Arrogant acts of desperation

The untruths being resorted to by a number of government ministers to smear my name and that of Alternattiva Demokratika are turning out to be quite amusing. Of course, when one is in politics, once should always expect strong criticism.

However, heated debate and divergent opinions are one thing... blatant, fabricated untruths are another.

The desperate attacks by exponents of the Fenech Adami/Gonzi governments started in 2003 immediately after the EU referendum in March, when we at AD, together with innumerable organisations of Maltese civil society, had come out victorious in the referendum on EU accession, together with the PN.

All Maltese and Gozitans noted the start of the government onslaught on AD, spearheaded by none other than the Prime Minister of the time, at the famous Luxol Ground meeting.

As for myself, it was Minister George Pullicino who started the ball rolling with a pathetic accusation in September 2003 because I had "dared" to point out that, as opposed to what he had announced, Malta did qualify for funding to repair the damage in the serious floods of September of that year.

In fact, AD and myself were proved right and Malta actually obtained nearly €1 million to make up for the flood damage.

The PN comic onslaught reached newer heights during last year's European Parliament election campaign. This time it was Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg who led the dances: first he tried to demonise me because we Greens favour sensible eco-taxes (unlike the so-called eco-taxes which the government was to introduce a few months later); and then he (together with others) barefacedly claimed that I approved of abortion.

Voters immediately let these government exponents know what they thought of their cheap scaremongering through their vote on June 12, 2004.

With the European elections over, I would have thought that this line of conduct would have come to an end. I was to be proved wrong.

The latest in this smear campaign against me is the statement issued by Ministers Francis Zammit Dimech and George Pullicino on July 4, through the Department of Information.

I am reproducing it in full for readers to appreciate the kind of fabricated, pompous linguistic contortions the two ministers are ready to resort to.

"Declaration by the Minister for Tourism and Culture Together with the Minister for Rural Affairs and Environment.

"Condemnation of extremism in comments about the hunting situation in Malta.

"The Government repeats its commitment to stay in line with the agreement reached with the European Union about hunting and trapping in our country. While it will remain committed to safeguard and enforce all that has been obtained, the Government condemns the extremism that is being used by some in their comments about the hunting situation in Malta.

"It is a shame that exponents, like Professor Arnold Cassola, take part in activities that degrade Malta's name because of extreme arguments and unconfirmed facts.

"It is also shameful that during this activity comments were made that Maltese hunters also shoot at tourists during bird shooting activity. This shows the weakness of arguments that some resort to, especially because they argue in an emotional manner that is totally removed from any balanced evaluation.

"It is shameful that individuals like Professor Cassola, who is aware of the economic importance of tourism, make such harmful comments for political reasons at such a delicate time in the tourist season.

"The government insists that the hunters' associations should exercise pressure on their members to observe the hunting and trapping laws so as not to prejudice what has been agreed in the negotiations with the Europe Union. All those caught breaking the law will have to face the consequences.

"The government appreciates the position adopted by BirdLife Malta, which dissociated itself from every position intended to harm our country. The Maltese government will continue to do its utmost to encourage a culture of sustainability in hunting in our country with the help of European organisations such as FACE (Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the European Union), which today has a co-operation agreement with BirdLife International on a European level."

The two ministers have shown that they have absolutely no qualms about attributing to me words I never uttered. They actually seem to believe they have the power of Harry Potter to conjure up a fantastic reality.

Of course, they are advised by the "intelligent strategists" in the PN and therefore it must seem to them the most obvious thing to spread untruths about others, according to the belief that if you throw mud, some of it will stick.

Fortunately for me (and unfortunately for the two ministers) the session in the European Parliament was reported by The Times correspondent in Brussels, Ivan Camilleri as follows:

"A claim by Hugues Fanal, director of Protection des Oiseaux, that 'Maltese hunters are not only shooting birds but even tourists' was met by strong objections from all the Maltese present with some of them even leaving the room as a sign of disapproval".

Although this was published on June 29, the two ministers proceeded to issue their press release later on, intending to attribute Mr Fanal's words to me, thus hoping to discredit me with the Maltese and Gozitans.

Mr Pullicino and Dr Zammit Dimech can rest assured that the more they lie about me and AD, the more the electorate will see through their ploys.

What did I actually say at the meeting in Brussels? First, I said that the shooting and trapping of birds in spring is unhealthy from an environmental point of view.

Moreover, since certain hunters were not sticking to shooting quail and turtledoves in spring but were shooting at anything that flies, the Greens of Malta were demanding that hunting and trapping in spring should be immediately terminated.

Secondly, I said that hunting is harming the Maltese economy. Unfortunately, a good number of tourists are going back to their countries and giving Malta a very bad name because of the spring hunting and trapping.

Many foreigners are being urged by fellow tourists not to come to Malta because of the transitional derogation granted by the EU. I stated that, at a time our country's economy is weak, we could ill afford to keep tourists away because of the spring hunting tradition.

Moreover, I insisted that the majority of Maltese and Gozitan are decent, law-abiding citizens and can in no way be associated with the behaviour of the trapper shown pulling down his pants in the video.

Finally, I stated that hunting and trapping in spring are extremely negative from a social point of view. In such a small country like Malta, where countryside is limited, it is absolutely unacceptable that some trappers and hunters have occupied public land for their own private use, even denying access to the coast in certain parts of our country to normal, law-abiding citizens.

I reaffirmed that AD would be supporting last Thursday's activity, organised by the Ramblers' Association, to give over to the Maltese people the public land illegally taken over by hunters.

My humble advice to Ministers Pullicino and Zammit Dimech is to get on with their work and give the people the truth. For example, Minister Pullicino, why not do something really convincing on the enforcement of the laws regarding hunting and trapping?

And why not publish immediately the correspondence you receive from the EU authorities on the issue? Do we have to wait for your correspondence to be published in newspapers to get to know what the EU authorities think about the situation in Malta, as was the case with the letter that EU Commissioner Stavros Dimas sent you on June 13, where he clearly told you that trapping in Malta and Gozo will not be allowed after December 2008?

I am convinced that this is the type of news that the Maltese electorate expects to get from their ministers.

arnold.cassola@alternattiva.org.mt