Obstruction of hunting 'should be punished'
The hunters' federation has called on the government to make the obstruction of hunting an infringement and punishable by a fine.
Quoting a recently enacted French decree, the federation said the Prime Minister would do well to look into enacting a similar law locally to fight "concentrated and collaborative obstructive efforts against traditional socio-cultural hunting".
Following an addition in the environment code, France has made such contraventions "punishable by fines when concerted acts of obstruction, preventing the conduct of one or more acts as hunting, occur".
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29 Comments
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Claire Busuttil
Jun 14th 2010, 23:10
Get a life you hunters....and trappers.....start doing something else, and not killing birds....!! do sports/ganutell/knitting......whatever you want...but leave these creatures free to live...they have your same right for life as you do....
Johnny Xerri
Jun 15th 2010, 19:00
Those creatures have a right to life as you have;
are you speaking about just birds or else all animals, even those killed in abattoirs?
Of course you can always believe that burgers are not really animal produce, that steaks are not animal produce and that ham is farmed and hand picked. In fact all meat products come from freezers and nothing can live at minus 0 so they are not really animals but just meat.
Sorry but ganutell/knitting, dont taste good, one is too hard to bite on the other is too hairy to chew
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Jun 14th 2010, 21:11
Ramon Casha, contrary to what you state, FKNK was successful in uniting hunters. United, they will shortly get what is rightfully theirs!!
Jason Borg, C Cassar and Franco Farrugia, when are we readers expected to read some respectful,police and fresh contributions from you?! C Cassar, uneducated are those who try to win arguments by being insultive towards others. Are YOU capable to behaving in an educated manner?! Your comments confirm that you are not!
J Cutajar and M Mallia, I suggest you enlighten yourself about the Maltese Highway Code. I am afraid your knowledge is quite lacking. Are you suggesting that a pedestrian can walk in the middle of a road? That is illegal as much as trespassing!! Are these the arguments you are capable to present to readers?!
Joseph E Briffa
Jun 14th 2010, 19:27
MMB says there are 1.3million hunters in France; so the hunting population is about 2% of the population. The equivalent hunting population in Malta would be around 8 000. We don't know the exact number in Malta but some say 18 000, others 12 000 if one excludes those people who haven't paid their licence this year. Even if one takes the lower figure there are half as much again as many hunters in Malta as in France. If one compares the hunting population density of the two countries; France has an area of 540 000 km2 while Malta is only 300 km2. This works out at 2.4 hunters per km2 in France as against 40 hunters/km2 in Malta. So one can see that there are almost 20 times as many hunters per km2 in Malta as in France. Little wonder then that Malta used to be literally taken over by hunters during the hunting season. Moreover though I have never experienced the behaviour of hunters in France, we have unfortunately all been exposed to the aggressive, pugnacious, arrogant and violent behaviour of Maltese hunters who think they are entitled to have the countryside solely for their own barbaric 'pastime'
V Falzon
Jun 14th 2010, 19:08
Another classic from Lino And The Howlers.
John Matthews
Jun 14th 2010, 16:34
So far nobody has differentiated between PEACEFUL PROTEST and OBSTRUCTION.
Peaceful protest is LEGAL(sometimes you need a permit). Obstruction is ILLEGAL. I await your replies
DVella
Jun 14th 2010, 15:54
socio-cultural hunting . . . . I've heard some utter nonsense in my time but this one phrase really takes the biscuit ! ! ! Why not bring back slavery on the pretext that it was a long-standing 'cultural tradition' ? ! ! What a load of complete and utter rubbish . . . . Whilst we're at it . . . why not enforce the EXISTING law making it a punishable offence for any shotgun-bearing neanderthal lout to prevent people's access to public land and make it an offence punishable by a prison sentence to make threatening gestures ro statements whilst in possession of a shotgun or any other lethal weapon ! ! !
Who do these people think they are . . . ??? !
E.PORTELLI
Jun 14th 2010, 14:27
JIBQA IL-FATT LI L-FRANCIZI GHADDEWHA LIGI.........8-) IL PAJJIZ ILLI BIS SAHHA TIEGHU QED NIGHXU KIF QED NIGHXU.....
lIBERTE, EGALITE & FRATERNITE = 'DEMOKRAZIJA'
ALL THOSE AGAINST HUNTING.....GO AND GET A LIFE !!
Chris Finch
Jun 14th 2010, 13:18
Can someone explain what they mean by 'Obstruction of Hunting'. For example, if I take a photo am I obstructing? If I call the ALE when I see an infringement, am I obstructing? If I walk on Public land singing, am I obstructing?
Also who will make the report to the Police? Will it be a hunting warden or will any hunter be able to report that they were 'obstructed'. If so this will be very open to abuse. If a hunter objects to the presence of someone in the countryside, they would be able to report them. What evidence will they need?
I think these need clearing up before this is given any serious consideration.
M.Mallia
Jun 14th 2010, 13:15
Anthony Formosa
'' the licensed driver has more rights than the pedestrians and they have no right to cross the road.''
I've never heard such complete & utter rubbish ... so if pedestrians have no right to cross the road then how do you suggest they get across? With such a childish way of ''thinking'' it's no wonder hunters are in the mess they're in.
Anthony Formosa
Jun 14th 2010, 15:26
Mr Mallia, well whenever you feel like it just cross the road I suggest in the rush hours, and then you'll see what happened, of course pedestrians have the right but strictly controlled, likewise cars do not have the right to block the pedestrians path, or else you'll be fined, got it now?
Johnny Xerri
Jun 14th 2010, 20:50
Utter rubish my foot. If I had to cross a road were no zebra crossing is painted and I get run over I would have to pay for the damage of the car. I know this because a friend of mine ran over a man who just obstructed the road by suddenly crossing.
Apart from the issue that if a hunter is on his privte land, nobody can deny him of enjoying the open season in peace.
The issue of illegal hunting does not even come into it. Speed cameras are there to prevent crime, but still they cannot be operated without FIRST HAVING WARNING SIGNES and then CABS and BLM expect to stalk hunters and invade privacy claiming that theya re doing so to gather evidence. Since when are CABS and BLM empowered to act a police?
Anyone remembers when a certain MP was exiting MEPA and was totally irked because a photo was taken of him with somebody else. Of course an MP cannot be photgraphed by a hunter can.
N Xuereb
Jun 14th 2010, 13:09
In today's paper there is a photo of an AFM patrol boat defending legal fishing. I have a suspision that BLM and CABS will try and stop legal hunting when its opened next spring, so I expect AFM to defend the hutners as it is defending the fishermen.
Francis Buhgaiar
Jun 14th 2010, 13:04
Dear Mr. Cassar, Can you be more clear about the government will expropriate private land? Can any government in a democratic country do this? This is what I fear because all the matter about hunting goes around this: put the hunters in a position to make them sell the land they have bought with lot of sacrifices. But I can assure you that neither you nor I will ever put a foot in it. It will be the property of those multi milliners who are using Bird Life Malta to make it theirs. Do you think that in the near future you will go to the white rocks sport village without having to pay a fortune? Think about it.
J.Cutajar
Jun 14th 2010, 12:56
@ Anthony Formosa I think your notion of a right is completely wrong. Are you saying a licensed driver has a right to run over a pedestrian that ventures onto the road? Please enlighten us as it gives me second thoughts on how to act if one of your wounded birds happens to land in my garden.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Jun 14th 2010, 12:09
Kindly note there are 1,313,000 hunters in France
( http://www.face.eu/Documents/National.data.sheet/france_fr.pdf )
all of which have seen their right to hunt according to established rules and regulations without being disturbed by a sector of society that, at all costs, want to see hunting banned.
This sector of society, though minuscule in Maltese society, object to such a decree being adopted by Malta as this would mean that any of their illegal activities would be punishable in the same way as those that abuse hunting laws.
Such people often state that legal hunters should not fear harsh regulations, can they therefore explain why laws protecting legal hunters should bother them?
M.Mallia
Jun 14th 2010, 11:26
What exactly is ''Obstruction of Hunting'' & can FKNK be a bit more specific about the amount of fines & punishment for taking a walk in the country thus obstructing the hunters from partaking in their fascinating endeavor in terminating the life of birds.
Asif hunters are in a position to make demands.
Anthony Formosa
Jun 14th 2010, 12:26
Mr Mallia et al, you are all getting it wrong, this infringement is related to those who by all means obstruct a legitimate practice mainly directed to CABS as it happened in recent occasions, however by taking a walk in the countryside on public land is not subject to infringement but is subject to trespassing if you are on private land. Nevertheless being on public land you also have no right to interfere with someone who is practicing his legitimate sports whether you like it or not as the licensed hunter has the same or more rights than you do, as an example, roads are public, but the licensed driver has more rights than the pedestrians and they have no right to cross the road.
Tony Gatt
Jun 14th 2010, 11:02
Presumably this act would let a hunter chase birds wherever they land- even on private property-a wonderful thought!
Anthony Formosa
Jun 14th 2010, 11:39
Nobody has the right to enter a private property be it a hunter or a rambler, however the latter are more frequent invaders to others property and this is why many of you want a ban on hunting, just to roam in our property.
Jason Borg
Jun 14th 2010, 10:36
But of course! Hunting is a delicate and serious business. Our country's survival and integrity depends on it. What would Malta be without the brodu tal-gamiem? When in the countryside, please thread on the footpaths on your tiptoes, lest the slightest noise disturbs the hunters in their delicate business. Also keep in mind that this activity tests one's nerves to the limit - and the slightest obstruction can lead our boys in rambo clothing to suffer mental stress and undesirable misery. They may have the body of a giant, but the heart of a babe which is easily offended and disturbed.
Anthony Formosa
Jun 14th 2010, 11:33
Dear Mr Borg, you have reached the peak of egoism, is it your business whether I hunt or not? hunting is a legitimate Nobel sports around the world. Before you think of using the footpaths make sure that the area is not private, if it is private you can ask the owner politely to have access, otherwise you have no right to enter others property? I perfectly understand that your agenda is not hunting itself but the presence of hunters in the countryside which many of them own the land and fortunately we own the best parts of the island, however by initiating a dirty campaign against hunting to roam freely in our land will never reach to a compromise.
Jason Borg
Jun 14th 2010, 12:20
Mr. Formosa - as far as I know, hunting never won any Nobel prize! And there is certainly nothing 'noble' about it. As for the rest of your repetitive monologue, it proves that yes, hunters are a very delicate and touchy breed.
C Cassar
Jun 14th 2010, 12:27
Anthony Formosa: While you may ownm a bit of land like many, many others, you don't own the bird life that exists above it.
Calling hunting "Nobel" just shows how out of date and out of touch you and your type really are. The world has moved on through education. Those who have made the effort to become educated now understand the beauty of bird life through observation rather than destruction.
Just as the fishermen who have plundered and ruined the local seas for short term greed, those with guns who are currently ruining the local sky will have the weight of the EU come down on them. It's started already and the noose will only tighten.
I'm sure that much of the "private" land will at some point in the not to distant future be expropriated and returned to it's rightful owner - the educated citizens of Malta. It's only a matter of time.
Franco Farrugia
Jun 14th 2010, 12:48
@ Formosa - Of course it is my business whether you hunt or not. Those are my birds as much as they are yours - perhaps more mine, because I wish them well, you don't! And how did land-owners come to possess this land in the first place? I think that this is a question that should be asked. And anyway, whether you hunt in your own land or not, the problem remains that you cannot be allowed to do whatever you want in your own land, that harms the natural environment. Now, you may squeal as much as you please, but that's the natural law. You have to respect nature! You have to respect your neighbour who, I repeat, has as much right as you do, with regard to birds. And birds have their own, natural rights as well.
John Matthews
Jun 14th 2010, 16:24
@ C Cassar
Just interested. What do you eat? FISH---MEAT---POULTRY . Or perhaps you are a vegetarian. Your choice
Johnny Xerri
Jun 14th 2010, 20:57
Mr Farrugia, I hope that if the government decides to pass this law as other EU countries have, or if the government opens a season that you don’t approve of I and no other hunter will be treated like the warden. Remember:
'If I had been the LSA, I would not need MUT's condemnation and the Police to investigate. I would have taught that warden a lesson in good manners, myself.'
So you believe that hunters do not have a right to exhaust legal options to bring themselves justice over the deceit in the referendum and election. But here comes the beauty of the antis, they believe that are above the law.
As for the issue of private land, how do normal people acquire private land and possessions? Simple by purchasing or renting the asset. Don't even know why I bothered answering such a question.
Ramon Casha
Jun 14th 2010, 10:28
Ironic... the only organisation to obstruct the legally-licensed hunters during the legal hunting season was FKNK itself.
Johnny Xerri
Jun 14th 2010, 21:01
Had FKNK not bothered to issue directives the PM would have never sought to declare that a 3 week season is very much probable next year.
The PM thought that we would have jumped at the idea of a 1 week half days season and that once happy this year that is what we would have forever.
We showed him were he can shove the 6 half days and knowing that he stands more to lose than win from such a farce of a season, he is working on a better deal.
Trying to tarnish FKNK will get you nowhere