New Campaign ‘Will Make Last One Look Like Child’s Play’ if Conditions for Cattle Don't Improve by May
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chennai —PETA is set to re-launch its campaign against the cruel treatment of cattle slaughtered for skins with a vengeance if the Council for Leather Exports (CLE) cannot persuade the Indian government and state bodies to drastically improve transport and slaughter methods by May 2001. The campaign was suspended last May when the CLE agreed to work with the Ministry of Commerce to find ways to enforce anti-cruelty statutes, stop the illegal transport of cattle and clean-up filthy slaughterhouses. PETA President Ingrid Newkirk notified the president of the CLE this week that the international animal rights organization ‘will reengage with an enormous amount of energy, fueled by 12 months of bottled-up feelings and all the frustrations born of patience and hope that came to naught, that will make previous attempts to decry the Indian leather industry look like child's play.’
Newkirk led a PETA investigation through Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and other states, which revealed a grotesquely cruel cattle trade. Because it is illegal to slaughter cows in most Indian states, corrupt skin- and meat-traders use bribes to smuggle the animals across state borders at night. The cows and calves, often purchased under the pretense that they'll live out their lives on rural farms, are marched for days and crammed into overcrowded lorries in direct violation of the Constitution of India. Those who collapse have chili peppers and tobacco rubbed into their eyes and their tails deliberately broken in an effort to keep them moving.
Abattoirs, like Deonar in Mumbai, and other municipal slaughterhouses in Calcutta, Delhi and Bangalore, fail even minimum humane, hygienic, religious and legal standards for slaughter and animal handling. Investigators witnessed frightened buffalos and bullocks who have their throats slit in full view of each other on the floor, then are shackled and hoisted upside down to be bled while conscious. Diseased cattle and cattle, goats, sheep and pigs injured during transport were left in the hot sun to die in pain, dehydrated and suffering from wounds.
PETA launched its campaign in January 2000, focusing on India’s enormous leather export industry. Retailers from North America and Europe, including Gap, Inc., Florsheim and others, agreed to boycott Indian leather after reviewing PETA's evidence of abuse. Chrissie Hynde of the rock group The Pretenders, who was in New Delhi last week to launch a petition drive asking the PM to enforce transport laws, led protests in front of Gap stores in America and Europe before the moratorium. Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney, Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Arun Gandhi, Dalai Lama, Jackie Chan, and Kula Shaker musician Crispian Mills have written to the Indian Prime Minister asking for protection for cattle. Not one letter has been answered, not one committee has taken action and animals suffer by the millions to make jackets, sandals and meat dishes.
A copy of Newkirk's letter to the CLE follows. For more complete information on PETA's Indian Leather Campaign, visit our Web site at www.PETAIndia.com.
March 1, 2001
M. Mohamed Hashim, Chair
Council for Leather Exports
53, Raja Muthiah Rd.
Periamet, Chennai - 600 003
India
Dear Mr. Hashim:
The clock has almost run out on PETA's agreement with the Council for Leather Exports. In May, one year will have passed since PETA and our sister organizations worldwide agreed to stop any further campaigning against Indian leather. We entered this agreement in good faith, although many within India and abroad advised us against it.
Although you have, almost singlehandedly, it often seems, talked about this issue, written letters, drawn up plans, and held meetings, the CLE has not been sufficiently active to change anything with regard to the transportation of animals to slaughterhouses. The steps that the CLE is taking with regard to Deonar, which are both vital and good, need to be taken with the transport issue, which is a far greater problem.
Although I believe that your personal concern runs deep, the CLE has not responded vigorously enough. None of the plans that you have suggested has been acted upon. The meeting called in September by the minister of commerce has not led to any concrete developments. The one letter that the prime minister sent to all chief members has been largely ignored. The CLE has, in fact, failed to wrest from the Indian government a single response to even one letter of ours or to those of any of our supporters, let alone persuade the federal or state government to lift a finger to crack down on this vile and illegal trade that shames the whole of India. The West Bengal and Karnataka governments continue to operate hideously cruel and unhygienic abattoirs filled with animals injured from cruel and illegal transport. The Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments and the police continue to ignore the plight of animals crammed into lorries. The very latest reports are that Tamil drivers are even forcing screwdrivers into the eyes of the cattle, the CLE has not responded to appeals from Orissa's wildlife society for cooperative action, and that the CLE has not persuaded state governments to start enforcing the law.
It cannot be ignored that while we see the Indian leather industry working extremely hard to boost its international market share, millions of animals in India continue to suffer pitifully in transit from overcrowding, suffocation, physical abuse, and cruelty almost beyond imagination. These animals are paying every day with their immense pain for your industry's profits.
It is with considerable personal regret that I must advise you, on behalf of all our constituents and affiliates, that if there are no concrete and significant changes in this state of affairs by May 2001, we must and shall resume the campaign and will call on all animal welfare and rights groups internationally to participate. We will reengage with an enormous amount of energy, fueled by 12 months of bottled-up feelings and all the frustration born of patience and hope that came to naught. Our efforts will make previous attempts to decry the Indian leather industry look like child's play.
Our constituents and our mission require us to reassess the practical worth of our attempt at an amicable resolution.
Very truly yours,
Ingrid E. Newkirk
President
