[WATCH] SHout reacts to threats against newspaper editor Sandro Mangion

SHout spokesperson Mark Sultana urges residents to vote no to spring-hunting

The anti-spring hunting lobby has reacted to threats made against Sandro Mangion, editor in chief of daily newspaper l-Orizzont and Sunday paper it- Torca. The threats followed Mangion’s declaration that he would vote against spring hunting in the upcoming referendum.

“This is typical of what many individuals who take a stand are experiencing, and it is the kind of culture we have been facing for years from hunters,” SHout spokesperson Mark Sultana said at a press conference in Sliema earlier today.

Mangion published an extract of the threatening message on a Facebook post:

“If the referendum on the hobby that my family members and I hold dearest goes through, then YOU will be the first person that we…”

In response to the threat, Mangion wrote that he felt it was unjust that the little bit of countryside accessible to the public should be enjoyed solely by hunters during the most beautiful days of the year.

“Abolishing spring hunting will not deny hunters the right to enjoy the countryside. They will still be able to visit it with their family members and friends, only without guns in their hands,” he wrote.

During the press conference, Sultana also revealed that Malta was currently the only country in the EU to hunt turtle dove and quail in spring.

“There was a time when turtle dove and quail were hunted all over the Mediterranean region in spring. However, Malta is now the only country out of 28 EU member states to continue allowing the hunting of these birds during the time when they are flying from Africa to mainland Europe to breed,” Sultana said.

Sultana said that the pro- spring hunting campaign had tried to justify the hunting of these birds through a television advertisement saying that Austria and Finland allow the hunting of certain birds in spring.

“The fact that they have highlighted just two other countries out of the twenty-eight member states that allow some sort of spring hunting clearly shows that this is a lie,” Sultana said.

Sultana revealed that the Finnish court has recently ruled to ban hunting for one species of duck and that the only remaining derogation in the country was currently under investigation from the European Commission following a formal warning to stop the practise.

“Conservation organisations are trying to stop the shooting of woodcock in Austria, but even so, it involves only 75 hunters being allowed to shoot only male birds. This is in stark contrast to Malta where all of our 10,000 hunters are allowed to shoot up to four birds each,” Sultana said.

“The iva campaign use the worst type of hunting practices in just two other EU countries to justify spring hunting on our islands. But even the chosen examples are nowhere close to the scale of hunting that takes place here in Malta and Gozo. Malta is clearly breaking the rules meant to be adopted by everyone,” he added.

Accompanied by fellow spokespeople Moira Delia and Saviour Balzan, Sultana called on those present to vote no in the upcoming elections.

“Sliema is one of the localities that will not be holding a local council election.  It is imperative that they go out to vote.  Residents have been given this democratic right and they should use it.”

Addressing the press Sultana took a specimen ballot sheet and explained how the vote No should be applied.

“By voting no we will put an end to spring hunting in Malta and make this country a better place.”