BirdLife urges hunters to help in removing illegal hides
Hunters are calling on the police to take action against a Birdlife protester for carrying a broom, which looked like a shotgun , in a public place without a licence. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli.
BirdLife Malta has welcomed the hunters' federation condemnation of illegal hunting hides and urged it to help the police identify the "thousands" of illegal structures in the countryside and those who built them.
The sarcastic comment came in reaction to a statement by the federation, which, earlier in the day, called on the Police Commissioner to take legal action against BirdLife for holding a "farcical" protest in St George's Square, Valletta without a permit.
BirdLife members on Tuesday built a makeshift hunting hide made out of wooden pallets in front of Parliament to protest against the illegal occupation of public land, including Miżieb and Simar bird sanctuary.
The hunters' federation (FKNK) condemned illegal hides but insisted action had to be taken against BirdLife Malta officials for building an unauthorised hunting hide on public land.
The federation pointed out that the conservationists had also illegally wielded an object similar to a shotgun, made out of wood, which was uncovered, unlicensed and within 200 metres of an inhabited area. It reminded the Police Commissioner that one of its members had been found guilty and fined for carrying a similar wooden object during a protest in Valletta three years ago.
BirdLife Malta retorted that the so-called shotgun was a broom, which they used to clean up the spent cartridges at the hunting hide at the end of the protest.
It welcomed the federation's request for an investigation and said it expected it to help the authorities remove the illegal hides in the countryside.
Tuesday's protest was held to reveal the "farcical" situation where hunters and trappers occupy public land, BirdLife Malta said. "These double standards have to be stopped because people have to get development permits on their own private land, let alone to occupy public land," the conservation group said.
BirdLife also called on FKNK to remove the 256 hides in Miżieb and the others in the nearby Simar bird sanctuary.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
10 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Jun 17th 2010, 19:58
Some very interesting questions in the comments below! Come on BLM, is EVERYTHING in your Reserves covered by a permit? Is EVERYTHING legal? Is barring the Maltese citizens from enjoying the Reserves every day of the week legal? Do ALL your members act in a legal manner? Is all your literature used in a legal manner? I await your answers!
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Jun 17th 2010, 18:35
Sergio Caruana
"empty vessels make most sound" you couldn't have proved the saying any better.
Andrew Gatt
Jun 17th 2010, 15:29
"BirdLife urges hunters to help in removing illegal hides". Good one! After years of lies, exaggeratons, misinformation, hatred, harm to Malta, demands and theatrics, accusations and whatnot, mhux hekk jew!
The same Birdlife that repeatedly tries to instigate EU court cases and fines, that is allied with the CABS ablitionists, that continues to spew spite and hatred, that invents fairytales about mega migratory highways and millions of shot birds, that wants to curb rabbit hunting, that wants September afternoon hunting to be closed, that wants Mizieb, that wants to link up their reserves and duckponds to make the west/northwest and Gozo hunting free zones......and on and on.
And now you want the hunters to help you? YOU MUST BE OUT OF YOUR BIRDBRAINED, EXTREMIST MINDS! This is just more of your desperate and cheap propaganda. Hypocrites, the lot of you.
M. Cardona
Jun 17th 2010, 13:42
Does BLM have a building permit for its observation hide in Ghadira Nature Reserve??????
e ebejer
Jun 17th 2010, 15:12
I would also add all the perimeter fences they have around their reserves. Are these covered by a MEPA permit? Are all the hides and stone buildings in their nature reserves covered by MEPA permits? Are the signs outside their reserves covered by MEPA permits?
Paul Caruana
Jun 17th 2010, 13:14
Why doesn't bl mind their own private business and stop interfering in other peoples affairs?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/europe/10334276.stm
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Jun 17th 2010, 10:43
It is neither Birdlife's business nor that of the hunters to remove illegal structures. We have institutions in this country that cater for such removal.
A good case in point is the actual removal of Birdlife's own ILLEGAL hide, that was removed within an hour by the people entrusted with such duties.
Birdlife expect to run this country on their own ideals. They dictate, demand and ridicule even Malta's authorities in order to prove their "IMPORTANCE". Their arrogance knows no bounds
Considering the majority of their 3000 members are under the age of 10 it's not at all surprising that they act no better then school children.
TANTRUMS, TANTRUMS, NOTHING BUT TANTRUMS. NOW EVEN WITH A TOUCH OF COMICAL THEATRE WITH THE PERFECT CLOWNS INCLUDED.
Sergio Caruana
Jun 17th 2010, 13:43
Dear MARK MIFSUD BONNICI, haven't you heard that empty vessels make most sound?
M Debono
Jun 17th 2010, 14:25
If 10 year old school children are proving to be such a pain for hunters then it can only be a triumph for education over stupidity.3000 school children under the age of 10 thrash 12000 rambos
Anthony Formosa
Jun 17th 2010, 09:54
What about the "Giren" that were built by hunters / farmers illegaly should they also be removed? BLM wants to play as they are the police, and now as a buiding authority. what exactly is their role MP, MEPA or BLM?