Submitted by ANIMAL RIGHTS MALTA’S BLOG

Spring hunting issue to be decided at European Court

Ivan Camilleri reports in today’s The Times:

“The European Commission yesterday instructed its legal services to open a court case against Malta at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) over spring hunting.

The College of Commissioners also agreed to take the necessary measures to prevent the Maltese authorities from allowing spring hunting until the ECJ decides on the matter.

Despite this decision, the Commission will only make its stand public today.

‘The decision was made and approved by the Commission’, sources close to the Cabinet of Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas told The Times yesterday. Asked to specify why the official announcement was not made yesterday, the sources said it is normal practice that, in the case of infringement decisions, announcements are made the day after the approval by the College of Commissioners.

There was no immediate reaction by the government yesterday to the report carried by The Times that the Commission will be asking the ECJ to issue urgent interim measures against Malta, thus preventing spring hunting this coming season.

A spokesman for the Office of the Prime Minister said when contacted that the government will only react following an official announcement by the Commission.

The Commission decision will now set the ball rolling at the judicial level whereby the ECJ, after receiving the Commission’s request, will open a case against Malta and appoint a judge to preside over it.

Concurrently, once the Commission is asking for immediate interim measures (that is, a temporary court order) to prevent the opening of the coming season, the ECJ will refer the case to the court’s President to examine the reasons brought forward by the Commission and give a ruling.

The temporary decision does not impinge on the hearing and on the eventual ruling on the original case.

European court experts have told The Times that, normally, a court case before the ECJ similar to the one involving Malta will take between two to three years to be heard and decided.

However, as the Commission is also applying for interim measures, the court will hear the preliminary submissions by both parties and decide in a matter of weeks whether to issue an injunction against the Maltese authorities or not. The decision will be issued before the start of the upcoming spring season.

Normally, the hunting spring season starts on March 20.

Meanwhile, Alternattiva Demokratika yesterday called on the government to respect the wishes of the majority of Maltese citizens and stop spring hunting with immediate effect.

AD chairman Harry Vassallo said Malta is being dragged before the EU courts because of the hard-headedness and irrationality of the government and the political parties’ thirst for votes throughout the years.

Carmel Cacopardo, AD spokesman on sustainable development, said Maltese taxpayers would be risking a huge fine if hunting is allowed this spring and if the law is not changed to ensure that hunting would not be allowed during spring in the future”.

Note: Once again, I must add that hunting is wrong irrespective of what species is hunted, the numbers killed, whether the killing is done legally or illegally, or in which season the killing is done. Each sentient animal has the right to life, which makes killing birds for some perverse pleasure to be without question morally wrong.

That said, the abolition of spring hunting would spare the lives of thousands of birds otherwise destined to be murdered by hunters, which is the only reason why animal rights advocates like me support this ban.

The plight of the peacocks

John Zammit writes the following letter in The Times:

“Firstly, I wish to congratulate all those involved for the maintenance of San Anton Gardens. In our climate it’s a real work of art and a pleasure to come to this oasis of colour and care.

One thing does mar all this beauty - the peacocks. On a visit a few days ago I was appalled at the conditions these birds are being kept in. There is stagnant water in front of the cage or cell-like area. Inside is worse. The floor is strewn with rubbish, old chairs, concrete and it hasn’t been brushed or cared for in a long time. There are no perches or nesting area.

These big beautiful birds are forced to live in unnatural conditions, with no outside exercise in sun or daylight.

These gardens are visited by thousands of visitors both local and foreign. Can someone please help these peacocks?”.

At this point, I cannot say whether these prison inmates (the peacocks) can or cannot be rehabilitated in the wild, from where they (or their ancestors) were abducted. However, the point should certainly be made that no more non-human animals should be abducted or bred to be imprisoned for public display. Anyone who takes animal interests seriously should demand and expect no less.

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