VietNamNet Bridge – Despite the eight-point statement of the Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) at the International Conference on
endangered species trade in Thailand, some international experts still have
proposed to impose trade sanctions on Vietnam which they believe a “hot spot” in
rhino horn trade.
The 177 members of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
(CITES) now gather in Bangkok to attend the biggest conference on the planet,
discussing the measures to deal with the rhino poaching and rhino horn trade all
over the world. In South Africa alone, experts believe that nearly 1,500 rhinos
were poached in the last three years.
At the most important conference on wildlife trade which takes place once every
three years, the participants would discuss the punishment measures to be
imposed on the countries believed to have the most serious situation in wildlife
trade.
Tien Phong has quoted Jim Leape, General Director of WWF as saying that the
three countries with the highest percentages of elephant tasks are Thailand,
Congo and Nigeria. The countries have been accused of being involved in the
illegal elephant task trade deals over the last decade. It is estimated that
25,000-30,000 elephant individuals are killed every year.
While Thailand is considered the biggest elephant task consumer market, China is
the biggest tiger, elephant tusk and rhino horn consumption center. Vietnam is
thought as the place for rhino horn trade.
A report released on March 11, 2013, showed that Vietnam, a member of CITES, has
not implemented the measures to protect rhinos stipulated by CITES.
Together with other organizations, EIA has called CITES to apply punishment
measures, and called on the US government to apply the trade embargo against
Vietnam until the country is recognized as fulfilling all the tasks CITES
requests.
The announcement released by the conference’s organizing board on March 15 says
that Vietnam would have two months to draw up and submit the plan to ease the
smuggling and consumption of rhino horn trade to the CITES’ Secretariat. It also
needs to prove the considerable progress it can made in the matter prior to the
CITES’ meeting to be held the next summer.
In 2012, nearly 700 rhinos in South Africa were killed. In the first two months
of 2013, experts estimated another 150 were killed. Most of the South Africa’s
rhino horns are believed to be consumed in Vietnam, mostly used for disease
treatment.
Local newspapers reported that in February, Mozambique police arrested Ho Chien,
Vietnamese citizen, at the Maputo international airport, for bringing six rhino
horns weighing 17 kilos in total.
The police said the horns were believed to belong to the rhinos killed in South
Africa. The species is believed to be extinct in the south of Mozambique.
They also said that if Ho Chien had successfully brought the rhino horns to
Vietnam, he could have sold the horns at $65,000 per kilo. As such, he would
have earned $1.1 million from the 17 kilos of rhino horns.
In early January 2013, another Vietnamese was arrested at the Bangkok port in
Thailand with six rhino horns weighing 10.6 kilos.
In 2012, Mozambique police also arrested three Vietnamese citizens in the north
city of Pemba, who were trying to bring rhino horns out of the African country.
Tien Phong