IPPL letter published in Malaysiakini

[Guest guest]

Malaysiakini is an on-line newspaper which recently ran a letter from

Malaysia's former wildlife chief, Musa Nordin, justifying Malaysia's

plans to export monkeys in which Mr. Nordin has admitted some

involvement. Nordin retired in late 2006. His predecessor Mohammed

Khan instituted the export ban on monkeys in 1984. Here is my reply

which was published on 1 November 2007. More information and

addresses for protest letters from IPPL.

 

Musa, they're not interested in your urban monkeys

 

(<http://www.malaysia kini.com/letters/74271>http://www.malaysia

kini.com/letters/74271)

Shirley McGreal

Nov 1, 07 5:36pm

 

I read with interest Dato' Musa Nordin's comments supporting the

monkey trade (<http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/74170>Export of

our monkeys benefits mankind). One thing missing from the letter is

details of the monkey money trail. As former director-general in

charge of protecting wildlife, I believe Musa could and should

provide this important information.

 

What are the names of all the companies involved? Who are the

officials of these companies? Tell us, Dato' Musa. As former

director-general, you surely know. If you were involved in the plans,

share your knowledge and stop saying that people outside your " loop "

" don't understand the truth " . Are you or are you not involved with

the export plans? Did they start before or after you left office?

 

Unfortunately, some animal dealers develop a " sideline " of smuggling

orangutans and other rare species. Musa must surely remember the

attempts by Danish smuggler Ingemar Forss to set up business in

Malaysia, which were foiled by former director-general Mohamed Khan.

 

We were pleased to read Musa's statement that no monkeys have yet

been exported. However, he is mistaken in saying that overseas

research facilities will seek out Malaysia's city monkeys. When India

participated in the monkey trade, the dealers were assigned forest

blocks for their trapping activities. City monkeys were not wanted.

Many were infected with tuberculosis and dysentery and other diseases

that resulted from their contact with humans. The free-living happy

forest monkeys were healthy.

 

Sadly the US Animal Welfare Act does not protect research monkeys. It

is very weak. Inspectors seldom visit any facility more than once a

year, if that, because the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service

(APHIS) is under-funded and under-staffed.

 

Inspectors are not allowed to inspect the federal laboratories where

much of the ghastly biowarfare experimentation is conducted. Further,

APHIS can only bring administrative cases. It can't file criminal

cases against even the most hideous primate abusers. Tremendous

suffering goes on in US laboratories.

 

Those Malaysians interested in more information about how monkeys

suffer in the United States should

<http://www.all-creatures.org/saen/>visit this site. [link to SAEN].

 

We salute those caring and compassionate Malaysians working to make

sure that the monkeys live free in their homeland.

 

The writer is chairwoman, International Primate Protection League.

 

 

Dr. Shirley McGreal, Founder

International Primate Protection League

POB 766, Summerville SC 29484-0766, USA

Ph. 843-871-2280 Fax. 843-871-7988

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

 

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instead of his tongue. "