !
Ernest Vella
Apr 13th 2010, 12:05
The CABS just remember that they have no right to enter private property.
Jason Borg
Apr 13th 2010, 19:18
And you must remember that even in private land illegal hunting remains, well...illegal.
paul fava
Apr 13th 2010, 12:04
@ C. Sapiano. Unbeleivable what has the GonziPn got to do with it?!?! Who is in Government now?......the GonziPN......who promised us in writing a full spring hunting season before the EU referendum and 2003?.......I think the GonziPn if not you!!!.......if it was not the GonziPn just tell me who and I will blame him or her and not the GonziPn.
C. Sapiano
Apr 14th 2010, 10:33
You should blame the European Commission.
ClaudeCalleja
Apr 13th 2010, 11:58
FKNK should shame the shooters of the swans and other protected species these individuals are all known to them and still their members and all the illegal shooters still shooting in spring they know there are and not the few law abiding hunters who are willing to go by the silly rules set by the Government. How will they get the names from MEPA? I thought we had a Privacy Act or not? Mepa had better safeguard the privacy of these law abiding individuals. If you controlled all the illegal shooting by your members, today we would still be hunting legally in spring ..did you ever consider this? . FKNK you have failed miserably to educate your members and all the hunting community is now paying the price. I am having to fork out thousands every year to shoot abroad because of your incompetence. Mark Mifsud Bonnici thanks for your educated contribution to the very poor show by FKNK.
Anthony Formosa
Apr 13th 2010, 16:39
Dear Claude Calleja, don't ridicule yourself, just tell where you are hunting and we will tell if there's any illegality in that country. You can still hunt if you want and and join the CABS if you wish, because I'm staying home like the other thousands.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Apr 13th 2010, 18:45
Claude Calleja, what exactly is your hidden agenda??!! I would only attribute such reasoning to:
- somebody who has an interest to justify the Government's farcical decision;
- somebody who is anti-hunting;
- somebody who wishes to sow "Ifred halli ssaltan";
Beware, true hunters, unite so that eventually you will enjoy what is rightfully yours!
l.camilleri
Apr 13th 2010, 11:58
@ C.Sapiano
Mur gibek fil posizjoni tal kaccaturi int ! L ewwel iweduk hafna affarijiet biex ' Jisirqulek " il vot min halqek - umbad ax hadu li ridu - jigu jaqaw u jqumu minnek!
Int tahseb li id dinja inholqot al nies bhalek biss ? Int tahseb li ix xemx titla filodu ghalik biss?
Mela ahjar tqum mir raqda u tammetija li GONZIPN dahak bil kaccaturi kolla u issa qijed jigi jaqa u jqum minnom! Inutli li ha nibqaw sejrin bija din u kulhadd jdawwara kif jaqbillu
Il fatt hu wiehed biss " Il Gvern haddem mohhu u il liska li uza kinet tajba wisq li il kaccaturi belawa sa grizmejom "
Issa sfortunatament kif gara dejjem - it tajjeb wehel mal hazin!
Personalment ma taffetwanix lili - ax la qatt kont u qas ha inkun kaccatur - imma nista nimmagina fliema sitwazjoni qedin dawn in nies ! Li kieku kellu jmiss id delizju tijej - fl istess sitwazjoni inkun !
Bniedem bla delizju - ma jkunx qijed jghix ! Imma jezizti biss !
il gurnata it tajba
C. Sapiano
Apr 14th 2010, 10:31
I agree with you that a person has a right to have a hobby. My argument was not that. I said that blaming Gonzi PN is becoming a tired cliche. It is you who should wake up from your sleep because you are not realising that these issues like hunting are ignored by the majority of Maltese.
Anthony Formosa
Apr 13th 2010, 11:43
Well said FKNK could not explain better for those who wish to listen. The argument by CABS is totally blatant and irresponsible. I see no difference between an open or closed season, it is closed for the hunters and open for the poachers, at the end of the season we will have the usual report of how many shots were heard and that illegalities are still rampant and no one is brought to justice, and myself and many others who respect the law are house arrested.
M.Bonello
Apr 13th 2010, 11:31
Is this the same FKNK that's blacklisting it's very own members for opting to hunt legally??
hawwadom ftit iehor il kaccaturi forsi jifmuk.
Daniel Xriha
Apr 13th 2010, 11:52
Yes it is the same FKNK .. We hunters will obey the FKNK directive and by the way this has full support of all the other Hunting Clubs! u ahna mhux ser inpaxxu lil dan il-Gvern!
Is this what you believe as an option to hunt legally? 6 half days? ara vera l-intelligenza tispikka qeghda!
Keep up the good work FKNK!
Anthony Formosa
Apr 13th 2010, 12:08
Yes Mr Bonello this is the same FKNK the largest and strongest NGO in Malta, and we're proud to be part of it.
C. Sapiano
Apr 13th 2010, 11:24
@Paul Fava
Of course you can do that in Germany. Inform yourself about other laws and situations in other countries before you write. And what does GonziPn has to do with it? Yours is a cliche repeated ad nauseaum.
Daniel Xriha
Apr 13th 2010, 12:00
@ C. Sapiano
Why don't you have a look at CABS site using the following link:
http://www.komitee.de/en/index.php?raptors
All raptor species in Germany are still officially categorised as ’huntable wildlife’.
And then they come here to point fingers .... ara vera tal-misthija! u l-Malti jibqa jilaq il-barrani!
Anthony Formosa
Apr 13th 2010, 12:01
C Sapiano at the moment all flight to Germany are full with Maltese to protest against the slaughter of thousands of abortions in a year and its called (CABS) Committee Against Baby Slaughter.
Jason Borg
Apr 13th 2010, 22:09
Anthony Formosa - once again, please STOP exploiting the shameful killing of unborn babies to try to win support for the hunters.
paul fava
Apr 13th 2010, 11:08
Cabs take a look at this please:
http://www.meusac.gov.mt/Portals/FME/Documents/AGGSE13e_Hunting.pdf
fejn hi l-ligi ta' l-indhil barrani??!!.....mur aghmillhom hekk il-Germanja!!!!.....timmaginaw intom!!!!.....veru ahna taht GonziPn sirna qisna cittadini tat-tielet klassi.
Jason Borg
Apr 13th 2010, 14:47
Il-ligi viljakka tal-indhil barrani ilha snin li tnehhiet. Fil-fatt anke l-FKNK juzaw il-barranin ez. ghal studji biex jiggustifikaw il-kacca fir-rebbiegha.
Anthony Formosa
Apr 13th 2010, 16:24
Jason Borg, int qatt rajt xi loghba futbol bir-referee gej mil-istess pajjiz tat-team, tkellem naqra bis-sens ghal-darba. Hawn daqs dawn Periti Maltin ghalfejn hallasna il-miljuni fuq disinn ghal tejatru bla saqaf?
Jason Borg
Apr 13th 2010, 19:17
U x'ghandu x'jaqsam il-football mal-kacca illegali! Tridu jew ma tridux tikkontrollaw l-kacca illegali? Tiftakarhom il-kartelluni li garrew il-kaccaturi fil-protesta tar-Rabat tal-1982, favur il-qtil tat-tajr tal-priza? Tiftakar kemm l-FKNK zammet halqha maghluq dwar il-kacca illegali? Tiftakar kemm l-FKNK, anke minn fuq it-tv, ghajret lill-CABS b'titli xenofobici u razzisti? Tiftakar li ftit ilu, ghax l-FKNK kienet inkwetata dwar il-punt tal-istrict surveillance, tkellmet favur il-CABS daqs l-aqwa habib? Allura issa ma tridhomx, biex tghatti xturha?