Dwejra squatters dig in despite efforts to remove them
Malta Rangers Unit says issue shows 'how great the impunity is in our country'
Stubborn squatters who have closed off an area of the historic Dwejra Lines with a fence and locks have refused to move despite the efforts of various authorities, the Malta Rangers Unit said on Wednesday.
"During our years of operations, we have never seen such blatant abuse of a popular public space, closed off by a few individuals for their sole enjoyment and not seeing any issue doing so. This shows how great the impunity is in our country," the rangers said in a Facebook post.
The Dwejra Lines are fortifications built on the Dwejra Ridge in the 19th century by the British services as part of the Victoria Lines, cutting across Malta from East to West.
The site has been closed off with padlocks. (Photo: Malta Rangers)The rangers said that they first alerted the Environment and Resources Authority in early November that squatters had affixed a fence and wires to protected pine trees at the popular Dwejra Lines.
While the site is not a Natura2000, and camping technically isn't forbidden in the area, woodland regulations (SL. 549.123) still apply.
The rangers said ERA informed the occupants that they had to remove everything from the trees and to respect the area.
"Instead they put poles into the ground and fenced an even larger area," the rangers said.
Squatters have even installed solar panels and CCTV.A month later, the rangers called ERA again since the squatters had now put up CCTVs in the trees and still had the fence up.
Rabat police carried out a joint patrol with them in the area and a squatter was informed by a police sergeant that this would not be accepted.
"However, the squatter remains on site and blocks the public out," said the rangers.
Rabat council has now asked the police for assistance to evict the squatters from the site.
The fenced squatters' camp in Dwejra.Addressing themselves to Environment Minister Miriam Dalli, the rangers said they hoped this issue could be resolved as soon as possible.
"Abuse like this, on government-owned land, should not be accepted," the group said.