BirdLife builds mock hide in front of Grand Master's palace

BirdLife Malta's campaign against the occupation of public land by illegal hunting hides was upped a notch yesterday when a makeshift hide was set up in St George's Square, Valletta.

The symbolic action, which lasted just over an hour, had police officers and wardens confused on how to deal with the NGO's peaceful action in front of Parliament.

The hunting hide was made of wooden pallets complete with an RTO (restricted to owner) sign sprayed on it and a BirdLife member dressed up as a hunter posing with a broomstick in place of a shotgun. It was set up to mimic what the organisation described as illegal hunting and trapping hides built by hunters on public land in the Miżieb woodland and other areas.

One hour into the action, the police asked BirdLife members to dismantle the structure, informing them they required a local council permit.

A policeman on duty at the Palace had initially asked the campaigners for an explanation. BirdLife executive director Tolga Temuge explained their actions and when he asked the policeman whether there was a problem, the officer said he had to check about the matter and moved away.

Soon, another five police officers appeared on the spot and two went up to Mr Temuge, took his particulars and asked him what was happening. He again explained their action was a form of "street theatre to demonstrate against the illegal occupation of public land by hunters".

The police asked whether the hide would be removed and Mr Temuge said BirdLife did not want to remove it but would do so if ordered by the police.

The police again walked away "to check" about the legality of the action and some minutes later Mr Temuge was informed by the Valletta police station superintendent that BirdLife needed a permit from the Valletta council. The campaigners were given 10 minutes to dismantle the hide.

The comical scene did not stop there. While BirdLife members were removing the wooden pallets and cleaning up the area, two wardens walked up to the campaigners asking for an explanation. After one of the wardens talked to his superiors over the phone, they too walked away without taking any action against the campaigners.

BirdLife spokesman Geoffrey Saliba said the aim of the action was to encourage the government to enforce the law and remove illegal hunting and trapping sites on public land. He said it was "outrageous" that the government seemed unwilling to enforce the law and hunters seemed to be ruling the country.

"It is inconceivable that someone can come here in St George's Square and occupy a piece of public land. Unfortunately, this is what is happening in our countryside and the authorities are simply turning a blind eye," he said with reference to the symbolic action.

Mr Saliba said that in Miżieb alone, Birdlife had recorded about 256 illegal hunting hides, 22 of which were within the boundaries of the Simar nature reserve.

The setting up of the hide in St George's Square, he said, was part of an ongoing campaign for the government to eventually clamp down on illegal hides.