Text for the British Sovereign Base Area Authorities

The text below is the result of detailed Proact research including recent correspondence with the SBA civil administration and discussions with conservation groups and concerned individuals on Cyprus. If you wish, edit the style and general content of the mail to add a personal touch.

A mail has been sent with the names of ALL members of the Proact Team; but members who want to write individually as well are of course free to do so. The more the merrier!

Mark, cut and paste into an email to the SBA military commanders, who bear the ultimate responsibility for the bases, Click on the Email link below. If you have time please move the Proact mail addresses to the cc. or bcc. box of your mail programme.

For those who wish to paste in the addresses themselves, or who are unfamiliar with the Proact mailing procedure or new to the internet, please click here:

[Mails can be 'filtered out' by title if the recipient(s) are being snowed under. Vary the title in the subject box if you have time - and a vivid imagination!]

MAIL TO SBA COMMANDERS

Mark, copy and paste from below this line .....

CLEAR DERELICTION OF BRITISH RESPONSIBILITY UNDER THE BERNE CONVENTION AND EEC BIRD AND HABITAT DIRECTIVES

HQ Sovereign Base Areas Administration

For the attention of:

Commander British Forces Cyprus and Administrator SBAs
Air Vice-Marshal Bill Rimmer RAF

Chief Officer SBA Administration
Mr David Bonner

with copy to:

Military Commander Eastern Sovereign Base Area
Colonel Tony Potter OBE Late R IRISH


Gentlemen,

You share between you the responsibility for the formulation and implementation of policy for the administration of the British Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) on Cyprus. This includes the prevention and detection of crime and bringing criminals to justice.

In the year 2000 some twenty MILLION birds were illegally trapped or shot on Cyprus. The majority of these birds are migratory species and are therefore part of the pan-European natural heritage. A not insubstantial number of the birds trapped in mist nets or with lime sticks meet their deaths within your jurisdiction. The fact that you have not taken effective action against this cruel and barbaric practice in the past is reprehensible; but recent information suggests that you might be giving the problem more serious consideration. If so this is good news; but deeds will speak louder than words.

It is clear that the Government of Cyprus also needs to improve its track record in this matter; but criticising others is no justification for one's own shortcomings. Despite the local political difficulties it should not be beyond 2 long-term signatories of the Berne Convention (which up until now, inexplicably to the layman, has not applied to the SBAs) to cooperate closely, regularly and effectively on this mutual problem. Combined, or at least jointly planned operations of the SBA police and the Cyprus Game Fund, should be possible immediately.

As concerned nature lovers, conservationists, birders or ornithologists, we urge you to place this matter high on your agenda and take quick and concerted action against the criminal elements who practise this very lucrative illegal trade. We hope that you will see the matter in terms of its potentially severe impact on global and European bird populations; and not be motivated by false or short-sighted perceptions of local political sensibility or expediency, as would seem to have been the case in the past.

The strategic importance of the bases to Her Majesty's Government, and the resulting privileged status they enjoy, also bring with them responsibilities - not least moral ones. In the past few years the Ministry of Defence has put a lot of effort into nature conservation on the land it owns and administers in UK; and has enjoyed considerable positive publicity as a result. All the more reason to set a good example abroad, in an ex-colony, and as a senior member of the European Union of which the Republic of Cyprus is hoping to be a member in 2004.

The first wave of returning migratory birds will reach Cyprus at the end of February 2002 and the 'throughput' will continue until late May. It should be within the capabilities of your staff officers, senior administrators and commanders to develop effective plans in the next 3 months, improve the consultation and cooperation with the Cyprus authorities, and maintain a regular, methodical and thorough anti-trapper campaign over a period of four months. Only a hard and sustained policy will be effective against the trapping trade where the potential rewards are so high. Accompanying - and coordinated - measures by the Cypriot authorities would be a useful product of your consultations and negotiations.

Similar communications will be sent to the British and Cyprus Governments, members of the European Parliament and the news media in European countries and on Cyprus.

We wish you every success in your endeavours and, in the hope of hearing soon of real progress in this important issue remain,

yours sincerely,


[Name and Address]

..... to above this line

What is the status of the SBAs? Who bears responsibility for what?

The Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) of Akrotiri and Dhekelia are those parts of the island which stayed under British jurisdiction and remained British sovereign territory when the 1960 Treaty of Establishment created the independent Republic of Cyprus.

Because the SBAs are run as military bases, the Administration reports to the Ministry of Defence in London rather than the Foreign and Commonwealth Office though there are close informal links with the latter on policy matters.

The SBAs are a British dependant territory. Civil government is the responsibility of the Administrator who, as Commander British Forces Cyprus, is a senior military officer. He is currently Air Vice-Marshal Bill Rimmer OBE MA FRAes RAF. The Administrator is assisted in his executive capacity by a senior civil servant in the role of Chief Officer SEA Administration and other key personnel including a Resident Judge. Chief Constable and Fiscal Officer who are recruited or seconded from the UK home departments."

Do the SBA authorities fulfil their responsibilities in respect of illegal and blatant bird trapping?

There is no doubt that the British authorities are now , in comparison to the past, increasing their efforts to combat the widespread illegal use of mist-nets and lime-sticks within the SBAs.

Nevertheless, in October this year, the CCF commented:

"It seems that, once again, the SBA authorities are dragging their heels on the issue of trapping, especially in the Eastern SBA. Despite assurances that the SBA would work with the local Game Service to help deter the massive amount of trapping which is taking place on SBA territory, especially at Cape Pyla, little seems to be happening on the ground. This has led to comments by the trappers wondering why the Republic authorities are taking action against them on Cypriot territory, whilst the SBA "leaves them alone"! It really is extremely unsatisfactory that it seems that the Cypriot government is - at last - prepared to move against the trappers, but the British authorities are not: presumably in the interest of having a 'quiet life' here and 'not upsetting the locals'."

Both the Cyprus Government, and the British authorities, for very different reasons, are keen to shift the blame for the illegal trapping to the other; instead of seriously cooperating to effectively tackle the problem.

In November Proact received a communication from the Administrative Secretary of the SBAs, which is quoted in full (with comments) at:

The British Position

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