Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/457075
WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT WEDNESDAY EDITION WEDNESDAY • 4 FEBRUARY 2015 • ISSUE 401 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY €1.00 Newspaper post Editorial - PAGE 10 Islamists douse Jordanian pilot with petrol and set him alight ISLAMISTS of the insurgent group IS yesterday circu- lated photos on social media showing captive Jordanian pilot Muath Al-Kasaesbeh being burnt alive. The images showed a burning man standing in a cage. According to Jordan's state television, the death took place on 3 January. The Jordanian government confirmed that Islamic State militants were responsible for the mur- der. At the time of going to print, American officials were attempting to confirm the authenticity of the video. Kasaesbeh was apparently placed in the cage on open ground, draped in the now traditional orange robes, doused in flammable liquid, and set alight. He had been in Islamic State captivity since his plane crashed over Syria in December. He was 26 and a first lieutenant in Jordan's air force, was captured on Christmas Eve after his F-16 jet crash-landed near the Syrian city of Raqqa, which is held by ISIS (also known as ISIL). The Islamic group has executed captured Iraqi and Syr- ian Muslim soldiers in the past — it follows an extremist version of Islam that considers rivals, even some Sunni Muslims, as apostates. Days before the burning IS supporters suggested on twit- ter ways of killing Al-Kasaesbeh. They initiated a Twitter discussion on the best way to kill the "Jordanian pilot pig". The Arabic hashtag "Suggest a Way to Kill the Jordanian Pilot Pig" was re-tweeted over 1,000 times. Amnesty for illegal dwellings Millions to be collected from compliance by illegal villas THE government will be proposing hefty fines running into the hun- dreds of thousands of euros for those wishing to regularise the situation of their villas, built in outside develop- ment zones, which makes them il- legal. MaltaToday can confirm that at least 70 villas can qualify for this compliance, which could possibly bring in just under 50 million euros. The figure would be a Godsend to the Malta Environment and Plan- ning Authority, which has always registered millions in deficits. The villas in question were built il- legally on large tracts of land. By pay- ing the proposed hefty fees the own- ers are being given the opportunity to convert their 'dormant' asset into a money maker. The nationwide amnesty will also allow hundreds of illegal farm dwellings to rectify their position for a small amount. It will be wide- ranging and apply to every form of illegality. There is one notable exception to the rule – the notorious Armier boathouses, built illegally on pub- lic land, will not be included in the amnesty. MEPA will be giving six months to all those who would want to qualify for regularisation, after which they will be fined daily for non-compliance. In an interview he gave to Malta- Today, planning parliamentary sec- retary Michael Falzon had vaguely referred to the possibility of an am- nesty. Yesterday opposition leader Simon Busuttil said he agreed with an amnesty for small defaults but not for the larger offences. The move is expected to create a stir with environmentalists who will question MEPA's attitude in condon- ing illegal development. But it will be welcomed by those who have been unable to cash in on their illegality. 72% sure to vote in hunting referendum 'Yes' to hunting prevails among voters who are sure of voting while 'No' prevails among those who will probably vote. JAMES DEBONO TURNOUT for the Spring hunt- ing referendum is set to be consider- ably high according to a MaltaToday survey held last week, which for the first time showed a slight majority for those who want hunting allowed in Spring. Moreover while the yes to spring hunting prevails among those who will certainly vote, the no camp is winning among those who will prob- ably vote. This means that the hunting lob- by will win the day if a substantial number of those who are opposed to spring hunting ultimately decide to stay at home. The survey shows that 71.5% will surely vote while a further 13.3% will 'probably vote'. This means that 85% are either sure of voting or seriously considering to do so. On the other hand only 6% are say- ing that they will probably not vote while 7% are sure of not voting. The survey clearly shows that pro hunting voters are more determined, and will not be abstaining in the ref- erendum. SEE FULL REPORT PAGES 6,7 CONTINUES ON PAGE 5