‘I believe in dialogue, not threats’ – Animal Rights Minister on FKNK comments

Animal Rights Minister Anton Refalo said that he “doesn’t believe in threats, but in dialogue”, when asked about the threat made by the Federation for Hunting and Conservation – Malta (FKNK) to protest in the streets if the government does not remove the Animal Welfare Commissioner.

The FKNK recently called upon the government to “immediately remove Pauline Miceli and Alison Bezzina from their posts of Children’s Commissioner and Commissioner for Animal Welfare respectively.”

This came after a hunter, thought to be a relative to an FKNK official, was filmed hunting with a child in Miżieb, with Birdlife Malta claiming that he was allowed to use a shotgun. The two Commissioners spoke out against the idea of children accompanying hunters out hunting.

The Commissioner for Animal Welfare Alison Bezzina had said that Children exposed to hunting become desensitised to animal cruelty. “Even if they are not allowed to handle a weapon, desensitization happens when children are taught that shooting a bird and causing it to fall to the ground in agony is cause to celebrate,” she reportedly said. The Children’s Commissioner also called for action after the video came out.

The FKNK had expressed its hopes that the government will heed its call for the removal of the Commissioners from their Office, “failing which the FKNK will take all legal actions at its disposal, including the taking to the streets in protest.”

This newsroom asked Animal Rights Minister Anton Refalo what message he would pass on to hunters for making such a threat simply because she passed a comment, he said: “I don’t believe in threats. I believe in dialogue and understanding each other. I think if we understand each other better, the more we will reach agreement and achieve results.”

The Minister also said that he sent for the Animal Welfare Commissioner in order to discuss this issue.