A Birdlife activist was today charged with trespassing on "hunting reserves" which were only accessible to hunters during the open season.
Lino Farrugia, the chief executive officer of the hunters' federation (FKNK) told Magistrate Charmaine Galea that the land was reserved exclusively for hunters in the open season on the strength of an agreement signed by former Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici on April 11, 1986.
Through this agreement, the public land in question was given to the FKNK to "administer". The agreement also stipulated that no one was allowed to enter, unless authorised and unless he or she was a hunter.
He said the agreement was confirmed in October 1989 through "an endorsement" by the late Guido de Marco, then deputy Prime Minister.
He was testifying in the case against Nimrod Mifsud, from Gzira, a member of Birdlife, who stands charged with trespassing and exercising a pretended right on April 25.
Mr Farrugia said there was signage on the site which made it known to all that the area was a hunting reserve and was not accessible to unauthorised people.
He said Birdlife wrote to the Government Property Division (GPD) in February 2011 complaining that the land in question was public land and ought to be accessible to everyone.
However, the GPD wrote back quoting the 1986 agreement, saying the land in question was designated by the government as a hunting reserve and restricted only to people performing hunting activities.
Mr Farrugia said Dr Mifsud Bonnici wrote to the FKNK in May 2010 confirming the agreement.
When asked, Mr Farrugia saida similar agreement had also been struck with Birdlife, which was given two nature reserves which are fenced and not accessible to the public even though they are also on public land.
Two hunters, Kenneth Sciberras and Robert Booker told the court that, on the day in question, Mr Mifsud entered the site with BBC journalist Chris Packham and other foreigners. There were five people in all.
Mr Booker said the people were filming the hunters and "these were there to damage our members".
Under cross examination, the men confirmed that even though they were five people, criminal action was only taken against Mr Mifsud.
The case continues.
Lawyer Stephen Tonna Lowell appeared for Mr Mifsud while lawyer Kathleen Grima appeared parte civile for FKNK.