Hunters lobby want disciplinary action for police ‘accomplices’

Hunters' lobby FKNK wants the Commissioner of Police to take "necessary, disciplinary action" against the Administrative Law Enforcement unit's officers who were accompanying the officials of CABS (Campaign Against Bird Slaughter) during the flight of a model aircraft that filmed hunters during the spring season.

FKNK secretary-general Lino Farrugia was reacting to a statement by the German organisation which criticised the lobby for its xenophobic attitude towards conservationists and threats to its representative in Gozo, David Camilleri. 

Lino Farrugia said he is proceeding with legal measures against David Camilleri, allegedly for trespassing on private land.  "Comments by [David] Conlin referring to 'xenophobic' and 'secretive' scenarios are factually rebutted by the unequalled achievements of the FKNK in drastically reducing illegal activities in the field whilst hitting illegalities where it hurts and not targeting the general public in the process. Illegal acts cannot be curtailed by other illegal acts as CABS seem intent on pursuing," Farrugia said.

The FKNK is insisting that the use of the model aircraft, provided to CABS by German television station RTL, was illegal since the Prime Minister confirmed in parliament that CABS had no permits to fly the 'drone'.

CABS board member David Conlin said the organisation has now entrusted a legal firm to obtain all the necessary permits and permissions for 2013's season.

"By default this proves that this year's operations were illegal and the police officers may be seen to be accomplices," Farrugia said. "The fact that the spy-aircraft was flown without the necessary permits has already been confirmed in Parliament by the Maltese Prime Minister himself and so cannot be refuted."