Holding true to a promise made last week by the Hunters and Trappers Federation (FKNK), around 2,000 hunters and trappers from Malta and Gozo yesterday met in front of St Domnic’s Church in Rabat for a walk in protest against changes to the hunting regulations.

Last week, the FKNK said it will stage protests unless Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino took necessary measures to remedy the situation that has been created as a result of the “inconclusive hunting regulations that are creating unnecessary hassle and panic”.

Several of the hunters turned out in full hunting gear and decorated several cars and pick-ups with tree branches, stuffed birds, camouflage gear, rubber dinghies and even a dead rabbit.

Large posters with caricature drawings of Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Rural Affairs and Environment Minister were placed on the cars and many hunters carried large posters with slogans.

Speaking in St Paul’s Square, where the protest walk ended, FKNK president Joseph Buttigieg said that the hunters and trappers are EU citizens and therefore demand the same rights as citizens in other EU member states.

He called on the government to keep the promises it made to hunters and trappers before 2004, during the EU negotiations.

Mr Buttigieg said that 13 years ago, new regulations that were very tough came into force.

“Now, the government is trying to impose more regulations – especially through the Legal Notice 79/06 published last March,” said Mr Buttigieg.

He told the hunters that the meeting was called to inform them of the present situation.

Mr Buttigieg said that although it was a difficult situation, no one must take individual action and urged the hunters to think carefully.

“We are keeping you informed of everything that is going on at the moment and it is important that everyone keeps a cool head,” he said.

When Mr Buttigieg mentioned Minister Pullicino by name, the crowd started booing.

However, Mr Buttigieg pointed out that Mr Pullicino represents the government and was not the man who made the promises.

“You have to understand that Mr Pullicino represents the government, and it was the government who made us those promises and not the minister,” said Mr Buttigieg.

He said the legal notice was published on 29 March, during the nonsensical campaign against the bird flu threat, which the government was trying to use as an excuse to start the process leading to the abolition of spring hunting.

He said that that FKNK decided not to participate in the ORNIS committee anymore, as it was not functioning properly.

“Before the legal notice was issued in March, the ORNIS committee was a different matter. However, after March everyone was against us and after we gave them a chance we decided that we will no longer form part of the committee.”

Mr Buttigieg said that it was useless to remain on the ORNIS committee when the hunters were outvoted by six to one.

“It is important that the government does not rush the amendments to the legal notice,” said Mr Buttigieg. “We want the government to do everything as it should and there will not be any problems.”

FKNK secretary Lino Farrugia pointed out that Saviour Balzan was the main negotiator for hunting and trapping in the EU negotiations.

“How can a man who claims he hates Maltese hunting and trapping negotiate for us?” said Mr Farrugia.

Mr Farrugia said that the FKNK will file libel proceedings against Mr Balzan.

“Mr Balzan was advised by Joe Sultana – a Gozitan who wanted to reduce hunting and trapping in Malta,” said Mr Farrugia.

However, following the recent memo issued by the police, Mr Sultana resigned.

“When the time is right, we will give the real reasons behind the resignation of Mr Sultana,” said Mr Farrugia.

He criticised a recent statement made by MEP Simon Busuttil who said that hunting will be abolished in Malta due to illegal hunting.

Mr Farrugia appealed to the government to shoulder its responsibility and keep the promises it made to the hunters.

“We are not second-class citizens and will not be treated as such,” he said.

FKNK communications officer Joe Perici Calascione told the hunters that it was the FKNK who informed the hunters about the legal notice.

“If the federation did not inform you about the amendments, by now many of you would have been arrested by the police,” he said.

Mr Perici Calascione explained that a technical committee was created with Malta Environment and Planning Authority officials, representatives of the Rural Affairs Ministry and members of the FKNK to discuss the amendments to the legal notice.

“We went through the wording of the legal notice for six months very carefully and finally the amended version is now complete,” said Mr Perici Calascione. “We believe that these new amendments can be easily passed through the EU.”

However, Mr Perici Calascione said, the government does not want to present the amendments because it will lose face.