(IN): Fwd: Letter to Shri Priyadarsanan Dharma Raj

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---------- Forwarded message ----------

AZAM SIDDIQUI <azam24x7

Mon, Jul 7, 2008 at 5:19 PM

Letter to Shri Priyadarsanan Dharma Raj

priyan

Cc: Maneka Gandhi <gandhim, envisect, Animal welfare <

awbi, secretary.awbi

 

 

*Kind attention:* *Shri* *Priyadarsanan Dharma Raj, **Ashoka Trust for

Research in Ecology and the Environment

 

Sub: *Online petition requesting the release of Dr. Petr Švácha, (Senior

Scientist at Institute of Entomology, Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic)

arrested in Singalila National Park, Darjeeling (West Bengal).

 

Dear Shri Priyadarshan,

 

This is with reference to the above online petition which has been created

by and written by you which can be traced in the link below:

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?wgircn2 & 701

 

It is a matter of deep concern that instead of appreciating the actions of

the enforcement agencies in detection of environmental offenses and crimes

and appealing for strict actions to be taken, we are instead trying to bail

out the offenders.

 

If the petition is to believed then are we going to say that this can act as

a model for other so called 'elitist' people to follow the trend of being

pardoned.

 

Would you appreciate if considering the huge popularity and the

contributions of the Salman Khans and the Pataudis for Bollywood and the

Cricketing field the animal people would have petitioned to the highest

authority to allow them pardon for their respective offenses?

 

Your actions remind me of Shri Tarun Gogoi, the Chief Minister of Assam who

pardoned an IAS officer of Nagaland state after the person was arrested red

handed poaching rhesus macaques in the fringe areas of Kaziranga National

Park. This action of the Chief Minister was a big blow to the efforts of

those officials who risked their lives in trying to protect our National

wealth from being robbed.

Pardons unfortunately never go well within the society, and it only pushes

the efforts of our some of the legends who spent a lifetime in trying to

protect even a single 'leaf' of A- Tree.

 

Yes, it is unfortunate that perhaps the person was unaware of the rules and

laws. But please do not allow our sentiments and emotions to come in the way

of protecting anything that is in danger and more so when it is the case of

protecting our National wealth.

Awareness should be limited to schools and colleges and the juveniles for

the adults and specially the 'scientists' who should be considered one of

the most educated lot within human beings the LAW should be allowed to take

its own course.

It should act as a model for others to follow, instead we have a global army

of 'scientists' trying to fish out an offender.

 

Just for your kind information I would like to point out to the current

issue of the TIMES magazine article " EATING BUGS " which dwells on the

growing popularity of the consumption of bugs and other exotic and rare

insects.

Please find the link below:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1810336,00.html

 

I am sure that you can now make the connection between the following:

 

1. The arrest of the scientist.

 

2. Another similar act of collecting bugs illegally by a German citizen in

Arunachal Pradesh, who was let of with a warning by the local council.

 

and

 

3. The TIMES article.

 

All the above are serious food for thought for those who actually strive to

protect and see the status of India`s environment & wildlife improve for

good.

 

Best wishes,

 

 

Azam Siddiqui

 

Master Trainer in Animal Welfare for

Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)

 

Copy to:

 

1. Smt Maneka Gandhi, Former Union minister for Environment & Forest, and

Chairperson People for Animals- India

 

2. Secretary, MOEF

 

3. Chairman & Secretary, AWBI

 

 

--

United against elephant polo

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

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