The Coalition Against Spring Hunting today replied to objections made by the hunters in the Constitutional Case and explained in detail how the Electoral Commission had verified the signatures collected by a petition.
The coalition said the hunting lobby is basing most of its arguments on legal points which, when interpreted correctly, mean the exact opposite.
The coalition members said the Electoral Commission had verified all names on the 44,376 signature petition. The 10% threshold worked out by the commission was 33,418 but, even when invalid signatures were discarded, the total stood at 41,494.
The coalition also argued against the hunters' claim that the Referenda Act prevented the holding of a referendum to abolish any legislation of a fiscal nature. It said there was nothing fiscal about spring hunting because there was no requirement of a specific licence to go hunting in spring.
The coalition also said the hunters were implying that the Wild Birds Directive is designed to find a balance between bird conservation and recreational needs. In reality the directive is designed to impose obligations on member states on the conservation of birds within an international framework. Derogations are is not an obligation but a concession.
"The applicants are arguing that the majority should govern with full respect to minorities. Does this mean that we should do away with general elections, since this will lead to a majority imposing on minorities?" It is also ironic that the hunters lobby is claiming that a referendum would undermine democracy when it is, in fact, the most powerful democratic tool. Besides, hunting can never be considered a fundamental right, not even under EU law.
The coalition said that the Birds Directive is designed to protect birds, particularly in the spring time, when they are most vulnerable. This is why the coalition is proposing the referendum to abolish, with limitations, spring hunting. "Naturally, the people will have the final say."
The Coalition for the Abolition of Spring Hunting is formed by 14 environmental groups: AD, Birdlife, Coalition for Animal Rights, Din L-Art Ħelwa, Flimkien għal-Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, Gaia Foundation, Greenhouse, International Animal Rescue Malta, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, Moviment Graffiit, Nature Trust, Ramblers Association Malta, Youth for the Environment.
Earlier, the coalition said this latest development marks the beginning of the last stage which leads to a precise date for the holding of the referendum, which would abolish hunting in spring once and for all.
AD deputy chairman Carmel Cacopardo said the Constitutional court has around three months to hear the oral submissions of the interested parties and to then decide on the admissibility of the referendum request. By the end of January, at the latest, we should know the outcome. He noted that AD has worked consistently to abolish spring hunting since its foundation in 1989.
The Malta Independent, along with the Times of Malta and Malta Today, have also taken up a joint stand against spring hunting.