Hope in Thailand (2007)

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From ANIMAL PEOPLE, January/February 2007:

 

 

Hope in Thailand

 

King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thai-land " on his birthday,

December 5, opened a photo exhibition of his beloved street dogs, "

reported Marianne Willemse of the Bangkok charity Love Animal House,

" and asked that mercy and compassion be shown to all animals. Next

year he will be 80. We want to push the interim government, who

loves the royal family, to make a law in Thailand that consumption

of cat and dog meat is illegal. This would be a great gift for His

Majesty.

" Yesterday animal rights lawyer Sanya Sukrasorn went to San

Patong market to investigate the situation, " Willemse posted to the

Asian Animal Protection Network on December 23. " He found dog meat

readily available. Five restaurants served dog meat in every way. "

A day earlier, Willemse said, Sanya Sukrasorn asked the

Ministry of Culture " to change the law to protect our companion

animals. He went alone, as we respect the martial law order of no

gatherings to protest, " but " brought along his guitar and a long

banner which he stretched out in front of the Ministry of Culture.

" The General Secretary accepted the letter with gratitude, "

Willemse continued. " The week before, ministry officials visited

Sakon Nakon and witnessed themselves a dog slaughter house where

600,000 dogs [per year] get killed and shipped to Vietnam frozen.

The officials were horrified about it. They had been given orders

from above to inspect the situation and to stop it. A law will be

made, they said. "

The prospect of Thai action against dog meat followed a

November 24, 2006 Bangkok Post report that " Dog meat is gaining in

popularity in Chiang Mai, with an increasing number of roadside food

stalls serving dog meat dishes over the past few years. "

Dog-eating was rare in Thailand until after the U.S. war in

Vietnam, when thousands of ethnic Chinese refugees from Vietnam and

some from Laos and Cambodia were resettled in the Chiang Mai region,

with U.S. economic aid. Alleged dog thefts for slaughter

subsequently became a frequent source of ethnic tension between

native Thais and the immigrants.

The existing law was enforced on November 6, 2006, the

Bangkok Nation reported, as Mekong Patrol Police " rescued 350 dogs

before they were smuggled to Laos. Police captain Sommai Duangkam

said his unit heard dogs barking and howling from a river bank at 5

a.m., " the Nation elaborated. " Sommai said that when he checked,

he found that villagers were transporting 39 cages with 350 dogs on

two boats. He said the villagers fled on foot upon seeing his patrol

boat. The dogs were sent to the Nakhon Phanom animals quarantine

center for further action. "

 

 

 

--

Merritt Clifton

Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE

P.O. Box 960

Clinton, WA 98236

 

Telephone: 360-579-2505

Fax: 360-579-2575

E-mail: anmlpepl

Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org

 

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