Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/318021
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 25 MAY 2014 10 JAMES DEBONO HOME Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia, who is also responsible for broadcasting, has acknowledged that a decision to interrupt animal rights awareness programme Ani- mal Diaries to air a 25-minute pro- hunting 'documentary' as a right- of-reply. "I shall look into this so that this will not be repeated," Mallia wrote in a brief reply to a complaint by environmentalist, educator and animal rights campaigner Annalise Falzon, of Nature Trust. But replying to the same com- plaint, the Public Broadcasting Services replied that the mistake was that Birdlife representatives had been interviewed on Animal Dia- ries, ostensibly requiring someone from the hunting lobby to balance out the content on the programme. In her complaint to the minister and PBS, Falzon expressed her dis- may and disappointment at PBS for cutting short an educational pro- gramme with a 25-minute feature on hunting from a digital terrestrial station, as a form of redress for the hunters' federation FKNK. "I was shocked to see how the pro- gramme was cut short by at least 25minutes to be replaced by a ter- rible 'documentary' showing quail being shot and song thrush caught in nets," Falzon said. In her complaint, Falzon ex- pressed concern that PBS had to do this in response to threats over the previous programme's con- tent, which included comments by Birdlife as well as an interview with BBC television presenter and natu- ralist Chris Packham. "If this is the case this is really worrying indeed. This unfortu- nately also reminds me of the past when I was not allowed to speak about dolphins in captivity on a live TV programme as it would have conflicted with the sponsor of the programme." PBS claimed its decision was in- formed by the need to balance out opposing views. PBS CEO Anton Attard replied to the complaint in- sisting that PBS was bound by the Broadcasting Act. "In matters of a controversial nature, we are bound by legislation to give equal time to all views on the subject matter." Attard also insisted that "the mis- take was done on day one when the programme treated a controversial subject without giving space to op- posing views." Falzon wrote back to Attard ex- pressing her disagreement. "I can- not agree that there was any mistake in an animal awareness programme showing the reality of the local situ- ation, especially considering the hunting organisation FKNK had been invited to air its views." Falzon insisted that viewers of the programme had to stomach "the glorified murder of birds and rab- bits" instead of the usual animal awareness programme which it re- placed. "I, for one, was utterly dis- turbed at having to see such foot- age on TV after having to witness a whole spring season of shooting as well as illegal trapping." News PBS defends decision to accord equal time to hunting lobby on animal lovers' programme MEPA refusal of permit for Bidnija winery, despite 2011 outline permit, contrasts with approval of Mista Heights, which was also granted outline permit Minister regrets hunters' 'right of reply' Bidnija refusal betrays MEPA's 'flexibility' on Mistra Maltese troops unharmed in Djibouti grenade attack JAMES DEBONO THE refusal by the planning author- ity for the construction of a winery in Bidnija below street-level may have placated resident opponents, but it was yet again another MEPA decision that contradicts past… indeed recent, practice. On Thursday, MEPA refused plan- ning permission for the construction of the two-storey winery located be- low street level, outside the develop- ment zone in Bidnija. The project was strongly opposed by neighbouring villa owners, but the ap- plication already had the blessing of an outline development permit, granted by the Appeals Board back in 2011. But the majority of members on the present MEPA board have now rejected the application, because the proposed winery was not in conform- ity with existing policy. The board also took into considera- tion the fact that the existing struc- tures close to the site of the proposed winery, were predominately residenc- es. The decision contradicts MEPA's previous approval of the 774-apart- ment complex on Xemxija ridge – Mistra Heights – in which former parliamentary secretary for planning Michael Farrugia had claimed that the government risked being held for damages – as much as "a year of health workers' salaries" – because MEPA was bound by the outline per- mit it granted in 2008. Planning ombudsman David Pace disagreed with Farrugia's interpreta- tion, arguing that the original outline permit for Mistra "was not cast in stone". Objectors to the Bidnija winery included Chev. Maurice Mizzi and Nationalist MEP candidate Stefano Mallia. The PN-led Mosta council and Nature Trust also filed objections. MEPA had originally refused the ap- plication for an outline permit but this decision was overturned by an Appeals Tribunal in 2011, which issued a per- mit. The development was also recom- mended for approval by its case officer, referring to the outline permit issued in 2011. One issue raised by objectors was that while the Appeals Board deci- sion specified that the entire winery had to be under street level, the new drawings showed a room above street level. Government representative and MP Joe Sammut, and board member Elizabeth Ellul – the author of the new policy regulating ODZ developments – were the only board members to vote in favour of the application. The new policy on ODZ developments will make it easier for MEPA to approve ODZ wineries and other developments like stores, farmhouses, visitors attrac- tions and agritourism developments. Artist's impression of the Mistra Heights project Armed Forces of Malta personnel were with Dutch colleagues on Somali anti-piracy mission when grenade attack targeted Djibouti restaurant TWO loud blasts struck a busy cafe in downtown Djibouti fre- quented by Westerners yes- terday, and at least 15 people were wounded. A Frenchman is among three killed. Police cordoned off the scene. It was not immediately clear what caused the blasts. The wit- ness said he saw at least 10 peo- ple sitting near the area of the cafe, with bloody wounds. Twenty-one Armed Forces of Malta personnel and their Dutch colleagues were on the same site at the time of the at- tack. Prime Minister Joseph Mus- cat yesterday tweeted that the men had been airlifted back to the Dutch vessel De Zeven Pro- vencien. The cafe is the La Chaum- iere restaurant. Some reports suggested two "female attack- ers" and a possible connection to Islamist terrorist group Al Shabab. On Saturday, a twin attack also took place when Islamist militants from the al-Shabab movement have attacked the Somali parliament in Mogad- ishu, leaving at least 10 people dead. Explosions and gunfire were heard and witnesses reported seeing bodies. Somali police were joined by African Union troops as they engaged the attackers. Al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaeda, once controlled large areas of Somalia but was pushed out of major cities in 2011 and 2012. However, it is still able to mount complex attacks. It has frequently targeted the UN- backed parliament. A car bomb exploded outside the gates of parliament shortly before midday local time (8am CET) followed by more blasts and bursts of gunfire. The at- tackers then stormed the front of the parliament building as security forces fired back. "Fighting is going on inside the parliament building and we are fighting rebels inside the build- ing but we evacuated members of parliament," Col Mahamed Dahir said. At least four police officers and several militants were re- ported killed. Eyewitnesses saw a number of bodies in military fatigues but could not confirm whether they were members of the security forces. Two MPs were reportedly wounded in the attack as they were taken out of the back of the building. Somali mission On Monday 19 May 2014, Dutch frigate HNLMS De Zeven Provenciën joined EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) So- malia Operation Atalanta. Operation Atalanta is the Eu- ropean Union's counter-piracy operation off the coast of So- malia. As the ship sailed towards the Gulf of Aden the crew main- tained a high level of operation- al readiness. They conducted a hostage release exercise with a Dutch merchant vessel and had to coordinate a search and res- cue operation. Also en route to the Gulf of Aden the ship em- barked a board- ing team from the Republic of Malta. On Wednes- day 14 May the exercise with the Dutch merchant ship "Nordnes" provided the embarked Mal- tese boarding team and ship's NH90 flight crew with an op- portunity to conduct training in a very realistic environment. On Thursday 15 May the Dutch frigate received a distress call from a merchant vessel that a crew member had gone over- board. The frigate, which was about 22 nautical miles away, coordinated the search and rescue operation with the NH 90 helicopter until the Maltese coastguard took over. The Commanding Officer of HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën, Commander Ruud Schoonen stated: "We are really looking forward to joining the other units in EU Naval Force Op- eration Atalanta. Having suc- cessfully completed the final pre-deployment training by the Dutch Navy Sea Training staff, the ship is now fully prepared to conduct counter piracy opera- tions off the coast of Somalia." Somali piracy is characterised by criminals taking control of vessels transiting the region and extorting ransom money for the crew, the vessel and cargo; this bearing all features of organised crime. Crews held hostage by pirates often face a prolonged period of captivity, the average being 5 months (145 days) but some hostages have been held for more than two years and eight months (1001 days).