Sutiyoso denies involvement in rare species trade<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso said he might file a lawsuit
\nagainst a nongovernmental organization for accusing him of being
\ninvolved in the illegal trading of endangered species from an
\nEast Java zoo.<\/p>\n
\"I'm very disappointed with this slanderous accusation because
\nthey (the NGO) didn't consult with me on the matter before
\npublicly announcing it,\" the governor told The Jakarta Post at
\nCity Hall on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"It's a defamation of my good name and reputation. I may file
\na lawsuit against the organization,\" the retired three-star Army
\ngeneral added.<\/p>\n
The allegation was aired last Tuesday by a Malang, East Java-
\nbased NGO, Animal Conservation for Life (KSBK).<\/p>\n
In a statement signed by its director Rosek Nursahid, KSBK
\nnamed Sutiyoso and other high ranking officials and military
\nofficers of having illegally purchased lions and tigers from
\nTaman Safari Indonesia II in Prigen, Pasuruan, East Java.<\/p>\n
KSBK described the trading as shameful, an insult to the
\nefforts to preserve endangered species, and a violation of a 1990
\nanimal protection law, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
KSBK also called on the government to tighten up its
\nsupervision of endangered species held in zoos.<\/p>\n
Separately, head of the City Protocol Office Margani Mustar
\nsaid the Jakarta administration would soon send an official
\nprotest to KSBK.<\/p>\n
\"The City Forestry Agency may send the letter in a few days to
\nexpress our official protest at their findings,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Actually, the administration doesn't want to have anything to
\ndo with such an organization which lacks even basic principles,\"
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the director of city-run Ragunan Zoo in South
\nJakarta Ismianto rejected the NGO's accusation that the zoo has
\nillegally purchased lions from the alleged traffickers.<\/p>\n
\"It's impossible for us to buy lions. We only add to our
\ncollection through exchange programs with either domestic or
\noverseas zoos,\" he said in a written statement to the governor.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, we already have 13 lions in our possession. We had
\nthem long before Taman Safari did,\" he added.<\/p>\n
On Thursday last week, Sutiyoso said that KSBK's allegation
\nwas illogical.<\/p>\n
\"Why would I buy the animals from East Java if I can easily
\nget them from Ragunan Zoo or Taman Safari (a safari park) in
\nCisarua (West Java)?\" asked the governor.<\/p>\n
\"It's rubbish. Where is the proof for these allegations? Come
\nand search for it at my house if you like,\" he told reporters
\nafter a ceremony marking Independence Day.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso, however, admitted he was once offered a tiger for
\nsale.<\/p>\n
\"A man once offered me a tiger but I sent the animal to the
\nzoo. I love animals and I don't want to see them abandoned.
\nBesides, I'm not very fond of that sort of animal,\" said the
\ngovernor, who is known to be a bird lover.<\/p>\n
\"You know it's very expensive to keep a tiger,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Antara quoted KSBK reports as saying that Malang police in
\nEast Java have arrested nine people in two separate operations
\nwho were allegedly involved in the trafficking of 16 stolen lions
\nand tigers from the Prigen safari park.<\/p>\n
Malang Police Detectives chief Sr. Insp. Anshori said his
\nofficers confiscated three one-year-old lions from a gang of
\ncriminals who sold them illegally for between Rp 1 million and Rp
\n3.6 million. The three lions were then returned to Prigen safari
\npark.<\/p>\n
The nine suspects were identified by their initials only,
\nnamely And, Dab, who was an employee at the Safari Park, and a
\nbusinessman Edw. These three were arrested on Monday. Meanwhile,
\nthe mastermind Nng and five other safari park employees -- Swd,
\nSgn, Gn, Ddt and Nnk -- were arrested a few days earlier.
\n(lup\/nvn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sutiyoso-denies-involvement-in-rare-species-trade-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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