Posted on November 3, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Dear Mark,
This week, for the first time ever, the UK Parliament will hold a debate on Asia’s dog meat trade.
The debate will urge the House of Commons to call for an immediate end to dog meat cruelty in Asia, and will acknowledge and support our campaign to end the trade.
It will also call for action by the Chinese government to cancel the horrific annual Yulin dog meat ‘festival.’
Please take urgent action today and ask your MP to attend this life-saving debate!
HSI is a proud member of the Asia Canine Protection Alliance (ACPA) who’ve fought hard to get MPs to speak out against this brutal trade. This is our opportunity to ensure that the UK government sends a clear message that this is not an issue we’re prepared to overlook; that as a nation, we won’t turn our backs on millions of suffering dogs.
We need as many MPs as possible to attend. It’s critical we make it clear to our own government and to the countries involved that this issue matters to the British public.
Thank you for all that you do for animals!
Sincerely,
Claire Bass
Executive Director
Humane Society International/UK
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS | Leave a comment »
Posted on October 29, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
I think it fair to say that the vast majority of people who strongly support animal rights / welfare also support human rights. For some time SAV has been a member of, and very much supported the work of ‘Free Tibet’, who are based here in old London town, England.
Today we want to share with you some of the work of ‘Free Tibet’ (London) and shine some light on just some of the political prisoners; mostly religious; who have been sentenced in their own land for speaking up and taking action about the Chinese suppression of the wonderful citizens of Tibet.
To find out a lot more and to become a member if you wish, please visit the FT website at http://www.freetibet.org/ – you can see and learn a lot more about campaigns and issues here.
Freedom for the people of Tibet can be compared in some ways to the long and arduous campaigns that we undertake for animals in several places of the world. It will happen one day, Tibet will be free as will there be a stop to much of the animal cruelty we are currently witnessing. You have to live and campaign in hope – as the saying goes; evil flourishes when good people sit back and do nothing.
Please take action for the political prisoners of Tibet. Visit the site at http://www.freetibet.org/ and learn much more about the Chinese domination and silencing of these most peaceful of people.
All of the following is directly repeated from the FT website with the exception that photos of all the prisoners are not included here; but they are shown on the other site.
Please give them your time and support; thank you.
Mark.
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Take action for Tibet’s religious political prisoners
Message Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche
Resistance to China’s rule inside Tibet is often led by monks and nuns.
As a result, many of them are now in jail. They may disappear for months, before facing show trials in which they are convicted for “crimes” against the Chinese state.
Many endure torture and long sentences, their illnesses are often untreated and some go years without visits from families and friends.
Send a message to Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche, one of Tibet’s jailed monks
Each month we will feature one of Tibet’s Robed Resisters and provide information about how to take action on their behalf. This month, you can send a solidarity message to jailed Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche. Find out about other actions you can take below.
Prisoner profile: Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche
Name: Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche (also known as Jigme Tenzin Nyima / Bangri Chogtrul Rinpoche)
Age: Born 1966 (49)
Reason for imprisonment: Bangri Rinpoche was convicted of ‘attempting to split the country’ after a partial confession was extracted by torture.
Detained: 1999
Sentence: life sentence, later commuted to 18 years
Location: Chushul prison, Tibet Autonomous Region
About: Bangri Rinpoche and his wife Nyima founded an orphanage for Lhasa’s deprived children in 1996 and were well-respected pillars of the Tibetan community. After his arrest, the orphanage was closed down. In justification for his conviction, authorities claimed he had met the Dalai Lama in India, accepted a foreign donation for the orphanage and had links with a man who had hoisted a Tibetan flag and then attempted to blow himself up. His wife, a former nun, was also imprisoned and released in 2006. Bangri Rinpoche’s “confession” was extracted by torture, whilst being interrogated over for five days and nights.
TAKE ACTION FOR BANGRI TSAMTRUL RINPOCHE:
1. Send a solidarity message
Write a message to Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche. Free Tibet will ensure the messages written this month will be delivered to Chushul Prison.
2. Contact the authorities
Send messages in Chinese to the regional governor of the Tibet Autonomous Region and the governor of Chushul prison to demand humane treatment and freedom for Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche. You can also send a letter in your own language if you prefer.
Regional authorities do not have the power to release convicted prisoners but the Chinese Communist Party and its officials have considerable influence over the legal system. International attention on a prisoner’s case can encourage them to press for early release or a review of the legal case.
While he remains in prison, Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche is endanger of ill treatment. Although Chinese law guarantees certain rights for prisoners, they are rarely given to Tibetans.
Robed Resistance
Monasteries play an important role in Tibetan communities and are vital in preserving and protecting Tibet’s culture and language.
But monasteries also feel the full weight of China’s occupation. Communist officials interfere in their activities and monitor for signs of loyalty to the Dalai Lama. Many have police stations close by or even inside the monastery walls. Thousands of monasteries have been shut by China, while heavily-armed security forces intimidate religious gatherings. Monks and nuns are forced to show their loyalty and even fly the Communist flag on their buildings.
Undeterred, these monks and nuns continue to brave the consequences of their opposition to China’s rule and activist monks have been at the forefront of Tibetan protests for many years. Today, many have paid a heavy price for standing up for their country, their culture and their beliefs.
Here are some of the many currently imprisoned. We will be highlighting different prisoners each month and providing more information about how to take action to help him. This month, you can send a solidarity message to jailed Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche.
Tsangyang Gyatso
Age: Unknown
Reason for imprisonment: Tsangyang Gyatso has been charged for “separatist” activities, such as – having contact with people outside Tibet and China and plotting to protest with other monks against the Chinese Communist government.
Detained: 17 March 2014
Sentence: 12 years
Location: Chushul Prison, Tibet Autonomous Region
About: Tsangyang Gyatso is a senior monk and chant leader from Drilda Monastery, Sog County, TAR
Lobsang Gendun
Age: 21
Reason for imprisonment: Official charge is unknown. Lobsang Gendun was arrested for carrying out a solo protest, during which he called for the long life of the Dalai Lama and freedom for Tibet. The protest took place in Pashoe County during official celebrations marking the anniversary of the Communist Party of China. He has reportedly been tortured and is unable to walk.
Detained: 1 July 2013
Sentence: 10 years Location: To be confirmed
About: Lobsang Gendun is a monk from Drongsar Monastery, Pashoe County, Tibetan Autonomous Region
Tenzin Lhundrup
Age: Unknown
Reason for imprisonment: Unknown
Detained: May 2014
Sentence: 12 years
Location: To be confirmed
About: Tenzin Lhundrup is a well-respected senior Tibetan monk from Gom Gonsar Monastery in Driru County, TAR. Known for his social service and promotion of Tibetan culture, gave talks and Buddhist teachings, helped to arbitrate local disputes and advocated vegetarianism.
Tsultrim Kalsang
Age: 25
Reason for imprisonment: Tsultrim Kalsang charged with ‘intentional homicide’ (frequently used by Chinese authorities to crackdown on self-immolation protests in Tibet). It is not known why he has received this charge, although it is possibly linked to the self-immolations of Ngawang Norphel and Tenzin Khedup, whose bodies were taken to Tsultrim’s monastery.
Detained: 1 September 2012
Sentence: 10 years
Location: To be confirmed
About: Tsultrim Kalsang is a monk from Zilkar Monastery
Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche
Age: Born 1957 (58)
Reason for imprisonment: Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche is believed to have been detained following a peaceful demonstrations by nuns from Pangrina nunnery, where he is abbot, in order to deter local Tibetans from further protests.
Detained: 18 May 2008
Sentence: 8 years and 6 months
Location: Kardze County, Sichuan Province
About: Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche is the first reincarnate lama to be charged with a serious crime since Tenzin Delek Rinpoche (recently died in prison after serving 13 years of 20 year sentence).
Karma Tsewang
(popularly known as Khenpo (abbot) Kartse (abbreviation of his name))
Age: 38
Reason for imprisonment: Khenpo Kartse is charged with harbouring fugitive Tibetans in his monastery. He is reported to be in very bad health and it is unclear whether he has been given appropriate medical treatment.
Detained: 6 December 2013
Sentence: 2 year and 6 months Location: Powo Tramo Prison, Tibetan Autonomous Region
About: Khenpo Kartse a highly respected senior monk who is well known for his advocacy of the Tibetan language and environment.
Thardhod Gyaltsen
Age: Unknown
Reason for imprisonment: Thardhod Gyaltsen’s charges are unknown but believed to have banned images and teachings of the Dalai Lama.
Detained: December 2013
Sentence: 18 years
Location: Most likely Chushul prison – to be confirmed
About: Thardhod Gyaltsen was well known for promoting Tibetan culture and Buddhism. His father was one of the thousands of Tibetans killed by China during the 1969 Driru County protests.
Yonten Gyatso
Age: 40
Reason for imprisonment: Yonten Gyatso was charged for allegedly sharing information about the self-immolation protest of Tenzin Wangmo. Detained: October 2011
Sentence: 7 years
Location: Prison in Chengdu (to be confirmed)
About: Yonten Gyatso, a senior monk from Khashi Monastery, Ngaba county was part of the Monastic Democratic Management Committee and taught Tibetan language to local primary school children and worked to preserve Tibetan culture and Buddhism.
Lomig (also known as Jo Jamyang)
Age: 27
Reason for imprisonment: Unknown. It is speculated that Lomig was detained for writing articles criticising China’s policies in Tibet.
Detained: 17 April 2015
Sentence: Not yet tried
Location: Unknown
About: Lomig is influential amongst young Tibetans in Ngaba and known for initiating debates and his writings about the situation in Tibet under China’s occupation.
Ngawang Gyaltsen
Age: 41
Reason for imprisonment: Uknown, although local Tibetans believe it to be politically related.
Detained: 24 February 2015
Sentence: Not yet tried, as far as is known
Location: To be confirmed
About: Ngawang Gyaltsen had been a monk at Shag Rongpo Monastery, where he was a well-known artist but disagreements with the Chinese government officials (running a re-education campaign for the monks and nuns) at the monastery led to officials harassing and keeping a heavy surveillance on him, leading him to leave the monastery. Authorities continued to harass Gyaltsen, who was not allowed to travel or meet with friends and family without government authorization.
Tsewang Choephel
Age: 29
Reason for imprisonment: The official reason for his arrest is unknown although local Tibetans believe it could be due to Tsewang Choephel’s presence at the self-immolation protest of fellow monk, Kalsang Yeshi, on 23 December 2014.
Detained: 18 May 2015 Sentence: Not yet tried, as far as is known
Location: Tawu County
About: During the self-immolation protest of Kalsang Yeshi, Tsewang Cauthorities. Since then he has been under constant police surveillance. Tsewang Choephel’s present whereabouts and condition are unknown.
We will be highlighting different prisoners each month and providing more information about how to take action to help him. This month, you can send a solidarity message to jailed Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche.
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Posted on October 21, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Nick Timothy: The Government is selling our national security to China
Nick Timothy is Director of the New Schools Network and a former Chief of Staff to Theresa May.
Last month, on the same day George Osborne announced his desire to “formally connect” the London and Shanghai stock exchanges – and give an even greater role for China in building British nuclear power stations – the Chinese received a rather different message from Britain’s principal ally across the Atlantic.
Shortly before President Obama hosted President Xi Jinping in the White House, Susan Rice, the American National Security Adviser, said that Chinese cyber-enabled espionage “isn’t a mild irritation, it’s an economic and national security concern to the United States.” Not mincing her words any further, Rice said Chinese hacking “that targets personal and corporate information for the economic gain of businesses undermines our long-term economic cooperation and it needs to stop.”
We should expect no such plain speaking from the British Government today, as President Xi begins his state visit to London. In place of candour, we will see official press releases and ministerial speeches promising new investments, business partnerships and a “golden decade” in Sino-British relations.
And, to be fair, there is gold in the relationship. British exports to China are growing – albeit from a low base – while according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research, China will have invested £105 billion in British infrastructure by 2025.
But what are the Chinese buying with their gold?
The first thing on their shopping list is British silence on human rights abuses – and the Government has been only too happy to oblige.
This summer, the British authorities tried to refuse a visa for Ai Wei Wei, the Chinese dissident now exhibiting his art in London. George Osborne’s visit to Urumqi, the capital of the troubled Xinjiang province, was criticised by Amnesty International for presenting a “major political coup” for China. And Chinese state media has been quick to praise the British Government for focusing “on business potential rather than raising a magnifying glass to the ‘human rights issue’”.
But human rights abuses are not the only concern about the British relationship with China. During Xi’s visit to London, the two governments will sign deals giving Chinese state-owned companies stakes in the British nuclear power stations planned for Hinkley Point in Somerset and Sizewell in Suffolk. It is believed that the deals could lead to the Chinese designing and constructing a third nuclear reactor at Bradwell in Essex.
Security experts – reportedly inside as well as outside government – are worried that the Chinese could use their role to build weaknesses into computer systems which will allow them to shut down Britain’s energy production at will.
For those who believe that such an eventuality is unlikely, the Chinese National Nuclear Corporation – one of the state-owned companies involved in the plans for the British nuclear plants – says on its website that it is responsible not just for “increasing the value of state assets and developing the society” but the “building of national defence.” MI5 believes that “the intelligence services of…China…continue to work against UK interests at home and abroad.”
Mandiant, a US company that investigates computer security breaches around the world, looked into the operations of just one Chinese cyber espionage group, believed to be the Second Bureau of the People’s Liberation Army of China, or ‘Unit 61398’. Mandiant found that Unit 61398 has compromised 141 different companies in twenty major industries. There were 115 victims in the United States and five in the United Kingdom. The intellectual property stolen included technology blueprints, manufacturing processes, test results, business plans, pricing documents, partnership agreements, and emails and contact information.
Sir Iain Lobban, the former head of GCHQ, says there have been “attempts to steal British ideas and designs – in the IT, technology, defence, engineering and energy sectors, as well as other industries – to gain commercial advantage or to profit from secret knowledge of contractual arrangements.” Sir Jonathan Evans, the former head of MI5, has told the story of a “major London listed company” – believed to be Rio Tinto – that lost £800 million as a result of a “hostile state cyber attack” thought to have come from China.
Evidence like this makes it all the more baffling that the British Government has been so welcoming to Chinese state-owned companies in sensitive sectors. For it is not just in the energy sector that Britain has sought investment and partnership with China.
Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications company, is banned from bidding for government contracts in the United States and Australia, yet the Government allows it to provide equipment and services that put it at the heart of Britain’s communications network. Two years ago, Britain’s policy towards Huawei led Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee to highlight “a number of weaknesses in the UK’s approach to deployment of equipment within [critical national infrastructure]” and to warn that “the Government’s duty to protect the safety and security of its citizens should not be compromised by fears of financial consequences.”
But that is exactly the compromise the Government is making: rational concerns about national security are being swept to one side because of the desperate desire for Chinese trade and investment. When, earlier this year, Britain became a founding member of the Chinese-controlled Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank, a US official told the press: “we are wary about a trend [in British policy] toward constant accommodation of China.” The official was right to be concerned: the AIIB is designed to undermine the World Bank and use other countries’ finances to fund investments that help to deliver China’s geopolitical aims.
And China has more than just finance in its armoury. Its defence budget is rising by at least ten per cent every year, and now stands at $141 billion.
It is installing military equipment on man-made islands it has built in contested waters in the South China Sea. It plans to open a military base in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. And its military is open about the need to project its power to protect “China’s national interests.”
Those interests now stretch around every continent of the world. There will be a lot of excited talk this week about the new ‘Silk Road‘ – an extensive transport network taking in thousands of miles of new roads, train lines and sea routes – and the opportunities for economic growth that it presents. But senior Chinese generals say that the Silk Road will have to include a “security component”, while even its name is a conscious reference to China’s imperial history: the Silk Road is yet another means of securing Chinese power.
The Government, however, seems intent on ignoring the evidence and presumably the advice of the security and intelligence agencies. But no amount of trade and investment should justify allowing a hostile state easy access to the country’s critical national infrastructure. Of course we should seek to trade with countries right across the world – but not when doing business comes at the expense of Britain’s own national security.
‘Ho Chi Greaseball’ Cameron
Puppet British Prime Minister
– The Hypocrite Responsible For Shutting Up Over Human Rights In Tibet.
And As For Voicing About Chinese Anima Abuses – ??? !!
Lets get this article posted before a cyberattack from China comes our way !
– we will keep going if we are allowed !
Filed under: GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS | Leave a comment »
Posted on October 20, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Our recent post on this site said – “The Serbian government / Ministry are claiming that animals were NEVER exported from Serbia in the first place and that we are wrong in what we say”.
Well it would appear that upon further investigation at our request by the EU, the EU Commission has been informed by the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture that the animals did originate from Serbia; in direct opposition to what was said to us earlier.
When Serbian campaigners questioned the Ministry about this issue in the recent past they were informed that they were ‘wasting Ministry time’.
But as a result of campaigners continuous “questioning” to the Ministry on the issue; they were then threatened with closure the shelter “Alex” (for stray dogs and others) as some kind of vindictive revenge for asking normal questions about the export consignment.
Now it appears that the Serbian Ministry are telling the EU that the animals did originate in Serbia; and that they were shipped to Israel in accordance with EU Reg 1/2005 and all IATA standards. We cannot currently prove or disapprove this at the current time. Possibly all was correct in the air; but why did the Serbian Ministry deny any involvement with the export consignment ?
Yes we agree, the photos on the posts were only taken in Israel; we have never denied that and make that clear in our posts.
But this does prove that the Serbian authorities will make threats to close down animal shelters within Serbia if questions about their work is asked by welfare campaigners. Suddenly we have a letter from the EU informing us that the lambs that we were informed ‘Serbia had no dealing with’, have suddenly been ‘exported from Serbia by air in accordance with all the regulations’ – and a threat made by the Serbian authorities to close down a shelter (Alex) if we kept on ‘wasting Ministry time’ !
Here is the EU letter we have just been sent to confirm the situation:
Past links and photos:
Was our persistence a waste of time ? – we think not.
But the very worrying aspect of this is the threats made to welfare groups by the Serbian Ministry when outsiders question them or anything they do – a shelter could have now been closed and animals back on the street to be killed by shinters and authorities.
As EU citizens and investigators, Do we continue to investigate (and take the Serbian Ministry threats for shelter closure) or do we just shut up and let them continue without any programme of stray animal management – just like Romania ? – see the above link.
Crunch time folks !
Serbia – if you are going to join the EU; then clean up your animal welfare policies and enforce them; as EU welfare groups from across the continent will be hot on your heels all the time to show where you are failing – and report you as a consequence.
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), Romania - Stray Animal Killings 2013, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Posted on September 21, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Regarding the export of live sheep from Serbia to Israel in such terrible conditions recently; see our post
we have now written to Commissioner Hahn at the EU Enlargement Commission to ask what regulations / compliances for the welfare of animals in transport actually were involved (if any ?) with these consignments.
If there was no legislation in place for compliance, then the consignments should never have taken place in the first place.
Directly following is a copy of the letter sent to Commissioner Hahn.
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To: Commissioner Hahn – European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations
Who’s Responsibilities Include – Supporting pre-accession countries in implementing democratic and economic reforms, upholding the rule of law, strengthening economic governance and competitiveness, developing a well-functioning public administration, and building bridges with neighboring countries.
Sir;
Serbia has a pathetic international reputation for the welfare of animals within its borders. Despite its terrible global reputation, Serbia actually has some very good animal welfare legislation on statute; but these regulations, the national ‘rules of law’, are never actually enforced by the Serbian government / or regional authorities. As shown in your responsibilities above, and as declared on your website http://ec.europa.eu/commission/2014-2019/hahn_en your fundamental existence is to uphold the rule of law in EU pre-accession states, which currently includes Serbia. One is therefore to assume that as Serbia has existing animal welfare legislations; you; as part of your Enlargement responsibilities, should be undertaking the actual enforcement of animal welfare legislation within the republic of Serbia.
In relation to the involvement of my organisation within Serbia over the last eleven (11) plus years, it is blatantly clear to the entire world that the Serbian authorities have no regard for the actual enforcement of their own animal welfare legislations. Further, it seems that the EU Enlargement Commission; of which you are the head; have very little interest in undertaking your actual responsibilities in enforcing Serbia to apply their own animal welfare legislations prior to EU accession.
To further support my argument of the failures, I provide information relating to an incident which has taken place over the last few weeks. Live animals, namely sheep and / or lambs; have been transported from Serbia to Israel for slaughter. We understand that a consignment of 16th September was possibly the first of several transported by air from Serbia to Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. This specific shipment involved around 1500 young lambs that were transported in one of the worst heat waves Israel has known, using four trucks which used the Qalandiya checkpoint, for onward movement to slaughterhouses in Ramallah.
Several lambs died during transportation from heat exhaustion and the very overcrowded conditions which clearly did not comply with EU standards for animals during transport. Below are a few photographs from the many we have on record showing the conditions of travel.
Photographs removed – but same as that shown on this site.
The EU, of which you are an official, are very quick to continually point out that all the (EU) legislation for animals in transport is in place – Regulation 1/2005 of December 2004 on the protection of animals during transport refers.
As we have seen with very recent expose of transport to Turkey by European NGO’s such as Eyes on Animals, http://www.eyesonanimals.com/inspection-of-eu-livestock-trucks-heading-to-turkey/ compliance with EU Regulation 1/2005 is haphazard to say the least.
I ask you to provide please what regulations currently exists within Serbia legislation for the enforcement of transport regulations for Serbian farm animals; please provide details on who is responsible for their enforcement, and who has the responsibility in advance of any consignment for ensuring that the (Serbian / EU ?) regulations are adhered to re inspection and approval of consignment journey plans?
As Serbia is currently seeking EU accession, the question is – should your Commission not be upholding its responsibilities (as detailed above) by ensuring that you ensure that the Serbian authorities enforce the ‘rule of law’; either ensuring compliance with their own animal welfare during transport regulations or; if they do not exists, then enforcing EU animal transport existing legislation such as 1/2005 ?
If Serbia does not have its own animal welfare legislation currently in place regarding long distance international transportation; should you not be taking the necessary actions to ensure that journeys such as those detailed above do not ever happen in the first place ?
Serbia should be stepping up to the plate at all times; and be ensuring that legislation (either Serbian or EU) regarding the welfare of (its) animals is strictly adhered to. Compliance with the law should be the current situation for all animals in Serbia, including stray dogs and cats. Serbian animal welfare legislation established in 2006, which under the Criminal Code of Serbia. Article 269 declares:
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Paragraph 1: anyone who is cruel to, inflicts violence or kills an animal as defined by this law, must be punished by up to a 6 month prison sentence;
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Paragraph 2: if suffering or death is carried out on more than one animal, the person who inflicted this suffering can be sentenced with up to 3 years imprisonment.
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any person who is cruel, violent or inflicts death on any animal making up the ‘special protection’ group of animals (as for example, the wolf or the brown bear) can again be sentenced to up to 3 years imprisonment.
In addition to Article 269, Article 46 of the Serbian Veterinary Law declares:
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that animals have a right to life. There is no law declaring euthanasia has to be undertaken as a means of stray / street animal control.
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each local community in Serbia has an obligation to provide care for abandoned dogs and cats – unfortunately this is still not the case in many circumstances, some 10 years after legislation was introduced
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each community has an obligation to finance stray animal care, including the building of shelters
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each community has an obligation to finance sterilisation, medical care and food for the (stray) animals
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volunteer prizes can be given as an alternative for payment to people who volunteer and are directly involved with jobs that include the care and protection of abandoned / stray dogs and cats.
Be they farm animals; animals in transport, stray animals or other; if any form of legislation currently exists, which it does; then this should be enforced by the Serbian government and authorities at all times. With Serbian EU accession currently taking place, it is also very much the responsibility of the EU to ensure that it fully monitors the entire situation and that Serbian ‘rule of law’ is fully enforced by the Serbian authorities prior to them ever being allowed to become a future EU member state.
The EU cannot make statements declaring enforcement of the ‘rule of law’ on one hand, and then, through its Enlargement Commission, conveniently turn a blind eye to the animal abuses which are happening within these same accession states; it needs to enforce what it says or remove the statements from the ‘europa’ website at the every least.
If there are to be new future member states in the EU such as Serbia; then we as EU citizens need to be given the satisfaction that everything is currently being undertaken by the EU Enlargement Commission to ensure the welfare of animals within Serbia. Neither your Commission or the authorities of the Serbian republic give us even a hint of any satisfaction of welfare regulations being enforced at this present time.
As we, EU citizens and taxpayers; are currently providing so much pre-accession financial support (in excess of 1 billion Euros) into Serbia, the very least you can do at the EU Enlargement Commission is to actually ensure that Serbia enforces its own rules of law when it comes to animal welfare legislation. If they do not, we have to question the point of your own existence within the EU !
I very much look forward to you providing me with a full account of all the sheep sent live from Serbia to Israel; including full information and copies where necessary of compliance with existing Serbian and / or EU legislation on the transport of live animals. You are the EU Enlargement Commission; let us have the facts when it comes to Serbian animal welfare legislation !
We are working with UK, German and Austrian animal welfare organisations to further promote this issue. The world has been informed of the situation regarding Serbian – Israeli live animal exports. We very much suggest that you undertake what you preach – that being Serbian adhesion of the rules of law – its own national laws. At this present time; regarding Serbian animal welfare, like much of that also in the EU, it very much fails / has been proven to fail. Global supporters will be informed of the progress of this (our) request via networking sites. The choice is yours; it can be compliant or non compliant with what you declare on your website – ‘enforcement of the rule of law’. Lets see it !
I look forward to your response in the very near future;
Yours,
Mark Johnson
Founder – ‘Serbian Animals Voice’; Kent, England UK.
Date: 21/9/15.
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It is only contact address and e mail details which have been removed on this copy – there are no further changes to the letter.
We now await a response from the EU regarding the points we have raised; and you can be assured that we will be publishing the response in full sometime in the future on this site; as well as via many of our other networking sites across the world and within the EU.
We want answers to this animal abuse – Serbia needs to be made account if it has any wish of becoming a future EU member state.
We hope the letter fully outlines our current views and requirements on this issue.
We have asked for detailed answers – we want them !
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Posted on September 11, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Dear friends, I need your support yet again.
The officials from Serbian town Bac have served a final notice for the owner of the private shelter LESI to evacuate the premisses and get rid of all of her stray animals 100 in total. The date for her court is 24th September!
Milica is desperate and has nowhere to take them to safety – the only possibility is the street again (where they are only going to be caught again and put into city pounds, and we all know their destiny then!)
Please could you at least send your protest messages to these addresses below hoping that they will realise that the other organisations are watching their actions.
Milica was given all instructions from the city officials what she needs to do in order to keep her shelter, which she obliged to, but now they are saying that it is not right and she must close it as it is too close to the neighbours!
I am so sure that by now you know how “good” serbian officilas are at following the AWL and that they only follow the rules when they want to.
Milica will go to court to fight against their decission but she needs our support so that they can see that she is not alone.
Thank you again!
Kind regards,
Vesna S.
Please send your letters of protest to the following addresses :
SAV Comment – we feel it is important that we send an international message about this to the Serbian authorities who do so wrong; let them know the world is watching them. Please add your nationality and location to anything you send.
Dear all
EPAR filed a criminal complaint against persons of municipal administration Bac and against JKP Komunalac, Kula. They act together : opposite to law demands and they together do crimes to animals and to public money . We will see what like will be action of Public Attorney of Novi Sad.
We will also send copy of our complaint to the judge who will lead Milicaş case.
Kind regards
Slavica
We are hoping that together we can make the realise that they cannot carry on with breaking the law!
Filed under: Animals Requiring Adoption or Homes - Worldwide, CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, SHELTER - Information, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Posted on September 8, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
We are currently producing very little on this site.
For the last 11 years we have campaigned to improve the welfare of Serbian animals; mainly strays; urging the Serbian government to adopt a policy of ‘no kill’ sterilisation to reduce numbers over time. The government have ignored our every wish and suggestion, as they have with that of many other international animal organisations; including those from Germany and Austria.
You get to a point when you ask yourself if there is any real reason to continue with a campaign which has been ignored by the government for the last 11 years plus.
We have now reached that point.
In recent years we have seen many excellent German organisations – those who have undertaken sterilisations and treatment; pack up and get out of the country; betrayed by a pathetic government which still kills animals which have been sterilised and fitted with red button ear tags to say the same. Organisations have put time and money into making an effort to reduce stray numbers. Thanks to the thickheads in the Serbian government; all these efforts have been in vain; the killing continues; and despite some very good laws for animals in Serbia; nothing is complied with legally to enforce the ‘rule of law’.
Showing that you are applying ‘the rule of law’ is a fundamental requirement of any new state wishing to become a member of the EU. As you can see from many posts on this site, we have written to, and made contact with the EU Enlargement Commission on several occasions asking them to get Serbia to enforce its own rules of law if it ever wishes to become an EU member state. The EU Enlargement Commission Has not acted for us or with us – it has ignored us in its feeble attempts to get Serbia into the EU come what may. We feel betrayed by both the Serbian government and the EU Enlargement Commission; both full of self important’s who in reality are not listening to the people on the ground but are simply doing their own thing regardless of what the rules and regulations say.
We are now questioning if we should join with the German organisations of the past and simply get out to leave the thickheads in the Serbian government and the EU to wander on ignoring their own allegedly so important ‘rules of law’. This is a sad situation, but we ask why we should try to get governments to enforce the rules of law when nobody else, including the EU Commission, turns a blind eye to what is happening – ignoring all the evidence we present to them.
It is the same with the EU and the issue of live animals being shipped to Turkey, Israel and Gaza from the EU. We have often shown the flag of ‘the EU Must Ensure Animal Welfare’. Make no doubt, by allowing live animals to be shipped under such long and terrible conditions; the EU is DOING NOTHING to ensure that animal welfare is being enforced. People called ‘Members of the European Parliament’ (MEP’s) should be constantly taking action to ensure that animal welfare legislation is enforced throughout the EU. They are failing, and they are failing dramatically ! – over a week and a half ago we wrote to many UK MEP’s regarding live animals being shipped from Lithuania to Israel; and calves being shipped from France to Turkey. None of those contacted have even bothered to respond to us on the issue – so what exactly are the doing ? – these so called representatives of the EU people who were elected by the people of the EU ?
If they cannot even respond over the issue of live animals from the EU being transported to non EU nations; then it is obvious that they are not interested in animal welfare in future EU accession states such as Serbia.
So this week we are now considering our future. What is the point of giving endless evidence to Serbian and EU authorities when they simply ignore you and basically carry on in their world of self appreciation and very little else ? – MEP’s are not and do not represent the wishes of the EU citizen – they do not ensure that EU regulations are enforced within the EU; and so you get to a point when you have to ask why we are contributing to the keep of such people ! – they certainly do not represent us and they certainly do not listen and look at the evidence we present to them. As a good investigator friend from the Netherlands said this last weekend; why does the EU allow the wrongs to continue in long distance animal transport until people like us have to come up with the proof of the wrongdoing ! – governments and EU authorities should be investigating in advance and taking actions when necessary to stop the wrongdoings; not waiting until welfare groups have to come forward and show that the rules are being broken !
By next weekend we will probably have decided on the future of us and this site. Who knows; MEP’s may even break the habit of a lifetime and actually get in contact with us about live calves being shipped from France to Turkey; but then ……………..
Is 11 years of no progress in Serbia worth it ? – NO.
Is the EU and its ‘self important’s worth it ? – not if they continue to ignore the people they should be representing – US – EU citizens !
Do we simply say that we have tried and failed, thanks to a mass of no support from the Serbian government and the EU ? – probably yes.
Will our actions help Serbian animals ? – no; but then there are supposed to be laws in place in Serbia to make sure things are undertaken correctly; and the EU should; yes the EU, should be ensuring this happens before Serbia becomes a member state.
Do you hold your hands up and say to yourself that with such incompetents doing nothing to help your cause; there will never be any progress ? – probably.
What would you do in our position of Serbia and the EU utterly ignoring your evidence and proposals for reform ? – walk away !
We may do just that!
Do you want to hear a joke ?
Ask the calves going from France to Turkey; the calves going from Lithuania to Gaza, and the dogs being killed under the ‘rule of law’ by the EU in Serbia. We dont think they would shout that the EU is enforcing any animal welfare !
There has been just one MEP; Mr Keith Taylor (Greens) who has helped and supported us. We thank him for that. But the support of just one MEP is not enough; and constantly hearing nothing from the EU Enlargement Commission really shows how importantly they actually consider their basic principles of new accession states making sure they enforce the rule of law.
By the end of 2017 the UK is supposed to have a referendum on staying in or leaving the EU. At present, polls show more support for getting out of Europe – we wonder why !!!
Above: Livestock transporters full of EU animals on the EU – Turkish border – waiting several days to clear customs. Then what awaits them ? – ritual slaughter in a Turkish slaughterhouse.
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) 