Environment groups demand transparent probe into illegal hunt

[webfact]

Environment groups demand transparent probe into illegal hunt

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION 

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL groups yesterday strongly condemned the trophy hunting case involving Italian-Thai Development Plc director Premchai Karnasuta and demanded that the authorities be fair and transparent in investigating the case.

 

Many said this was not the only case of hunting for pleasure in Thailand.

 

Student environment conservation clubs were among the first to react to the shocking issue of poaching in a wildlife sanctuary. 

 

The clubs from Thailand’s top universities, including Chulalongkorn, Thammasat, Chiang Mai and Burapha, jointly released a statement under the banner of Network of Environment Conservation Student Clubs of Thailand. They called on the authorities to prosecute the case against Premchai and his companions in a straightforward manner and ensure the law was enforced equitably, regardless of the accused’s wealth or social standing.

 

They also asked for an in-depth investigation to determine if any state official was involved in abetting the alleged poaching. The network vowed to take further action if progress in this case was not satisfactory.

 

International environmental groups including Freeland, Green World Foundation, LoveWildlife, Traffic, WildAid and World Wildlife Foundation also jointly released a statement making similar requests.

 

They pointed out that the hunted Indochinese leopard was one of only around 2,500 living in the wild across Southeast Asia and this species of big cat is listed as vulnerable in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Endangered Species.

 

“This grim case highlights not just the critical importance and work of the rangers but also the need to re-examine if our wildlife laws in Thailand offer sufficient deterrence to those determined to hunt protected animals,” the joint statement wrote.

 

“We hope to see the Thai authorities move towards swift prosecution and conviction, and we hope everyone recognises the need for well-supported field protection and anti-poaching efforts to help these frontline teams of the DNP [Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation] increase the detection rate of incidences like this.”

 

Wildlife Friends Foundation secretary-general Edwin Wiek stressed that though this case was very shocking – because he did not think that a man with very high social status would commit such a crime – trophy hunting was not a new problem for wildlife conservation in Thailand.

 

“I have heard from my forest ranger colleagues from time to time that there are wealthy trophy hunters who go hunting in the national parks of Thailand, but most of these cases are never publicised because these people are wealthy and influential enough to escape law enforcement,” Wiek said.

 

“Therefore, I demand that the authorities enforce the law equally for everyone and make sure that people will follow the wildlife protection law by increasing the penalties for illegal hunting.”

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30338242

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-08

[webfact]

Premchai ‘must have had help’ in jungle

 

Premchai (sitting).

 

A retired director general in the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry yesterday said he believed more than three people accompanied construction company tycoon Premchai Karnasutra on his trip to Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi province.

 

Damrong Pidet, former director general of the National Park, Wildlife and Plants department, said that Premchai would have needed someone familiar with Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary to help him on his alleged hunting trip.

 

Without any help from local hunters, Premchai could not have survived in the thick forest, particularly during the night time, Damrong said. As an inexperienced person, he would have needed professional help to remain safe.

 

Premchai appeared not to be a professional shooter, although he had with him many rifles in the campsite. Therefore, he may have had someone else shoot the protected animals, Damrong said.

 

At Premchai’s campsite, forest rangers found remains of barking deer, black leopard and pheasant.

 

Three other suspects were arrested for illegal poaching along with Premchai, but they were his driver, his cook and his close aide.

 

None of them had jungle experience, Damrong said. Therefore, he believed someone had escaped arrest. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30338234

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-08

[Ruffian Dick]

That panther must have been gorgeous... when it was still alive...

[grumbleweed]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

demanded that the authorities be fair and transparent in investigating the case

Authorities? Fair and transparent?

If ever there was such a waste of breath

They could also ask them to parade their balls in Tesco or ask steven100 to say nice things about Yinluck for all the good it's  gonna do

[bluesofa]

12 minutes ago, grumbleweed said:

Authorities? Fair and transparent?

If ever there was such a waste of breath

They could also ask them to parade their balls in Tesco or ask steven100 to say nice things about Yinluck for all the good it's  gonna do

Yes, sure.

Thai authorities are fair and transparent. Yet another oxymoron.

[yellowboat]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

International environmental groups including Freeland, Green World Foundation, LoveWildlife, Traffic, WildAid and World Wildlife Foundation also jointly released a statement making similar requests.

They are all piling on and some of them have very good relationships with public relations companies and foreign news outlets.  This might be so easy to hide under the expensive, Persian rug.  If Toon sings a song about these rangers, or is seen hanging out with them, it's all over.   There will not be enough brown envelopes in Thailand to save this hi-so. 

Edited February 8, 2018 by yellowboat

[klauskunkel]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Premchai appeared not to be a professional shooter, although he had with him many rifles in the campsite. Therefore, he may have had someone else shoot the protected animals, Damrong said.

Damrong, Damrong, Damrong..., former Director General of National Parks Dept., and provider of an exit in form of a scape goat (not a protected species)

 

Edited February 8, 2018 by klauskunkel

[lannarebirth]

2 hours ago, bluesofa said:

Yes, sure.

Thai authorities are fair and transparent. Yet another oxymoron.

 

Their is a Change.org petition circulating on this topic. It seems to have legs but I think we all know nothing's going to happen to this A-hole.

 

https://www.change.org/p/ File a lawsuit with hunters in the park - be transparent - and have the same standard for every case. utm_medium = email & utm_source = petition_signer_receipt & utm_campaign = triggered & share_context = signature_receipt & recruiter = 161826429

[Bluespunk]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Premchai appeared not to be a professional shooter, although he had with him many rifles in the campsite. Therefore, he may have had someone else shoot the protected animals, Damrong said.

And so, the cover up begins...