Sutiyoso denies involvement in rare species trade

Sutiyoso denies involvement in rare species trade

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso said he might file a lawsuit
against a nongovernmental organization for accusing him of being
involved in the illegal trading of endangered species from an
East Java zoo.

"I'm very disappointed with this slanderous accusation because
they (the NGO) didn't consult with me on the matter before
publicly announcing it," the governor told The Jakarta Post at
City Hall on Monday.

"It's a defamation of my good name and reputation. I may file
a lawsuit against the organization," the retired three-star Army
general added.

The allegation was aired last Tuesday by a Malang, East Java-
based NGO, Animal Conservation for Life (KSBK).

In a statement signed by its director Rosek Nursahid, KSBK
named Sutiyoso and other high ranking officials and military
officers of having illegally purchased lions and tigers from
Taman Safari Indonesia II in Prigen, Pasuruan, East Java.

KSBK described the trading as shameful, an insult to the
efforts to preserve endangered species, and a violation of a 1990
animal protection law, Antara reported.

KSBK also called on the government to tighten up its
supervision of endangered species held in zoos.

Separately, head of the City Protocol Office Margani Mustar
said the Jakarta administration would soon send an official
protest to KSBK.

"The City Forestry Agency may send the letter in a few days to
express our official protest at their findings," he said.

"Actually, the administration doesn't want to have anything to
do with such an organization which lacks even basic principles,"
he added.

Meanwhile, the director of city-run Ragunan Zoo in South
Jakarta Ismianto rejected the NGO's accusation that the zoo has
illegally purchased lions from the alleged traffickers.

"It's impossible for us to buy lions. We only add to our
collection through exchange programs with either domestic or
overseas zoos," he said in a written statement to the governor.

"Besides, we already have 13 lions in our possession. We had
them long before Taman Safari did," he added.

On Thursday last week, Sutiyoso said that KSBK's allegation
was illogical.

"Why would I buy the animals from East Java if I can easily
get them from Ragunan Zoo or Taman Safari (a safari park) in
Cisarua (West Java)?" asked the governor.

"It's rubbish. Where is the proof for these allegations? Come
and search for it at my house if you like," he told reporters
after a ceremony marking Independence Day.

Sutiyoso, however, admitted he was once offered a tiger for
sale.

"A man once offered me a tiger but I sent the animal to the
zoo. I love animals and I don't want to see them abandoned.
Besides, I'm not very fond of that sort of animal," said the
governor, who is known to be a bird lover.

"You know it's very expensive to keep a tiger," he added.

Antara quoted KSBK reports as saying that Malang police in
East Java have arrested nine people in two separate operations
who were allegedly involved in the trafficking of 16 stolen lions
and tigers from the Prigen safari park.

Malang Police Detectives chief Sr. Insp. Anshori said his
officers confiscated three one-year-old lions from a gang of
criminals who sold them illegally for between Rp 1 million and Rp
3.6 million. The three lions were then returned to Prigen safari
park.

The nine suspects were identified by their initials only,
namely And, Dab, who was an employee at the Safari Park, and a
businessman Edw. These three were arrested on Monday. Meanwhile,
the mastermind Nng and five other safari park employees -- Swd,
Sgn, Gn, Ddt and Nnk -- were arrested a few days earlier.
(lup/nvn)