1 comment.BirdLife International appalled by violence against conservationist
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BirdLife International [1] strongly condemned yesterday’s attack against a nature reserve ranger in Malta. In the early morning of April 14th, Ray Vella, working for the “Foresta 2000” afforestation project was shot on the head and his right ear by an aggressor when inspecting the project area in Mellieha. Foresta 2000 is a partnership of BirdLife Malta, the Parks Department of the Maltese Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs and Din l-Art Helwa – the National Trust of Malta.
Dr Clairie Papazoglou, Regional Director of BirdLife for Europe at BirdLife International stated, “We strongly condemn this criminal act. The international Partnership of BirdLife expresses its full solidarity and support to BirdLife Malta and to all others who work for nature conservation in a non-violent and legal way.”
BirdLife is alarmed by the lack of action from the side of the government, “Over the last two and a half years BirdLife Malta conservation sites, volunteers and staff have been seriously targeted over 20 times. In all these cases no one has been brought to justice.” said Joseph Mangion, BirdLife Malta President.
“Last October the Maltese Prime Minister, Mr Lawrence Gonzi, assured BirdLife International in a letter that all perpetrators are brought to justice” continued Dr Papazoglou. “We finally want to see this happen. The government must live up to its responsibility to enforce the law and ensure the security of citizens and visitors.”
More information on BirdLife International, European Division, website: http://europe.birdlife.org and BirdLife Malta, website: www.birdlifemalta.org
[1] BirdLife International is a global alliance of conservation organisations working in more than 100 countries and territories that, together, are the leading authority on the status of birds, their habitats and the issues and problems affecting them.
This is so disgusting and despicable that words practically fail me! How is it possible that the perpetrator of these crimes against BirdLife and in particular Mr. Vella, has not been apprehended? I read somewhere that Mr. Vella did not want to press charges, however this person was charged by the police and there appears to have been a court case. Why wasn’t his hunting license revoked and his gun confiscated!
It is cases like this that should result in a total ban on hunting and private gun ownership! Forever………