Trappers in a police ambush

Most readers may not know what happened in Birżebbuġa early in the morning of November 2. The areas known as Wied Żnuber, Wied il-Mixta, Brolli and Għar Ħasan were inundated with police officers from the Administrative Law Enforcement unit such that innocent bystanders were wondering whether the south of Malta had been invaded by dozens of boat people from Africa.

FKNK has first-hand information from a witness... to tell what actually happened- Lino Farrugia, secretary general, FKNK, Msida

No, that formidable police force was not to protect its sleeping inhabitants. Their highly-coordinated “raid” was aimed at Maltese citizens out pursuing their passion of trapping for finches. The trappers scattered all over those valleys for fear of being caught. Their “crime” was not the use of illicit and harmful substances or defiling some innocent child. They were only engaging in the practice of live-capturing of finches, a practice that they had been promised they could still engage in after EU accession.

One of these highly dangerous “criminals” ran for his life and, as some ALE officers converged on him, he faltered and collapsed in a heap. Instead of enjoying a day out attempting to fulfil his expectations, our man suffered a primary coronary infarct and ended up fighting for his life at the CCU. He is still there in a serious but stable condition.

The Federation for Hunting and Conservation – Malta (FKNK) has first-hand information from a witness who was present on site to tell what actually happened and who had gone there to enjoy some solitude. He was overwhelmed by these unfortunate trappers, who were so intimidated by the massive police presence that they appeared to him to be in dire need of medical attention.

Indeed, the police cannot be blamed for doing their job but one cannot help thinking that, were they to engage in a show of force on the same level and with the same gusto against real criminals, Malta would become crime-free in no time.

Since even the European Environment Commission had publicly expressed the view that a finch-trapping derogation is possible and the FKNK has supplied the government with the necessary tools for the correct application of such derogation, what is holding back the government from applying one?

Does the government accept responsibility for the consequences to Maltese trappers of its inaction?