How dare Lino Farrugia warn anyone to stay away from Malta (Foreign birdwatchers are not welcome FKNK – TMID, 10 September)? Who the blazes does this man think he is to speak on behalf of all of us?
I, for one, eagerly welcome members of CABS, RSPB and anyone else who may assist in ending the mindless slaughter of birdlife, protected or not, which goes on in Malta inside and outside the hunting season.
As for these “foreign interfering spies” keeping an eye out for what goes on in their own countries, they do, and do it successfully as is borne out by the animal welfare laws and effective enforcement which takes place there and which is so awfully lacking here.
He talks about troublemakers seeking confrontation while at the same time organising “picked teams” to go out and... do what?... make sure these peaceful people don’t encroach on private land? Illegal shooting or trapping is still illegal whether on private land or not. Furthermore, as I myself and many other Maltese can testify, to a trapper/hunter any piece of ground he happens to be on is considered by him his private domain and woe betide intruders.
Now for two jokes of the week: 1) Mark Mifsud Bonnici (writing in another newspaper) calling people who respect all life bullies, and pontificating about “what long-term damage has been done to the otherwise species-rich bird life in this area (Germany); 2) Mr Farrugia’s comments: “The FKNK adopts an approach of internal discipline that is intended to cater for the proper conduct of its members. This system will continue to operate pending the introduction of self regulation procedures.”
Answer to Mr Bonnici’s comment: We all know what damage has been, and is still being done to the birdlife in this area (Malta).
Answer to Mr Farrugia’s comment on FKNK self-regulation!? How many considered illegal hunting/trapping members have even been expelled from the FKNK (including repeat offenders)?
In conclusion it’s time this man Farrugia was reined in, and told his inflammatory and dangerous rhetoric and very easily seen-through veiled threats to both individual and government are harming the Maltese image more than any CABS or RSPB member could ever do.
Clifford John Williams
Santa Lucia