Tiger Temple to sue 'National Geographic' over damning report

[webfact]

'Tiger Temple' to Sue NatGeo Over Damning Report
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Monks and volunteers block government vehicles in April 2015 from leaving a commercial wildlife center operating as a temple in Kanchanaburi province.

KANCHANABURI — Days after National Geographic published an article accusing the infamous Tiger Temple in western Thailand of trafficking some of its 147 tigers, a lawyer for the temple announced that he’s preparing a libel suit against the news agency.

Responding to the Jan. 21 article, "Tiger Temple Accused of Supplying Black Market,” the temple spokesman admitted Monday his organization is breaking the law by keeping its tigers there but said the article was wrong to assert that money changed hands with a Laotian breeder, as alleged in the report.

“We are about to press charges. I’ve already read the article,” lawyer Saiyood Pengboonchoo said on behalf of the temple, which is formally known as Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua Yanasampanno in an interview with Khaosod English today.

As to the latest effort by wildlife officials to remove the temple’s tigers, most recently delayed to today, Saiyood said the temple did not feel the tigers were ready to go.

According to National Geographic, the Tiger Temple authorized a trade of tigers with a commercial breeder in Laos in 2004. The article went on to note that cross-border commerce in live tigers is outlawed under CITES, an international treaty on wild animals to which Thailand is a signatory.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1453724560&typecate=06&section=

-- Khaosod English 2016-01-26

[kandi]

I almost saw that coming... But hey, they don't feel the tigers are "ready to go", after all, lol.

Edited January 25, 2016 by kandi

[Soi Sauce]

"The law is secondary", quote.

Thailand in a nutshell.

[onetime]

This is gonna be good.

[Masked Avenger]

And the Tiger Temple proudly opens a new Pandora's Box.

[Masked Avenger]

About time that this place got the exposure that it deserves.

Edited January 25, 2016 by Masked Avenger

[leeneeds]

"Free the people from the power of deception " maybe then the tigers could live with all their sensory capabilities working Normally

[Bkungbank]

Those tigers cannot released back to nature as it lost nature to hunt animals to survive with many mouth to feed daily it is huge bills to pay. It causing more trouble when human interupt nature.

[rkidlad]

Oh, Thailand. The bigger the truth - the bigger the libel.

[aussieinthailand]

I wouldn't be surprised if after much carry on that this just fades into nothing and the case dropped due to incontrovertible evidence and face saving.

Many people think that this COMMERCIAL operation acting as a temple should have been shut down years ago, or better yet NEVER been allowed to operate in the first place............

[Strangebrew]

Judge to monks: Where did you get Tigers from?

Reply: They followed me home to temple. They want to seek advice from my luck Thep doll.

Judge issues warrant to luck Thep doll.

[torpedo1970]

Don't care about the law when it come to returning the Tigers....

But as soon as someone write a word criticizing them...... lets get the law to sue them...

remind you of something? yeah.... kindergarten !

and it is all in the name of Buddhism

TIT

[btunes]

Pandoras box......let's do some drug tests on those felines while your at it.

[Briggsy]

All bluster. There will be no case, no charges. National Geographic is way too big a target and is not a Thai entity.

This is simply a denial of the facts by going on the offensive. (since the facts cannot be denied)

Alternatively you could call it "shoot the messenger".

[SABloke]

'' ...the temple spokesman admitted Monday his organization is breaking the law by keeping its tigers there but said the article was wrong to assert that money changed hands with a Laotian breeder , as alleged in the report.''

So they got the Nationality wrong Not denying that money changed hands though...probably a Thai breeder

[selftaopath]

What a funny little place.

But the world knows Thailand is #1. in EVERYTHING.

[cumgranosalum]

Well hardly a surprise .,,, BUT there are a lot of factors to weigh up.....

Firstly one would assume the Nat Geo are prepared for this

Secondly what about CEE4Life who actually prepared the report? Will the temple go after them too?

It seems that under Thai law they concentrate not so much on the veracity of the allegations so much as whether or not they have caused damages - this is of course pretty indisputable....so it’s not so much did they pay for the tiger as how much this revelation has damaged the temple’s reputation.

The last time the temple tried to sue WFFT Edwin Wiek, they withdrew the action. One reason for this may well have been the fear of the inevitable adverse publicity and revelations such an action would bring.

It seems to me that the chances of the temple actually winning any legal action are quite good, given the state of Thai law and their connections, but can they survive the publicity generated by taking action against what is just about the biggest international publication in the world?

The magazine might be banned in Thailand but it will still be available worldwide where the temples customers come from.

We’ve already seen how irascible the abbot can be (the video of bird confiscation) but will he pursue this action? He needs to weigh the odds.

It might be good to have the whole thing aired in court though?

[davehowden]

Please please please go ahead and sue them, please.

[craigt3365]

All bluster. There will be no case, no charges. National Geographic is way too big a target and is not a Thai entity.

This is simply a denial of the facts by going on the offensive. (since the facts cannot be denied)

Alternatively you could call it "shoot the messenger".

Just republishing the story can, potentially, get you in trouble also. Welcome to Thailand.

[ScottMallon]

The only place the temple will win a lawsuit is inside Thailand.

[colinneil]

Only in Thailand could this happen.

We have been breaking the law for years. We are only interested( like 99.9999% of thais) in money.

How dare you tell the world the truth about what we are doing, tut, tut, tut.

Can you imagine any court ( other than in Thailand) siding with the temple????

[DavidOxon]

they'll probably tack it on to AH's current charges

[sharpjwe]

Tourist should boycott the place

[Lupatria]

Thailand's defamation law makes this charade possible. Even worse, it's probably the only law which is enforced.

[SOTIRIOS]

....when you shatter the delusion/illusion of a psycho....they must destroy you at all costs....

...we used to see it in bad psycho/horror movies.......we are seeing daily in real life........

[toybits]

Between the Temple and Nat Geo, which of the 2 do you think is more credible? Would someone please make a poll on this PLEASE? My reply might, however might be misconstrued as defamation so there you have it.

[gandalf12]

NG must be shaking in fear now..........Not

[gandalf12]

Between the Temple and Nat Geo, which of the 2 do you think is more credible? Would someone please make a poll on this PLEASE? My reply might, however might be misconstrued as defamation so there you have it.

I think my vote would go to NG

[cumgranosalum]

Between the Temple and Nat Geo, which of the 2 do you think is more credible? Would someone please make a poll on this PLEASE? My reply might, however might be misconstrued as defamation so there you have it.

If you think this boils down to credibility, then you are being incredibly naive.

[cumgranosalum]

Any legal action won't be a simple action between a monk and an international magazine.

It is more likely a challenge by a magazine against the reputation of a sizeable chunk of the country's elite...people who are part of the nation's legislative, executive and JUDICIARY..............