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maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2014 3 News Feasts risk extinction in 20 years' time, initial survey results suggest Hunters held in custody, threaten journalists again MIRIAM DALLI IN 20 years' time, Maltese society could be looking back and discuss- ing how "festas used to be" if up- coming generations and youths do not take an active interest in local feasts, initial results of a survey suggest. A new research related to the in- volvement of young people in local feasts points to a possible extinc- tion of the traditional festa un- less participation in the different spheres of organisation increases. "We might end up in a situation talking about how feasts used to be. Youths actively involved in the organisation do so to socialise but also out of interest in the festa and the devotion towards their patron saint. "But statistics also show that the love for the feasts is usually inherited from the parents, and if we don't do something this inher- itance from one generation to the next will be lost," University of Malta senior lecturer in youth and community studies, Andrew Az- zopardi, told a news conference. The study, funded by the Europe- an Commission under the Youth in Action programme, is coordinated by youth members of the Society of St Mary and King George V Band Club of Mqabba. The majority of 500 youths who took part in the study come from working class backgrounds. This, Azzopardi said, showed that ac- tive participation was linked to the youths' roots. In 1969, Dutch anthropologist Jeremy Boissevain suggested the possibility of the gradual decline of the Maltese village festa under pressure of modernity, with locals moving out and away from the is- land. He later went on to change his prediction, expressing surprise at how the local patronage net- works had grown larger. "This research indicates that the feasts might die as band clubs and societies fail to attract younger generations. Because nothing hap- pens on its own, the government and stakeholders must establish a policy and a strategy to see what these groups need to do to pre- serve themselves and attract more youths," Azzopardi said. The research, which canvassed youth members of Maltese band clubs and pyrotechnic groups, will show how young people are engaged in the festa organisation, closely involved in all that is hap- pening. "There seems to be a mix of so- cialization, devotion and spiritu- ality.What seems to be significant is that the young people who are involved in the feasts are engaged because there is a sense of commu- nity and belonging, and this sense of community makes them come together to work for a common cause," Azzopardi said. The research also claims that be- yond the fandom of parish saints, treated just like football teams, "there still is, in the majority of cases, an attempt to link up beyond the cult symbolisms." The study however says that the Maltese festa remains closed to people with a disability and those from diverse cultures. While 10% of the Maltese popu- lation suffers from a disability, only 1.9% of youths involved in feasts are persons with disability. Taking on anthropologist Bois- sevain's own analysis back in the late 1960s and 1970s, the study also suggests that the migration of people to other villages so far has not impacted much on the fervour or the organisation of the feast. "Young people born and raised in that respective village feel that they are part of it." Festas also remain the preserve of the working class, rather than the professional class. "The scale of involvement, the number of hours dedicated to the organization and the involvement of young people is a very clear in- dication that the festa is a religious feast first and foremost, and that young people feel attached to the patron saint in question." Nationalist MP Robert Cutajar, spokesman for youths, said volun- tary work should not be lost and the opposition will be putting forward proposals on how to safeguard this "Maltese value". Culture Minister Owen Bonnici and parliamentary secretary for youths Chris Agius could not at- tend the presentation. CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 Two of the men were charged with the posses- sion of an imitation shotgun, three were charged with hurling stones, while another two hunters were charged with assaulting three jour- nalists. On Sunday the hunters – who have taken umbrage at the government's "collective punishment" of curtail- ing the hunting season and have since insisted on the revocation of the hunting ban – held an illegal protest at City Gate, and in front of Castille and the Labour Party Club in Republic Street. They were also heard shouting in- sults at the government and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and hurled stones and empty beer cans at the Labour Party club. Some time later, a group of 30 hunters attacked 13 BirdLife birdwatchers. One of the birdwatchers is said to have been surrounded by seven hunters and assaulted, while others fled away as hunters threw "rocks so big that they could have killed them". Sources said that the police are currently investigating CCTV foot- age and are expected to charge hunters with attacking BirdLife of- ficials. Moreover, informed sources said yesterday's accused were the "masterminds and the trouble mak- ers" of the protest, and that others will be arraigned in court in the coming days. The police said that two of the ac- cused were involved in the attack at Buskett. Christian Aquilina, a 26-year-old man from Birkirkara, was the first to be arraigned for allegedly posting a Facebook post about the protest – an action which the police said was tantamount "to instigating others to commit a crime". Aquilina pleaded not guilty to conspiring to commit a crime and to break the law, to inciting others to disrespect the government of Malta, and for failing to inform the police commissioner about the protest. Defence lawyer Raphael Fenech Adami said his client did not partic- ipate in the protest, and that he only posted a Facebook post informing others of the protest. After being summoned to the police station and berated for instigating an ille- gal protest, the accused deleted his post, only to post again: this time saying that the event had been can- celled because it was not covered by a police permit. Nevertheless Magistrate Marseann Farrugia, said that arrest was justi- fied. Moreover, the court upheld the police's objection to bail and remand- ed Aquilina in custody as there was a risk of tampering with evidence. The other nine hunters were ar- raigned together. They were: Arnold Farrugia, 21, of Dingli, Brian Grech, 21, of Rabat, David Spagnol, 44, of Marsascala, Gabriel Farrugia, 19, of Mosta, Krist Callus, 23, of Zurrieq; Alan Mizzi, 22, of Zebbug (Gozo); Si- mon Camilleri, 26, of Zabbar; Oliver Borg, 42, of Marsascala; and Josmar Buhagiar, 28, of Zabbar. The men all pleaded not guilty to forming part of an illegal protest during which they disrespected the government, to conspiring to com- mit a crime, to inciting others to break the law, and to insulting the prime minister. Moreover, Arnold Farrugia, Brian Grech and Alan Mizzi were charged with hurling stones, making obscene gestures, with disturbing the public peace and with disobeying police orders. Farrugia and Mizzi were also charged with the illegal possession of an imitation shotgun while commit- ting a crime that threatened security, while Krist Callus and David Spag- nol were also charged with assault- ing three journalists. In submissions for bail, lawyers Franco Debono and Michael and Lu- cio Sciriha, insisted that if the police were to object to bail, the defence would request the court to summon the relevant witnesses – claiming that if the court were to withhold bail on account of the prosecution's plea it would not be "in the spirit of justice". Moreover, Michael Sciriha said that the accused "were only exercis- ing their right to freedom of expres- sion," and that spontaneous demon- strations were not illegal. Superintendent Carmel Bartolo said that it would be impossible to summon all witnesses on the day, and said that the offences are "seri- ous offences which are not commit- ted in a civilised society". "One has to keep in mind that their actions caused fear among the victims and people in Valletta and Buskett," the prosecution said, adding that the fear of tampering of evidence subsists during all of pro- ceedings. At the end of the four-hour sitting, Magistrate Farrugia turned down the application for bail and remand- ed the men in custody. Regarding bail, the magistrate ruled that there is fear of the accused tampering with evidence, and consequently the accused should be remanded in custody until all eyewitnesses are heard. Superintendent Carmelo Batolo, and Inspectors Daryl Borg, Jurgen Vella and Edel Mary Camilleri are prosecuting. Maltese festa remains closed to people with a disability and those from diverse cultures Festa revellers