The Spring Hunting Out campaign this afternoon called on the ‘Iva’ campaign to start debating the real issues of the spring hunting referendum. SHout spokesman Mark Sultana addressed the press at a SHout event in Bugibba in reaction to  Joe Perici Calascione’s remarks at the ‘Iva’ campaign launch yesterday morning that this was a ‘war’.

Speaking at the press conference, Mark Sultana said, “The people of Malta are about to make an important decision about a national issue.  This democratic process, sanctioned by the Constitutional Court, requires serious and mature debate. It needs to be a debate about the facts.”

Mark Sultana added, “This weekend we witnessed the hypocritical and cynical game of the hunters in trying to hide behind a shallow marketing exercise which tries to make people believe that they are not who they really are.” He also stated that people have not forgotten the hunting lobby’s bullying tactics, their protests where they beat up journalists, their attacks on birdwatchers and their arson attacks on people’s cars. Mark added, “This is the reality of spring hunting in Malta.  It is a face that they are now afraid to show to the people because they know it will not win them any votes in the referendum.”

Mark Sultana ended by reiterating that an abrogative referendum is not a war, but a democratic tool which we have a right to make use of as Maltese citizens, and that in the weeks left until the referendum we should be debating facts. Mark Sultana added, “Joe Perici Calascione wants to start a ‘war’ because the ‘Iva’ campaign does not have any strong and truthful arguments to defend spring hunting.”

The press conference was held in Bugibba at an event organised to encourage people to voice their opinions and to vote ‘no’ in the referendum.