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http://www.bangkokpost.com/270707_News/27Jul2007_news98.php

 

Fang & claw at Wildlife Fund

 

The news that former US vice president Al Gore will not be coming

here to give a talk on global warming - and hopefully to inspire

policy-makers and leaders in the country to care more about our

increasingly haywire ecosystem - is not as disturbing on the

environmental home front as the ongoing dispute at the local

conservation outfit, the Wildlife Fund Thailand (WFT).

 

One of the most active non-governmental organisations working for the

preservation of wildlife and their natural habitat, the WFT has been

rocked by bad blood between its president Pisit Na Phattalung and

staff members. The conflict started in May, when all of a sudden Mr

Pisit ordered the transfer of WFT secretary-general Surapol Duangkhae

and his deputy Hannarong Yaowaloes to inactive posts. Mr Pisit

claimed that he had to remove Mr Surapol, a well-respected

conservationist, because of the secretary-general's failure to

improve the organisation's financial status. However, staffers at the

WFT - which was founded 24 years ago by the late pioneer of nature

and wildlife conservation in Thailand, Dr Boonsong Lekhakul - as well

as those at other environmental groups believed the two were moved

because they came out to criticise the president for having a

conflict of interest. According to Mr Surapol, Mr Pisit is unfit to

serve as president of the wildlife protection organisation because he

is allegedly involved in a private business that supplies wildlife to

the Chiang Mai Night Safari and Ocean World aquarium at Siam Paragon

in Bangkok, among others.

 

He also owns a restaurant, Puen Deratchan, with a private mini-zoo,

which some staff claim is inappropriate for a person in his position.

 

The conflict eventually came to a head and led to the WFT board's

decision earlier this month to lay off more than 40 wildlife

activists and volunteers and to suspend its operations temporarily.

In response, the sacked staff called on Mr Pisit to resign from his

post or they would take legal action against him for running a

wildlife-trading business which they claim contradicts the mission of the WFT.

 

The conflict has paralysed not only the WFT and its many ecological

conservation projects, namely the Ping river's community development,

the rehabilitation of the natural coastline in tsunami-affected

areas, and the reforestation project at Khao Phaeng Ma area in Nakhon

Ratchasima, but has also spilled over to other organisations in the

field. Following news about the conflict, a network of 10

environmental groups led by the Sueb Nakhasathien Foundation (SNF)

sent a letter to the WFT's board, in which they threatened to boycott

the organisation unless Mr Pisit stepped down. SNF deputy

secretary-general Sasin Chelermlarp said the network found it

difficult to work with WFT if Mr Pisit - whom he alleged has not been

able to clear the conflict-of-interest problem - still continued as

WFT president.

 

" We are working to protect and preserve the environment and wildlife.

How can we provide cooperation for a WFT president who has a wildlife

trade business? " he asked.

 

While Mr Pisit's reason for temporarily closing down the WFT is

financial: the organisation's cash reserves had been depleted, he

claimed - an explanation challenged both by staff and donors - he has

so far declined to respond to and clarify the allegations against

him. He has also failed to elaborate as to how he will go about

" clearing the problems " so that the organisation may resume

operations as promised.

 

Considering the important mission of the organisation he heads, Mr

Pisit owes it not only to the staff he dismissed but also to the

general public to clear all the allegations against him personally

and to explain what is really going on in the WFT. He must come out

and reveal all details regarding the organisation's financial

standing. He must be able to explain that the mass lay-off was,

indeed, necessary. Unless Mr Pisit can come up with an explanation

acceptable to the public, he has no legitimacy in continuing to lead

the organisation.

 

Dr. Shirley McGreal, Chairwoman

International Primate Protection League

PO Box 766

Summerville, SC 29484, USA

Phone - 843-871-2280, Fax- 843-871-7988

 

E-mail - smcgreal, Web: www.ippl.org

Working to Protect All Primates Since 1973

 

One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly

making exciting discoveries. ~ AA Milne