FKNK suspends membership of four charged with illegal hunting

Mr Johnny Xerri

May 1st 2011, 16:59

5 people are charged in court and you imply that all hunters show at anything that flies.

Many if not most of the hunters; plant trees, rebuild damaged rubble walls, weed their land to avoid summer fires, clean after picnic/bbq trespassers, conserve land from building and real estate speculation, introduced sustainable farming, and all the work they do on thir land....yet you inply that they are not conservationists

So who is a conservationisit in your books?
Those that built at saghtrija in Zebbug Gozo?
Those that built all over Attard Valley?
Those that built all over Mellieha Ridge
Those that built all over Salina?
Those that built all over Mistra Village?
Those that built a 5 star hotel in shores that were famous for shore bird hunting or birdwatching?

At least during the closed season all and sundry can benefit from the land and work of the hunter...including birds that are either resident species or else migrate outside the open season.

Mr Mizzi,

Who will give back the life to the slaughtered birds?
Maybe the same people who will give back the habitat they stole from the Maltese wildlife will give a helping hand?

Mr Anthony Formosa

Apr 30th 2011, 18:58

No he's not holier than the others, perhaps he's not an FKNK member, however I'm sure other groups will follow example.

Mario Farrugia

Apr 30th 2011, 20:13

The 5th person is not an FKNK member. As simple as that.
Here's hoping that the other association will follow suit and at least, for the moment, suspend that person's membership too.

Mr Johnny Xerri

May 1st 2011, 07:31

since you yourself mentioned the loopholes that exist through membership with other organisations...I would have assumed that you would have enough common sense to realise that the other person would have already been a member of another organisation and thus FKNK had no membership to suspend.

But some people are so into tarnishing FKNK and hunters that they even contradict themselves

Mario Farrugia

Apr 30th 2011, 20:15

It's exactly that, Mr. Camilleri.
These persons have been charged with a crime and they are still considered innocent until proved guilty in a court of law. Hence the correct use of wording by FKNK.

Mr HENRY FENECH AZZOPARDI

May 1st 2011, 00:48

All hunters were pre advised about the line of action FKNK will be taking if some one is to be arraigned in court with an offence on hunting.

THERE ARE NO IFS OR BUTS EVERYONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS ACTIONS.

It is only in this way that we can achieve credibility.

WELL DONE FKNK KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. MAYBE BIRDLIFE WILL REALISE THAT YOU WERE HONEST WHEN YOU DECLARED ZERO TOLERANCE.

Mario Farrugia

Apr 30th 2011, 20:21

Mr. Camilleir, I beg to differ.
As it is, these persons are still considered innocent until, and if, found guilty in a court of law.
Right now the FKNK has just suspended their membership, pending the verdict. This suspension can be reversed if they are found innocent of the charges brought against them.
If found guilty, however, the next step would be to CANCEL their membership indefinitely.
Regrettably, as things stand right now and if the latter were to be the case, these persons can register membership with another assocation, thereby re-acquiring a hunting licence. This loophole, which the FKNK has outlined on several occasions, needs to be blocked by the competent authorities without further delay.

D. Farrugia

Apr 30th 2011, 17:53

But they can always become members of another hunting group! Loopholes loopholes loopholes.

Mr Fabian Borg

Apr 30th 2011, 20:55

D.Farrugia,
That is up to the other hunting groups. Hopefully the government will seek to qualify FKNK as a main Federation to grant hunting permits in Malta.

Mr Johnny Xerri

May 1st 2011, 07:23

@ D Farrugia,

Is that FKNK's fault?

FKNK & KSU (Kaccaturi San Umbertu) has been stressing the need for laws to be properly enacted and for these loop holes to be closed, and for either government to close them or for the other hunting organisations to adopt the same policy.

But then again, these loop holes are needed by some NGO as a certain NGO never stressed the need to take away the licence of a poacher for a number of years, but to close the season for all and sundry.