The SHout movement against spring hunting in a statement this afternoon said that it “notes the comments made yesterday by Joe Perici Calascione, President of the FKNK Hunters’ Association, during a programme aired by the Broadcasting Authority on TVM2.”

“FKNK President Joe Perici Calascione stated publicly that if the ‘yes’ movement loses the referendum the Hunters’ Federation will seek legal means to reverse the decision,” SHout said.

“SHout finds this declaration surprising and shocking when one considers that an abrogative referendum is a decision taken by the people, a democratic process undertaken with full respect for the country’s law.”

It added that “above all, SHout is convinced that the government and any political party will respect the people’s verdict.”

SHout said it maintains that this attitude is “clear proof that the Hunters’ Federation has still not grasped the basic concept that in a democracy the people’s will is supreme.”

“Perici Calascione argued that hunting birds in spring is justified ‘because everything, including birds, must die’. SHout replies that the basic argument is simple: today nobody in Malta hunts birds for sustenance.”

“All bird hunting in Malta is done purely for fun, and not out of need. In today’s world – especially in Europe – the killing of birds in spring is prohibited and illegal,” stated SHout.

“This is why many thousands of Maltese and Gozitans will be voting ‘no’ on 11 April.”

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