Guest guest Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 "It's Their Destiny" News items on Asian animal abuse December 5th, 2009 Dogs in Thailand Update Dear Friends Further to the Reuters report we sent you a couple of days ago, the following report appeared in the Thai online newpaper Pattaya Daily News ( http://www.pattayadailynews.com/shownews.php?IDNEWS=0000011317 ). Please note, there is an option to leave your comments - feel free to tell them how you feel about this blatant and corrupt breach of their OWN laws. Keep it polite or it won't be published. Updated: [December 4, 2009 ] :: 12:45:14 [view 1676] EXPOSING NORTH-EASTERN THAILAND’S ILLEGAL DOG MEAT TRADE A recent investigation by foreign journalists has uncovered the gruesome dog meat trade that flourishes in North Eastern Thailand, specifically in the village of Ta Rae, Nakhon Phanom. Thailand, the 4th of December 2009 [PDN]: A recent report uncovered the illegal trafficking of dog meat from Thailand to Vietnam, where the price of the meat has exceeded that of pork and is considered somewhat of a delicacy by locals. Due to alleged corrupt politicians and police officers the trade has been allowed to continue for generations with everyone benefiting from the profitable trafficking. The illegal business provides workers with a better income and way off life than if they were to be rice farmers like many other inhabitants of North Eastern Thailand. Due to such a prevalence of stray dogs in Thailand (similar to the Kangaroo situation in outback Australian), coupled with the demand for the meat in Vietnam, the illegal trade has become very lucrative for some enterprising villagers. The locals have taken to trapping, killing and butchering the stray dogs before selling them to the Vietnam. The profitable trade nets a big return for the poor farmers of the area and allegedly the corrupt government officials. In the small majority Catholic village of Ta Rae in the majority Buddhist Thailand have become dependant on the underground market for dog meat, with many quitting the farming life entirely in order to catch and butcher stray dogs. Local farmers are eager to be rid of the stray dogs as they a considered somewhat of a pest due to their propensity to eat the farmer’s chickens. The villagers - once the dogs are butchered - sell the prepared meat to Vietnamese distributors for US$10 a dog. A Nakhon Phanom parliament representative, Mr Phumpat Pachonsap, explained that corruption within the local government has allowed the illegal trade to continue, becoming more prevalent than ever. Mr Pachonsap stated that "The exporting of dogs, it’s a mafia. It’s a big network involving lower-level politicians up to high-level politicians. There’s a huge profit. The benefit is huge. The profit is huge. Even the police are getting money out of it." On the other side of the story, a local villager who is involved in the dog catching trade, Mr Wit (who wishes to remain anonymous) explained "I’ve never stopped to ask if this is wrong, it’s a way of life, passed down from the older generations. This is what my family has taught me." Note: There is always two sides to a coin, in the midst of poverty in the region locals have looked to find a better way to provide for their families, illegal or otherwise the trade is giving some locals the chance of a better life. Will something be done about the alleged corruption? Who knows, but lets just hope that when this illegal market is finally stopped, the government of the province does not leave it’s citizens high and dry with no way to survive. We would just like to add to the last paragraph - Yes there are indeed two sides to every coin, just as there are two sides to the law - legal and illegal. In the West, dealing in drugs is highly profitable and is a much easier way of making money than working for a living. That doesn't make it acceptable. Drug dealers are prosecuted (as in Thailand), and rightly so. The dog butchers are breaking Thai law and must also be prosecuted, along with the corrupt officials who turn a blind eye! Laws that are not enforced are not laws at all. A reminder (just in case you had forgotten....):- The National Cat Society of Malta still has some desk calendars for sale. These really do have some lovely photos that were taken by an ITD member. All proceeds go to NCSM's sanctuary (as you may know, ITD doesn't accept financial contributions). For £3.99 you could give an extra gift to someone you love AND help a very worthy cause! Don't worry if you haven't used eBay before, you can still buy them and pay in your local currency! Any problems, contact itd Ebay listing at http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40 & _trksid=m38 & _nkw=tomasina+calendar OK, we promise no more adverts this year! Our continued thanks for your support and for caring enough to want to make a difference. From all the team at ITD If not through another list, you will have received this email because you either have helped with a campaign or requested to receive these emails in the past. We have no wish to send "spam", so if you do not want to hear from us in the future, just send a blank email to itd with subject line "Un". Our updates are meant to be viewed in html - if you receive in simple text through another list and would like to receive in the original format, please email itd with subject line "Subscribe". http://itstheirdestiny.2kat.net 5 of 5 Photo(s) p3.jpg p1.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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