Surasak dismisses kraal protest threat

Surasak dismisses kraal protest threat

A staff member at the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department demonstrates DNA lab-testing during a media tour of the facility after an elephant owner in Ayutthaya accused the department of conducting a substandard test to declare the origin of some of his elephants. Tawatchai Kemgumnerd
A staff member at the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department demonstrates DNA lab-testing during a media tour of the facility after an elephant owner in Ayutthaya accused the department of conducting a substandard test to declare the origin of some of his elephants. Tawatchai Kemgumnerd

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has shrugged off a threat by an influential elephant kraal owner in Ayutthaya province to stage a protest at Government House, saying the provincial governor would address his grievances.

Laithongrian Meephan, owner of the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace, threatened to surround Government House with 100 elephants after being accused by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation of dishonestly declaring the origins of some of his elephants.

He accused the department of conducting sub-standard DNA testing after the lab determined DNA from three elephants from the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace did not match ID cards issued by the Ministry of Interior, which resulted in the elephants being seized.

The department gave the media a tour of its DNA lab yesterday, to show journalists how it works and to assure the public that all procedures were properly followed.

Environment Minister Gen Surasak Kanjanarat said that he wasn't concerned about Mr Laithongrian's protest threat as it would be the Ayutthaya's governor who would negotiate with him.

He said the governor was responsible for allowing elephants to be seized.

He was unfazed by Mr Laithongrian's demand that he and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation chief Thanya Nethithammakul be dismissed, insisting everything had been done in line with the law.

"I appreciate the efforts of the special task force teams dealing with crime against forests and natural resources, including the Phaya Sua task force that's working on this case. They are determined to do their jobs," he said.

Gen Surasak also said DNA collection from domesticated elephants is carried out under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) guidelines on dealing with illegal wild elephant possession.

Mr Laithongrian attended a departmental briefing last week revealing the results of elephant DNA tests, which determined DNA from three elephants from his kraal did not match samples used to get ID cards issued by the Ministry of Interior.

He responded by saying the department's DNA tests were not acceptable and that officials were unfairly targeting him and other elephant owners.

Meanwhile, a source who asked not to be named said the department will file a case against Mr Laithongrian in court.

If he is found guilty of possessing illegal elephant ID cards, he is likely to be found guilty of illegal possession of wild elephants, the source said.

He doubted whether Mr Laithongrian would be able to carry out his Government House threat as the governor would do his best to stop him from going ahead as he would risk being transferred to an inactive post if he fails.

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