13 March 2002
Contact:
Jason Baker (0) 98201 22602
London—Flanking a PETA “cow” holding a banner reading, ‘India: Stop the Cruel Transport of Animals,” several Members of British Parliament (Piara Khabra who is originally from Punjab, Jeremy Corbyn and Lynn Jones) gathered in front of British Parliament this week to protest the cruel transport and slaughter of Indian cows, buffaloes, goats and other animals killed for leather exports to the West. England is the 3rd largest importer of leather from Indian animals.
This marks a renewed effort by the British government to improve conditions for animals in India. In 2000, 33 members of British parliament added their names to Early Day Motion (EDM) 1162 introduced by MP Dr. Ashok Kumar. Dr. Kumar is the secretary of an All Party Group within the British House of Commons whose aim is to build links between the British and Indian Parliaments. EDM 1162 cited cruelties in transport in India and called for actions toward the consistent and effective enforcement of Indian laws prohibiting cruelty to animals.
In defiance of Indian law, corrupt skin-traders march cows, buffaloes and other animals for days and cram them into overcrowded lorries, which causes many to suffer broken bones and suffocation. Those who collapse from exhaustion or injuries have their eyes smeared with chili peppers and their tailbones broken in an effort to keep them moving. At abattoirs, the animals typically have their throats hacked in full view of one another and are often dismembered and skinned alive.
PETA’s boycott of Indian leather has been joined by dozens of top retailers worldwide, including the UK’s Lambert Howarth, Buffalo Boots and Clarks, costing India an estimated $40 million (US) in lost contracts.
‘It’s time for the Indian government to wash the leather industry’s blood off its hands,’ says PETA’s European coordinator Dawn Carr ‘British MPs are adding their voices to that of countless Indian citizens by standing up in defence of India’s animals. The international public is saddened that virtually no steps have been taken by the Indian government to spare Indian animals from unnecessary torture and suffering in transport.”
For more information, please visit our Web site at PETAIndia.com.
