The vast majority of Nationalist and Labour candidates have failed to complete a Birdlife questionnaire probing their views on wildlife protection, law enforcement and public access to the countryside.

We are saying that it is in the public interest to know the answers

Election candidates have an obligation to express their position on such important issues, Birdlife Malta executive director Steve Micklewright said.

Determined to get replies, Birdlife members yesterday delivered hard copies of the questionnaire – complete with a stamped, return-addressed envelope – to the two parties’ headquarters.

Mr Micklewright was accompanied by six Birdlife members wearing masks bearing the faces of Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Labour leader Joseph Muscat.

The paper masks showed the two party leaders with their mouths gagged and the letters ‘RTO’ printed on the gag.

“They are gagged from speaking about the countryside,” Mr Micklewright said, adding the letters stood for “reserved to owners” – a familiar sight in the country.

So far, he said, both the Nationalist and Labour parties had been unclear about their position on certain issues, possibly because they did not want to upset the hunting lobby perceived as a vote-catcher. On January 15, Birdlife sent a questionnaire, via e-mail, to all candidates contesting the general election asking them to clearly state their views.

The eight-question document, required simple Yes or No answers, and asked candidates if they agreed that public areas should be safely accessible to the public and whether they agreed with hunting and trapping in public nature parks.

The candidates were given until February 1 to reply. All eight Alternattiva Demokratika candidates replied but just four of Labour’s 89 candidates and one of the PN’s 70 candidates responded.

Mr Micklewright said Birdlife had received a “general” statement from the PN saying it was all for the enforcement of hunting laws and ensuring public access to the countryside.

Labour leader Dr Muscat last week told Birdlife that candidates were left free to answer the questionnaire.

In a statement yesterday, AD chairman Michael Briguglio said if elected to Parliament, his party would propose the abolition of hunting in spring, in full compliance with EU legislation, and increase enforcement against illegalities.