Thailand submits progress report on National Ivory Action Plan to CITES
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Jan 17 -- The Thai government has submitted its 1st Progress Report on the implementation of the revised National Ivory Action Plan (NIAP) to the the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, according to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to Ministry website, the 1st Progress Report of the revised NIAP which was sent to CITES on Thursday, covers five areas.

The first area covers the enactment of Laws and Regulations in order to effectively control and suppress African ivory smuggling which includes the amendment of certain provisions under the Wild Animals Reservation and Protection Act BE 2535 (1992) to prevent the illegal possession of wildlife specimens, carcasses and wildlife products, in line with the issuance of a new regulation granting African elephants the status of a protected species.

It also enacts the Ivory Trade Act B.E. 2558 (2015) in order to control the trade, import, export and possession of ivory and ivory products originating from domesticated elephant ivory.

And there is also the enactment of 17 Subordinate Laws, such as regulations under the Ministry of Interior’s Beasts of Burden Act to prescribe a new form of Elephant Identification Certificate. Each elephant’s identification information and scientific information (such as DNA) is stored in digital form (microchip), preventing the registration of smuggled wild elephants as domesticated ones.

The second area involves improvement of three registration systems: the registration system of ivory traders and ivory products list; the registration system for legal ivory possession from domesticated and African elephants; and the registration system for confiscated ivory.

These registration systems will be the central databases for information on ivory where concerned authorities will be able to access information about traders, ivory possessors, ivory products movement, changes in ownership and monitor confiscated ivory movements effectively.

The third area covers the supervision and Law Enforcement – Established 22 ivory trade patrol teams throughout the country, 11 joint task force teams to increase enforcement of ivory smuggling in high risk areas and at borders, seaports, airports and post offices.

Two cases, involving confiscation of ivory weighing a total of 165.7 kg and the arrest of criminals concerned, had been reported.

The fourth area was public relations – continuously raising awareness among the main target groups which are foreign tourists, ivory traders, ivory owners and the general public. For more information interested parties can visit www.thailandtoday.in.th ‎www.tourismthailand.org or www.tatnews.org.

The last area was the mechanisms to resolve illegal ivory trade issues, by the establishment of four sub-committees to carry out, monitor, evaluate and regularly report to Thailand’s National Committee on CITES and the Prime Minister. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2015-01-17

March the 3rd, 2013 - Yingluck pledged to end the nation’s ivory trade.

Ever since she made this promise the ivory trade has increased every month nearly doubling 9 months after her promise to end it.

​Thank God the Junta stepped in when it did.

Good luck to the Junta on this drive. Lets hope it is as successful as their drive to reduce the violence in the South..

And no, if the ivory trade is reduced it is not due to flooding as some red apologists like to attribute every success of the Junta too!!

Edited January 17, 201511 yr by djjamie

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March the 3rd, 2013 - Yingluck pledged to end the nation’s ivory trade.

Ever since she made this promise the ivory trade has increased every month nearly doubling 9 months after her promise to end it.

​Thank God the Junta stepped in when it did.

Good luck to the Junta on this drive. Lets hope it is as successful as their drive to reduce the violence in the South..

And no, if the ivory trade is reduced it is not due to flooding as some red apologists like to attribute every success of the Junta too!!

What are the trade figures for the last eight months and why after eight months being in power hasn't the Junta BANNED ivory trade in Thailand? The Junta by itself has the legislative power to do so.

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

March the 3rd, 2013 - Yingluck pledged to end the nation’s ivory trade.

Ever since she made this promise the ivory trade has increased every month nearly doubling 9 months after her promise to end it.

​Thank God the Junta stepped in when it did.

Good luck to the Junta on this drive. Lets hope it is as successful as their drive to reduce the violence in the South..

And no, if the ivory trade is reduced it is not due to flooding as some red apologists like to attribute every success of the Junta too!!

What are the trade figures for the last eight months and why after eight months being in power hasn't the Junta BANNED ivory trade in Thailand? The Junta by itself has the legislative power to do so.

Very very good point. I am looking forward to seeing the figures.

Until then, any thoughts on the figures I have produced?

Or is this the typical "yingluck is a wonderful PM, but if you prove me wrong I want to see other figures"

What are your views on any PM saying something and then the opposite happening.

Not once, not twice, but every single time the PM says something the opposite happens...

Just smoke and mirrors, same with the fishing industry, just empty talk and no action, protected animals and birds still openly for sale in Chatuchak market in Bangkok.

March the 3rd, 2013 - Yingluck pledged to end the nation’s ivory trade.

Ever since she made this promise the ivory trade has increased every month nearly doubling 9 months after her promise to end it.

​Thank God the Junta stepped in when it did.

Good luck to the Junta on this drive. Lets hope it is as successful as their drive to reduce the violence in the South..

And no, if the ivory trade is reduced it is not due to flooding as some red apologists like to attribute every success of the Junta too!!

Just a normal Yingluck statement - along with all the other meaningless statements and lies uttered. She probably thinks if she told everyone farting was banned at cabinet meetings no one would do it.

It's easy to come up with a plan to regulate what is now the worlds worst regulated domestic ivory market. What counts is enforcement of laws and regulations and this continues to be almost completely absent. Very recently it was still possible for Chinese buyers to purchase carved ivory pieces openly in the Bangkok Weekend Market using Chinese currency to make purchases. Even the Thai traders speak Chinese which makes it very easy! This happening less than 3km from the CITES Thailand office and right under the noses of (presumably complicit) Bangkok Metropolitan Administration staff and police. Only implementing economic sanctions will change the status quo.

There is currently a flurry of reports, dictums and announcements re the IVORY trade from the government.

The reason for this is they were given an ultimatum by CITES to to deal with its part in the illegal ivory trade and elephant poaching or face sanctions.

These sanction are potentially very real and damaging if incurred could result in trillions of baht lost income.

Whether or not these "announcements will be considered enough is a different matter.

The ivory trade itself in Thailand if STILL LEGAL - one has to bear in mind that a spokesman under the current regime stated that it would not be advisable to make the trade in ivory in Thailand totally illegal, as it would put to many people out if business.(!?!?!)