Update 2 with Government and FKNK statement below – A number of environmental NGOs have today won a Court case that, they said, gives Mizieb and Ahrax back to the public.

Today’s historic judgement penned by Judge Lawrence Mintoff declaring null and void the “secret Government concession” handing over Mizieb and Ahrax woodlands to the hunting lobby, is an historic win for social justice and nature, and sends a clear message to the Government that political will can only be implemented within the legal parameters, the eNGOs said.

In a joint statement on Wednesday, BirdLife Malta, Din L-Art Helwa, Friends of the Earth Malta, Moviment Graffitti, Ramblers’ Association of Malta and Professor Edward Mallia, said that they are “immensely satisfied that this Court case has been won and that justice in favour of the people of Malta and nature has prevailed.”

Supported by a nationwide outcry against the news of large stretches of land being given secretly to the Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FKNK), this Court decision is indeed historical, they said.The eNGOs said out that Lawyers Dr Claire Bonello, Dr Joseph Ellis and Dr Martin Farrugia were “capable to show the Courts of Malta how unfair and illegal this secret agreement was, where the large stretches of land at l- Ahrax and Mizieb were to be enjoyed only by a few hundred hunters during the long months of hunting seasons in Malta, to the detriment of the general public.”

Now that the deal has been annulled by the Courts, the five eNGOs have demanded that the Government accepts this judgement and declares immediately that all this land is a public area all year round.

The eNGOs also demanded that the Government “pays attention to the general demands, from all strata of our society, to protect nature and conserve our open spaces. Now is the time to show true commitment to this value.”

BirdLife Malta, Din L-Art Helwa, Friends of the Earth Malta, Moviment Graffitti and Ramblers’ Association of Malta, along with various other supporting NGOs said that they will “remain committed to fight at all cost against the injustices towards nature and people.”

“Today we celebrate a big win, but continue working hard for more!”

Update – In a short statement on Wednesday evening, the Government said that it had taken note of the sentence given earlier today regarding the agreement with the FKNK regarding the Mizieb and Aharax land.

“The reserves of Mizieb and Ahrax have been administered by the FKNK since the eighties and the agreement, which was published in full when it was made, aimed to regulate what had been happening for a long time,” the Government said.

“The Government notes the Court’s decision,” the statement concluded.

Update 2 – The FKNK said that the reserves in Mizieb and Ahrax have been administered by the Federation since 1986,

The FKNK, while pointing out that it was not part of this case, said that it was pleased to note the Government’s statement (as above) and that the FKNK “will be discussing with the competent authorities about the way forward.”

It also stressed that “the judge reminded that any allegations that were presented should not affect the validity of the agreement and that at no time did the judgment say that the FKNK should not have been given this agreement because they are not suitable.”

FKNK pointed out that “contrary to what is being said in some media, there was never any secrecy about this agreement, it was published immediately and is still accessible online.”

“This is in contrast to any similar agreement that the Government may have with BirdLife Malta and other fellow NGOs which apparently have never been published,” the FKNK stated.

Photos by BirdLife Malta: The land at Mizieb and Ahrax; October 2020 Spazji Miftu?a sit-down protest in Valletta

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