BirdLife distances itself from CABS reward for information
BirdLife Malta said this afternoon that it was distancing itself from the announcement made today by the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) that it would pay a reward (of €10,000) for information leading to the arrest of the five men who attacked CABS' vehicle last Saturday morning. (See separate story)
"BirdLife Malta continues to believe that law enforcement authorities in the country are the only means for justice to be pursued. We, however, also believe that these criminal acts need to be given priority to stem further violence and vandalism," BirdLife said in a letter to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.
The society said it had written to the Prime Minister to draw his attention to the fact that it had just informed the Police Commissioner of information of a possible attack of vandalism at the Ghadira nature reserve.
"BirdLife Malta is taking the matter seriously in view of the escalation of violence against our volunteers and attacks against conservation sites in recent weeks," the society told Dr Gonzi.
"BirdLife Malta is urging you to give the matter the attention it deserves. The lack of action taken so far to apprehend the perpetrators of repeated vandalism and violence is only serving to encourage further attacks, as is evident particularly in Mellieha."
The society then listed a series of cases of vandalism, including attacks on the Foresta 2000 site, the Ghadira nature reserve, attacks on birdwatchers, and the torching of three ringers' cars in Buskett.
"Not one single individual has been brought to justice. In a country of this size, this is absolutely incomprehensible and utterly inexcusable.
"It is no wonder that the attacks have increased in frequency and violence over time. In recent weeks, our organisation has been targeted on an almost daily basis - xenophobic messages and death threats have greeted our volunteers in the field, they have been beaten up, car windows shattered with gun shots," BirdLife said.
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Keith Aquilina
May 4th 2010, 10:05
First they bring them, now they distance themselves from CABS.. Hypocrisy at its best
Frank Bonello
May 4th 2010, 00:38
For me it would have made some sense to pay a reward of E10,000 for information leading to the arrest of the 5 men who attacked CABS' vehicle if I have a guarantee that our "kind Court" would charge each and every one of the 5 assailants a penalty OF NOT LESS THAN E10,000 each! and not when I know that most probably they will be just given a suspended sentence like the Gzira/Sliema gang were charged.
Mr. N. Pace
May 4th 2010, 00:32
I believe that most people in malta don't care about hunting and trapping! most people are against hunting because they don't like animals or birds being killed for sports (example of other european countries they hunt wild boar, deer, hares,mountain goats, etc etc).
Hunting and trapping are a maltese tradition which has been practiced since the knights of malta ( buskett was a hunting reserve for the grandmaster!)
I also believe that until the issue was raised by birdlife and cabs no tourist that came to malta ever was bored about the hunting and trapping tradition! most tourists come to malta during summer and come to see our history and beaches. With all the bad propaganda cabs are doing this is surely affecting malta's tourisim which will surely affect our economy.
in my opinion cabs 'volunteers' have got no right to come in our country and dictate how the ALE police should work, what measures the government should take, taking videos of other people's property and actions!!!
Henry Fenech Azzopardi
May 3rd 2010, 21:18
SO THE CABS ARE OFFERING EURO 10,000 REWARD. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH CHEAPER TO ASK FOR POLICE PROTECTION OBVIOUSLY AT A PRICE.
NO HOW FOOLISH OF ME !!!!! THEN THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ATTACKED AND MAKE A SENSATIONAL STORY TO REPORT.
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TO DEPORT AND AVOID HAVING OUR ISLAND EXPOSED TO THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA.
OUR COUNTRY IS BEING TARNISHED BY THESE FOREIGNERS FOR THE SAKE OF A FEW PROTECTED BIRDS THAT AS REPORTED RECENTLY ARE DESTROYED IN THE THOUSANDS BY OTHER MEANS IN EUROPE.
Henry Fenech Azzopardi
May 3rd 2010, 20:56
HOLD ON BIRDLIFE. EVERYONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS/HER ACTIONS AND WHAT HE/SHE SAYS. IT IS OF NO USE NOW TO DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM THE CABS.
To my knowledge CABS were always brought to Malta with all the cooperation from BIRDLIFE MALTA. In this connection BIRDLIFE are fully respnsible for their actions while these are in Malta.
Furthermore, if BIRDLIFE really wanted to cooperate with the police they should have kept the issue about vandalisim on a very low pfile and maybe caught the culprits red handed. I am convinced that the police would have given BIRDLIFE an advice how to tackle the very sensitive piece of information that could have led to a concrete result..
The police should rather investigate the authentic reports of birdlife becuase the fact that they hire cars pay peanuts premium to have them comprehensively insured and put these cars at risk of vandalisim is a crime in itselfe.
May I remind birdlife that illegal hunting has nothing to do with the opening of the hunting seasons and the only possibility to reduce abuse is the presence of the hunters themselves wile hunting.
OVER 1300 ILLEGALITIES AND A SEASON FOR FEW HUNTERS IS AMPLE PROOF.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
May 3rd 2010, 20:42
VERY, VERY STRANGE!!!!!!! On 12th April 2010 it was reported in this same newspaper that BirdLife had stated that: the camp will last three weeks and, "for the first ime, it will be a joint operation with CABS". How come they are now distancing themselves? Is there something we should now? Is this some media ploy??!!
john borg
May 3rd 2010, 18:55
these cabs have shamed our country since the first time they came! now we know of cyprus were they are acting the same way! why do we keep bringing them here?? for 1300 irregularities in 3 weeks!! maltese drivers do 100,000 irregularities a day , overspeeding,traffic lights, centerline, parking(and people are dying)...... do we need german traffic police??? i remember seeing their website camp recruit page and it clearly stated that `confrontation was expected` !!!! imagine yourself in a civilized country like england during a football match between manchester and liverpool , your wearing a liverpool gear and decide to walk through a manchester fan stand while they are loosing 3-1.............you keep yelling ,its a sport, fair play......respectttttttt!!!!!!!
Gary Bonnici
May 3rd 2010, 18:53
Here we go again.
Birdlife is again pointing fingers indirectly to hunters about the Foresta 2000 incident.
And also, BLM is saying indirectly again that the police are incapable.
It is true that poachers are making a bad name for Malta, but come on, we cannot blame the illegal hunting and poaching only for the bad name. Thousands of illegalities takes place in Malta ever day like as in the roads. And no matter how hard we try to eliminate illegalities there gonna still be some here and there from time to time.
But for me the primary source for the degradation of the Malta in tourism is BLM & co. with their actions. What I know for sure is that other EU countries doesn't show on their illegalities with other countries like BLM, because they care for their country.
Chris Finch
May 3rd 2010, 18:40
If you go to a nightclub, you will see bouncers doing the job of the police. If you go to a swimming pool, you will see lifeguards doing the job of the police, so what problem do the hunters have of Birdlife and CABS in the countryside doing the job of the police?
Is it because illegal hunting is much more widespread than they would have us believe? Is it because they themselves are voted in by their membership and therefore know it would harm their chances of re-election if they came down hard on their members for these illegalities?
Can anyone tell us if the policeman caught hunting last year has been barred from membership of the hunting clubs? If not then their so called zero-tolerance is worthless.
Mary Ann Borg
May 3rd 2010, 18:31
I am not much into hunting and anti-hunting, but reading BirdLife's statement and the news here, it seems to me odd that while CABS have €10K to provide info on a past incident they don't then have the money to hire a security company to guard the nature reserve they say is under imminent attack. Prevention is better than cure and the €10K should be spent on avoiding such attacks rather than run after a past incident. That is if both the imminent attack and the incident CABS have described did really take place.
Antonio Anastasi
May 3rd 2010, 18:22
Offering a reward does not mean lack of faith in law enforcement, its an indication that law enforcement needs any help they can get.
I am surprised that considering the cost of the damage to Foresta 2000 and other acts of vandalism, the government is not offering a reward to bring these people to justice.
The various hunters associations opn the island could also offer a reward to help bring whoever these people are to justice.
.
Jesmond Micallef
May 3rd 2010, 17:54
I tend to read about military technology. Indeed highly technologically advanced and some of it very environmentally friendly too. I have wondered whats the difference between a nuclear power station and a nuclear weapon. The answer is indeed emotional rather then obviously technical. Indeed, I feel very safe that such nations are not allowed to have their own nuclear weaponry, eventhough they have the knowhow to build such devices of apparently high intellect. I tend to think that such nations might indeed be intellectually and technologically advanced but obviously lack emotional development somehow.
Fireworks in Malta is a tribute to what the Maltese can offer to the cultured tourist or visitor. Indeed a grand artistic spectacle of what the Maltese do with pyrotechnics and explosives. It is indeed a philanthropic passion which many people enjoy without being ambitious high earning scientists, technicians, technologists, managers or engineers working on explosive weaponry which is intended to destroy human life. Some people might call it the Defense Industry, would one ever argue against that ?
r sammut
May 3rd 2010, 17:36
Just the cherry on the cake; this last reward to catch the culprits! As note by MMB it would have been cheaper if they engaged police protection on their daily sorties in our countryside! But then with the law by their side, would have shackled their ability to roam and thrust their nose wherever!
What’s next, issue visiting tourists the same warnings as supplied to Paralimni, Cyprus:
“*If possible do not stray from built-up areas
*Never take walks in the countryside on your own
*If you plan an excursion on foot in the countryside inform your hotel reception of where you are going
*Do not take photographs of or film local people in the countryside. Do not carry cameras openly
*Do not carry binoculars openly
Take a mobile telephone with you at all times. The police emergency number is 199 or 112.”
CABS are so proficient at these basic rules how come they were still molested there?
M.Farrugia
May 3rd 2010, 17:24
@Rodrick MIcallef. I fully agree with you on this issue. The only thing that the hunters want tis that no one wash their dirty cloths outside our country. Everyone have the right to inform the world what the paochers are doing in Malta, and no one has the right to censor what is being said. If the poaches in Malta and gtheir followers does not want that the dirty cloths are not washed outside our island all they have to do is to stop the illegal hunting. Hon. Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism take note of this issue before it will be to late and will have adverse reaction on our tourist industry
l.farrugia
May 3rd 2010, 17:18
@martin saliba, 'By offering a monetary reward these people are saying that our police are not doing their job or worse do not want to.' This statement is far from truth and Saliba is interpreting things his way. Everyone knows that the police cannot be everywhere with all the poachers and law bfreakers roaming the island. The reward is just to help tracing the paocher and then the police will take action. The CABS have the right to be in Malta, they have the right to give a reward to trace the culprit becsue through this they will be helping the police who cannot be everywhere at one time.
c.schembri
May 3rd 2010, 17:11
@Norbert Fenech, the fact that BLM is keeping distances itself from CABS reward for information does not means that there is a dispute. BLM does not agree with this. In the past CABS and BLM collaborated togather to save as much birds aspossible and poachers will be reported. I am sure that this collaboration will continue in the future.
S Vella
May 3rd 2010, 16:45
It would be much better if Birdlife Malta distances itself from CABS once and for all because all they are doing is blowing up our local issue abroad and putting our dirty laundry on the line for everyone to see, meanwhile if they look at their own homelands they all have much hotter issues to tackle before sticking their nose in our business and making things worse between us locally. Their agenda is to keep tourists from coming to our country!! especially from comments published abroad that is all they try to do. We have a reputation of very hostile people and they are trying to obscure us Maltese when they know nothing about the hunting issue.
Roderick Micallef
May 3rd 2010, 16:20
Dear Joe Camilleri,
The people impacting tourism negatively are not CABS but the persistent illegal hunters, it is simply ridiculous that similar stories keep going on and no one is made accountable. This week a policeman was caught hunting illegally, could this be the reason why the illegal hunters are never caught? Could it be that they have police protection as well?
At least CABS are completely independent and are working hard to eradicate this on going issue, offering the cash reward is simply a way to fight fire with fire and I fully understand that since other means were not effective.
The tourists coming to Malta, especially those that plan to visit the county side whilst in Malta should be made aware of what happens on this island. First and foremost for their own safety, especially if they are mistaken for CABS volunteers but also simply because every one should be aware of what goes on in Malta.
The only people that are hurting Malta's reputation are not CABS but the illegal hunters that keep hunting no matter what. So far not even the government of 'par idejn sodi' has managed to control these people, SHAME & SHAME!
Andrew Gatt
May 3rd 2010, 18:09
Dear Roderick Micallef,
Please extract your head out of the sand, smell the coffee and THINK FOR YOURSELF MAN!
Birdlife and CABS's network has targeted tiny Malta "to be made an example of" (and here I am quoting the unlamented ex-Commissioner of the Environment Stavros Dimas). Their international network of bias and hate has been targeting our tourism industry for YEARS.
Most tourists are sensible enough or know the Maltese well enough not to fall for their lies.
Luckily, tourists care about not being harassed by tineshare touts from hotels owned by "Stop Illegal Spring Hunting" T-shirt wearing businessmen, about overcharging, about surly and rude service, about powercuts and shoddy roads. certainly not about a dozen doves per hunter per season! Most of them are happy to let Malta deal with malta's issues.
Oh yeah....and since we're on this mythical mega-migration highway, where are all the birdwatching tourists Birdlife used to promise we'd get? Just the same couple of dozen Birdlife nutters every year....at 23 euros full board! For 2 weeks! Gone with the wind....like the millions of shot birds......and the breeding birds fantasies......and the fines.....and so on.
r sammut
May 3rd 2010, 22:06
@Rodrick Micallef
During past years we hunters enjoyed much much longer hunting seasons and seen thousands of tourists roaming the countryside. Perhaps even more frequent than the present day... given all the bad publicity now! Yet then, not even the shadow of the confrontation incidents mentioned during the past three weeks were ever heard of!
How come this reward money by CABS now? Which even the same BirdLife are distancing themselves from! With the same monies CABS could have had police escort on their every sortie. Why CABS shunned such procedures when the funds are there? Would it have hindered their freedom to roam about and stick their nose wherever they liked? Or worse, be witness to their reporting? What better way for this extremist group to secure money than the sensationalisms of their claims?
Then you and the like come along to even undermine our same police force. A further pat to CABS tactics! Shame on you!
Andrew Gatt
May 3rd 2010, 16:13
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100409/local/pyromaniac-turns-himself-in
This snippet seems to have escaped notice..........particularly Birdlife's, who continue to insinuate and point fingers at the hunting community at each and every opportunity. Fire in a Nature Reserve! Imagine if it had happened at Ghadira or Simar!
Besides self-confessed pyromaniacs, there may be plenty of other motives out there - personal vendettas, land disputes, sheer vandalism etc etc. You cannot EXCLUDE any motive, but why do you always have to point the same fingers at the same people?
While you're at it, Birdlife, how about also distancing yourself from your own and CABS's attempts to get Malta fined on the basis of your garbage allegations and exaggerations?
Oh sorry - I forgot - your foreign executives are still leading you (supposedly our fellow Maltese) by the nose.
A.Attard
May 3rd 2010, 18:45
maybe it was a pyro hunter, same as the illegal hunter that turned out to be a policeman in a balaclava or the fireworks guy who turned out to be a depressed hunter.
Hunters are starting to act weird lately, maybe the withdrawals are starting to take over.
I honestly can't think of anyone better qualified to do such idiotic things.Of course we point fingers.It's no coincidence that hunters didn't go out in the streets to vent their anger & act like Zulus.
martin saliba
May 3rd 2010, 16:13
By offering a monetary reward these people are saying that our police are not doing their job or worse do not want to. They should be kicked out for interfering with police investigations. Well done to BLM for distancing themselves from these cusaders.
simon sullivan
May 3rd 2010, 17:06
Martin, it does not take a genius to note that the police are dragging their heels on this... the last hunter caught illegally 'enjoying' his 'hobby' was a policeman and guess what he got for breaking the law.... one month suspended ...which also means he got nothing as long as he acts as he should have in the first place for a determined amount of time.... if you leave home on a weekend morning or evening you will hear gunshots. unless all our police are deaf they are then ignoring the ample chances they have of apprehending these criminals
jimmy vella
May 3rd 2010, 19:49
Have you ever heard the saying that money talks.Why shouldn`t this coward possibly even being a rogue policmen be brought to justice by what ever LEGAL means possible.Some body might have seen the culprit or heard him boasting about his cowardness,then there is a nice incentive to shop him.All above board to me.
Mario Farrugia
May 3rd 2010, 16:02
"BirdLife Malta continues to believe that law enforcement authorities in the country are the only means for justice to be pursued...."
My question here is: so why this arrogant and provocative behaviour from Birdlife and their sympathizers? Why don't they leave matters to the police and refrain from assuming that the countryside is theirs, and theirs alone? Why don't they be more rational and help the police with rational reports, instead of the over-inflated, exaggerated articles which we have grown accustomed to hear from them, day in, day out? Truth is that many persons, themselves not hunters or trappers, are nowadays showing their disdain for the orchestrated, treacherous attempts by BLM at harming our islands' reputation overseas. Breaking the law is one thing - and law breakers need to be brought to justice. But purposely harming your own country's image abroad in order to reach your own, selfish objective is nothing short of scandalous.
I am happy to see BLM distancing itself from the CABS reward for informaion... this is starting to sound like nothing more except a witchhunt!
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
May 3rd 2010, 16:02
"BirdLife Malta continues to believe that law enforcement authorities in the country are the only means for justice to be pursued."
Hunters also follow the same principle AND HAVE OFFERED TO SUBSIDIZE law enforcement FROM THEIR LICENSE FEES.
What have Birdlife contributed towards law enforcement?
IT'S HIGH TIME THEY CONTRIBUTED TOO.
AS FOR THE 10,000 EURO CABS REWARD, THIS PROSPEROUS ORGANISATION OF HUNTER HATERS SEEMS TO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO TRACE ASSAILANTS SO WHY NOT PAY FOR POLICE PROTECTION?
IT BECOMES QUITE OBVIOUS THAT THEY WOULD RATHER BE SEEN AS MARTYRS. HAVING NO ONE MONITORING THEIR ACTIVITIES LEAVES ROOM FOR ANY FORM OF SABOTAGE.
They are on record as having said "OUR ACTIVITIES WILL NOT RELENT UNTIL MALTA IS A HUNTING-FREE ZONE" so any of their activities is to be considered as suspect and consequently the police should be monitoring their every move.
Edward Camilleri
May 3rd 2010, 19:06
@IT BECOMES QUITE OBVIOUS THAT THEY WOULD RATHER BE SEEN AS MARTYRS. HAVING NO ONE MONITORING THEIR ACTIVITIES LEAVES ROOM FOR ANY FORM OF SABOTAGE.
I have never heard of CABS reporting any legal hunting or worse still attacking anyone. Its illegalities they are after, of which on this island there are plenty. If you want to protect your despecable sport, then you should not object to CABS, but object to illegal hunting and bullying! Twice I was forced off public property at the end of a gun by a hunter because the land is his. I can understand how many feel when going around in the countryside, all this machoism is unwarranted.
Norbert Fenech
May 3rd 2010, 16:02
So now there is a dispute between CABS & BL ?? Heheh what's next ?? Divide & Conquer !
Could it be that BL had all the information available because it was an inside job ?!? Hehe
G.Debono
May 3rd 2010, 17:12
Could it be that some people are the product of the long lost, Neanderthals? Insinuations seem to be rife with you Mr. Fenech.
Let me explain what this means, whenever you don't make it, just start reading all over:
BLM hides nothing. BLM&CABS do not wear balaclavas or go sneeking around in the middle of nowhere to do illegal shooting or destroying public property (must be dumb to destroy something that will be paid for through your own taxes, but a sector of society does not make that cognitive conclusion)
What is being said here is this, CABS are serious about what happens to them and want to ensure that, countryside Rambos (or wanna be ones) should be arrested and pass through a fair judgement and hopefully convicted.
BLM on the other hand does not agree (for their own reasons, I personally agree with CABS) that people should have bounties on their heads, but rather, the police should do their job and apprehand the culprits in the first instance.
So the ends are both the same, CABS and BLM, it is the means that differ. BLM calls for police prevention, while CABS want prevention through convictions. What's wrong with it?
Joe Camilleri
May 3rd 2010, 15:45
Ah yes!! and what about the impact on tourisim. Look at what cabs are doing in cyprus.
http://www.komitee.de/en/index.php?warning
J.Bonnici
May 3rd 2010, 18:48
Or rather look what the trappers are doing in Cyprus.
k. francica
May 3rd 2010, 15:44
if Birdlife Malta had information about a possible vandal attack at Ghadira Nature reserve, they should have alerted the police, and kept everything on the quiet so that the persons committing vandalism will be caught red handed - If they are really interested in catching the culprits.