Investigations into clashes at sea proving hard to pursue
Investigations into clashes at sea between fishermen and conservationists over the past two weeks over tuna fishing are continuing.
With the activists still out at sea, the police have still to find the best way to hear their version of events. "As they are not physically here, you cannot simply summon them to the police depot for questioning, as is usually the case," sources said.
Through their International Relations Unit, the police will communicate with Greenpeace and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society to get their side of the story, even if in written form rather than verbally.
Hearing what the people involved in the two skirmishes have to say will help the police determine whether to press charges, against whom and for what.
Though maritime law experts have termed the clashes as acts of piracy, the sources said any charges ultimately depended on which vessels were registered in Malta and also the exact location of the incidents.
Launched shortly after the incidents took place, the investigation is conducted by the police Administrative Law Enforcement section, which has so far taken the statements of two Maltese divers injured in a clash last week with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
Rueben Silvio required a dozen sutures on his right hand after accidentally mistaking for a lifeline a line bearing a grappling hook allegedly used by the activists to tear open a tuna pen.
Joe Barry was badly bruised by what he claims were rubber bullets.
The owners of the fishing company involved, Fish and Fish, were also summoned to the police headquarters to make a statement.
The police are waiting for the fishermen involved in the clashes to return to Malta and hear their version of events. It is understood the fishermen have been delayed at sea.
Videos and photographs taken by the fishermen, some of which have already been published, were handed over to the police to assist them in establishing what happened.
Sharp tools reportedly confiscated from Greenpeace by the Armed Forces of Malta in another clash two weeks ago have already been passed on to the police as potential evidence should the case end up in court.
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Mikey Jones
Jun 25th 2010, 23:30
Anyone else wonder if these "delayed" fishing boats are actually out there fishing more bluefin tuna to make up their losses? Since nobody's patrolling the waters where they were (Sea Shepherd had no incidents with authorities in the area, and nobody was around to inspect the fishing cages), it's not a stretch to think that the fishers are still fishing.
Edward Camilleri
Jun 25th 2010, 15:43
If the authorities want to be credible, they should order a complete investigation, and start from the point when the tuna was caught. This way only we will know the whole story. If the tuna was caught illegally, then the fishermen had no right to the catch, and Sea Shepperd would have done us a favour by freeing the tuna.
Jesmond Micallef
Jun 25th 2010, 14:05
Here, consider this :
When the RAF was stationed on the islands, RAF Nimrods flew day in day out on their hunting sprees for soviet submarimes. As a direct result of this militaristic / political era of the islands , I tend to think that Malta has inherited a very large area of territorial sea waters. How many RAF Nimrods where stationed on the islands ?
The fisheries and other complementary industries such as tourism on Malta are dependent upon these territorial sea waters for their sustenance and survival. Whilst Maltese soldiers are patrolling the high seas off the coast of Somalia for pirate activity, this small little island cannot protect its own interests on home waters !! The German Marine P3 Orions and the Dutch Navy worked together in collecting evidence such as photographs, confiscation of the boat etc etc.. and handing over the alleged pirates to the Somali Authorities.
I guess the AFM is really looking forward to its new Beechcraft Raytheon King Air B200. Malta does not only need to deal with the already heavy migration issues but also matters such as this incident involving Maltese fishermen and these environmental activists.
Maybe additional equipment is required here.
Jesmond Micallef
Jun 25th 2010, 18:14
Addendum to my comment here: http://www.sarmalta.gov.mt/sar_in_Malta.htm
Nenu Borg
Jun 25th 2010, 10:40
This incident occurred way beyond the Maltese police's jurisdiction, how dumb of them that the are even attempting to investigate this case when our local police do not even have the ability to solve cases committed on this small rock, let alone solve an event that happened out at sea.
As Forrest Gump said, "stupid is as stupid is"
Charles Sammut
Jun 25th 2010, 11:35
It is obvious that there is political pressure on the police to at least appear to be doing something. It is no secret that certain tuna ranchers contribute the occasional Euro to election campaign funds. And it is now payback time.
R Muscat
Jun 25th 2010, 12:10
Well said Nenu!!! If the police have nothing better to do then may I suggest they investigate all those cases of arson that have remained unsolved!!
J. Borg
Jun 25th 2010, 15:09
@ Charles Sammut
Payback time...now?!
I would think that tuna farm operators have been availing of hefty returns on their "investment" in political parties, since the day they have been allowed to dump their polluting cages and operations within our national bays!