BirdLife Malta is demanding to know why the police commissioner is claiming that no infringements have been found on the website forum of the hunters’ and trappers’ federation FKNK.

The police, it said, should be able to easily identify anyone who registers himself on such a forum, and information about that person would be available at the internet service provider and the hosting webmaster.

BirdLife last year appealed to the police to carry out investigations regarding the messages targeting BirdLife on the FKNK website forum. It quoted various messages which were threatening in tone and content.

A member of the forum in a post dated January 24, 2007 on a thread entitled yes we’ll smash things wrote: “yes we are ready to use fists of iron. I am willing to be arrested! damn it, only God must hold me back because I will make a massacre of people damn these… what do they think? That we’re not going to take the law into our own hands?! This cannot be.

“We have always done this and that’s what we’re going to continue doing: bombs, beatings, bottles flying, vandalism…”

“How can the Police Commissioner claim that no infringements were found?! If these messages posted on the hunters’ website forum are not against the criminal code, the electronic communication act and the press act, then what is?” Tolga Temuge, BirdLife Malta executive director asked.

Since the initial report was made to the Police, things have not changed, BirdLife said, quoting other messages.

BirdLife said it was asking the police to carry out thorough investigations so as to take legal action against the people posting such messages, as well as against FKNK as the organisation responsible for its website.

FKNK should not allow these kind of messages that incite violence and hatred.