The violent incidents that occurred on Sunday – a day after the government announced that the autumn hunting season has been suspended – are set to pave the way for “even stricter rules,” according to a government spokesman.

Last Saturday, the hunting season was suspended until 11 October – by which time the autumn migration of birds flying over Malta would likely have finished – with the government citing the illegal incidents that had occurred.

But some 200 hunters held an impromptu demonstration in Valletta, one characterised by vulgar insults and the occasional violent act. A group attempted to assault a reporter, who was kicked before the police intervened, and at least two cameramen were manhandled.

The demonstrators’ ire was mainly directed at the Labour Party and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat; many insisted that they would not vote for the party again.

The Valletta demonstration, however, was not the only incident that took place on Sunday: a mob of around 30 hunters descended on Buskett, where they attacked a group of 13 volunteer birdwatchers – including a 7-year-old child – who were part of BirdLife Malta’s annual migration monitoring camp.

The mob hurled sizeable rocks and bottles at the birdwatchers and charged at them. One of the birdwatchers sustained a leg injury when he was hit by a rock, while another was punched in the face and robbed of his camera.

The Valletta demonstration – and, needless to say, the Buskett incident – have not been endorsed by the Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FKNK) or by the St Hubert Hunters (KSU), and both condemned the incidents that took place. However, the FKNK stressed that it understood Maltese hunters’ frustration, and noted that it may contemplate other measures of protest. Some of the hunters who took part in the protest were questioned by the police yesterday.

The Malta Independent has also asked the government to state its reaction to the incidents.

A government spokesman said that Dr Muscat does not believe that those who were protesting on Sunday represented the hunting community.

“Law-abiding hunters must feel hurt by the decision, but would surely not resort to such tactics,” the spokesman said.

The government also welcomed the hunting associations’ decision to distance themselves from such “bravados.”

But the spokesman also warned: “these events will pave the way for even stricter rules.”

Meanwhile, the police confirmed that no permit had been issued for last Sunday’s demonstration.

Technically speaking, the police do not issue permits for protests, but according to the Public Meetings Ordinance, anyone seeking to organise a demonstration is asked to notify the Commissioner of Police not later than 48 hours before the event is set to take place, to allow the police to make the necessary arrangements.

The police are empowered to order the meeting to be held in a different place if it would disrupt a “public solemnity or festival,” but cannot stop demonstrations from taking place arbitrarily, an action which would fall foul of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The promoters of public meetings which do not observe the notification requirements of the Public Meetings Ordinance may be sentenced to a jail term of not more than three months, but Sunday’s demonstration may not necessarily have been illegal, as the ordinance specifically states that most of its articles do not apply in the case of spontaneous demonstrations.

The suspension of the hunting season, meanwhile, may help the proposed EU Environment Commissioner – former minister Karmenu Vella – as he faces a potentially tough grilling at the hands of MEPs next Monday. The European Voice has named him as one of five Commissioners-designate which are likely to face difficult questions, and Malta’s chequered record on hunting was specifically mentioned as a reason.

The timing of the suspension is also fortuitous for another reason: a European Commission delegation is expected to come to Malta on 9 October to review the hunting and trapping situation. Two days later, the hunting season will be reopened.