The following Famagusta constituency MPs have spoken regularly in support of - or suggested tolerance towards - illegal trapping:

Antonis Karras of Larnaca
and
Lefteris Christoforou of Xylophagou, Famagusta

Famagusta lies in the Turkish-occupied half of the island and borders on Paralimni (see Mayor Nikos Vlittis). The area is a trappers' stronghold; most of them operating on the border of or in the British Sovereign Base - East.

Xylophagou Forest in SBA East is another 'hot spot' where prosecutions for illegal well-drilling for watering of mist net runs were recently successful.

The mail address given is for the parliamentary party of the two MPs.

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DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD NOT SUPPORT BARBARIC AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES

Please pass this communication to the following members of your parliamentary party:

Mr Antonis Karras MP

Mr. Lefteris Christoforou MP



Dear Mr Karras,
Dear Mr Christoforou

We have been informed of your open support for, or at least tolerance of, the illegal and barbaric trapping and killing of migrant birds. Your names have now acheived fame well beyond the shores of your island.

It is astonishing that a democratically elected Member of Parliament should openly defy or ignore the law. Your actions actively encouraged those criminals pursuing this lucrative trade. Hopefully you or your party do not financially profit from this activity.

The birds massacred each year are part of the dwindling pan-European natural heritage. It is sad that their enforced stopover on your island, on their way to and from their breeding grounds, should prove fatal for so many of them; and critical for the survival of the species in our continent.


As MPs you will be very aware of the island's, and your region's, economic dependence on tourism. Perhaps Famagusta will once again be a flourishing resort in the not too distant future. If these barbaric customs continue we will however do all in our power to publicise this ugly blot on Cyprus' reputation. This will not encourage the increasing number of eco-tourists; or the many others who have respect for their fellow creatures, to visit Cyprus.

We hope, particularly in view of the iminent accession of Cyprus to the European Union, and in the hope of a successful conclusion to the current reunification talks, that you can be persuaded to take a more responsible and democratic attitude.

As fellow-Europeans we do not wish to interfere in the internal affairs of your country; but we have EVERY right to demand that you do not hinder the conservation of our mutual natural heritage.

yours sincerely,


[Name and Address - essential!]

ADDRESSES IN FULL:

Antonis Karras,
PO Box 40556,
6035 Larnaca,
Cyprus

Lefteris Christoforou,
4 Androutsou Street,
7520 Xylophagou,
Famagusta,
Cyprus

Email: epikinonia@disy.org.cy

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This helps us, at Proact and on Cyprus, to monitor the scope of the campaign and increase our effectiveness in future.

Thank you,

David Conlin
Proact Coord

The Cyprus Government