Update – FKNK statement below – The Ornis Chairman was “forced to suspend” a Committee meeting earlier this evening following a “physical attack” by FKNK CEO Lino Farrugia, BirdLife Malta said.

In a statement, BirdLife Malta said that it is “shocked at the aggressive attitude and physical attack by the Federation for Hunting and Conservation’s CEO Lino Farrugia following a argument with top government official and head of the Wild Birds Regulation Unit (WBRU) Richard Lia earlier today during an Ornis Committee meeting.”

This led to the Committee Chairman having to suspend the meeting.

BirdLife Malta CEO Mark Sultana stated, “while we want to show our solidarity with Mr. Lia, we cannot understand how in this day and age we still have the FKNK lobby led by people who would resort to physical abuse to get what they want.”

He stressed that “this is unacceptable. We have written to the Ministers concerned requesting immediate action and to suspend Mr. Farrugia once and for all from the ORNIS Committee.”

Mark Sultana went on to say that, “we ask this in order to have collective support towards Mr. Lia while sending a clear message that such actions are not acceptable anymore in society, let alone in government-appointed bodies. We also ask this for the safety and serenity of all the other members of the Committee, including those of BirdLife Malta who deserve to feel safe in such meetings.”

He stated that, “one can debate arguments in a civil manner but resorting to physical abuse is not to be accepted and needs to be deplored by all.”

FKNK statement – Chief Executive of the FKNK suspended from Ornis Committee

The Federation of Hunters and Trappers (FKNK) referred to the incident at the Ornis Committee meeting as “a small argument,” which it said, “was interpreted as a physical attack.”

The FKNK said that, “it is hoped that such a situation will be addressed from a fair perspective and that no unfair capital will be paid from such an incident.”

The FKNK apologised to Mr. Richard Lia and advised that “this issue will be discussed internally.”

Meanwhile, the FKNK Chief Executive has voluntarily suspended himself as a representative of the FKNK on the Ornis Committee, the statement said.

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