China calls out Troops to stop the Burning of Skins in Tibet

[Guest guest]

Link: http://www.wpsi-india.org/news/15022006-1.php

 

China calls out Troops to stop the Burning of Skins in Tibet

 

15th Feb., 2006

 

Large numbers of troops and police are patrolling the streets of

Rebkong (Quinghai Province), to prevent a bonfire of skins

originally scheduled for 12 February 2006. It appears that the

Chinese government has banned the public burning of chuba costumes

trimmed with tiger, leopard and otter skins.

 

The authorities apparently saw the planned gathering and bonfire as

a sign of support for the Dalai Lama who had strongly and repeatedly

condemned the wearing of endangered animal skins in Tibet, during

the Kalachakra festival held in January 2006 in India. The Tibet

Info Net, however, stated today that " the campaign has been welcomed

by different groups as a Tibetan contribution towards wildlife

conservation and, in fact, is nothing more than the implementation

of existing Chinese environmental laws and regulations. "

 

In August 2005, a joint investigation by WPSI and EIA revealed the

shocking scale of the use of tiger, leopard and otter skins across

the Tibetan plateau. During the Kalachakra, WPSI, EIA and other

organisations launched an awareness campaign, detailing the terrible

consequences of the tiger and leopard skin trade. Additionally,

dialogue with the Dalai Lama's office ensured that His Holiness was

fully aware of the problem, and was moved enough to speak out

against it during the Kalachakra.

 

The message is spreading across the Tibetan plateau and the wearing

of endangered animal skins now even invites public ridicule. The

Tibetan people who are burning skins should be applauded for trying

to stop the illegal trade in wildlife skins and for implementing

existing wildlife laws. "