10 hunters to be arraigned in court over Sunday’s protest

Ten hunters will be arraigned in court this afternoon, charged in connection with Sunday’s protest and the subsequent attacks in Buskett.

The hunters will be facing different charges, including the display of a fake firearm, violence and threatening behaviour.

At least 13 hunters were questioned by the police on Monday morning.

The hunter’s federation FKNK, who denied having anything to do with the protest, has also filed a judicial protest against Prime Minister Joseph Muscat following the government’s abrupt decision to temporarily close the autumn hunting season until 10 October.

The hunting ban angered hunters who on Sunday took to the streets of Valletta to voice their protest, burning beer cans and Labour flags. At Buskett, the hunters attacked birdwatchers.

In their judicial protest, the hunters’ lobby insisted that the government must revoke its “incorrect and unfair” hunting ban; claiming amongst others that the government “is not really interested in safeguarding the conservation status of the birds that can be legally hunted,” and argued that the “general hunting population should not be made to suffer the consequences of others.”