Hunters' meetings could provoke attacks - Birdlife

Birdlife Malta believes the hunters' federation has every right to take to the streets, but it expressed the hope that its mass meetings would not provoke hunters into further attacks on its members.

"We feel that through these meetings, the FKNK is inciting its members rather than calming the situation - freedom of expression comes with accountability," Birdlife executive director Tolga Temuge said.

He was reacting to the FKNK's announcement that it will be holding two meetings before the election to inform hunters and their families on its latest position, in the light of Birdlife's campaign to end hunting in spring.

Mr Temuge said Birdlife had suffered a spate of xenophobic acts against its members and vandal attacks on conservation reserves in the past year, and these meetings could further stoke the fire.

He pointed out that in 2006 the FKNK administration had issued a statement saying that "Birdlife and Co." will feel the full wrath of hunters, and if it thought that it would stop spring hunting without walking over dead bodies it was mistaken.

Mr Temuge said this hateful rhetoric had not stopped, and the organisation was constantly facing vandal attacks. Last Sunday, three of its volunteers' cars were set on fire, and two of its billboards featuring Maltese personalities appealing to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Labour leader Alfred Sant to stop illegal spring hunting had been vandalised.

"The cars torched in Buskett belonged to a colonel of the country's army, the curator of the National History Museum, and to the wife of an American diplomat. So far, nobody has been brought to justice and we're extremely concerned," he said.

Mr Temuge fears things will get worse unless the culprits are caught and punished with the full force of the law.

"All you need for something to go wrong is one hot-headed person out there with a shotgun," he warned.

"As Birdlife we have never said we're against hunters or hunting. We are just against illegal hunting in spring," he said.

Two of Birdlife's billboards, set up along the Coast Road and the road from Tarġa Gap to Rabat, have been vandalised. One has been daubed with graffiti and the words "Drogi Drug Dealerrs (sic.)", while the other was stripped off, leaving just two of the four faces of personalities showing.

The billboards form part of Birdlife's campaign appealing to the Government and Opposition to stop spring hunting once and for all, and to not put the weight of the decision on the European Commission and Court of Justice.

"We once again urge the political parties to take a strong stand against these illegal activities that our organisation has long been subject to. To date, not a single person has been brought to justice and this is sending a very dangerous message. Birdlife is committed and will not be silenced by these criminal acts or threats," Mr Temuge said.