Hunters federation ‘expects all hunters’ to donate money for campaign

Hunting Federation FKNK is “expecting each and every hunter to donate at least €10 to the referendum campaign”.

Themed ‘Today it’s us – tomorrow it could be you!’, FKNK issued a call for donations in which it declared that it expected all hunters and “the rest of the Maltese and Gozitans” to help out in the campaign by sending an SMS and donating €11.65 or by direct transfer in a bank account.

“FKNK expects all hunters and trappers to make a donation of at least €10. Donations are expected from the rest of the population who all form part of some minority group. This way, we will be prepared for the referendum while we can keep safeguarding the interests, rights and legal privileges of minorities,” FKNK said in its press release.

FKNK is collecting money ahead of campaign launch

A group of 12 Maltese legal experts, led by former judge of the European Court of Human Rights Giovanni Bonello, have declared that the referendum on spring hunting will not open the door to restrictions on other hobbies.

Giovanni Bonello likened the assertion by pro-hunting groups that all hobbies will be open to an abrogative referendum to scaring children with the bogeyman.
“No one should fear that the referendum will affect their hobbies. There is no logic in saying that if the majority vote ‘no’ [to spring hunting], other hobbies will be affected.”

The FKNK however accused Bonello and the legal experts of “misleading” the public.

Reiterating that minorities’ interests were “at risk”, FKNK said donations could also be deposited at the FKNK’s office in Msida and outlets across Malta and Gozo.