20/05/2010

The Secretariat has recently received a number of emails urging the
return to Indonesia of 11 orangutans confiscated by the CITES
Management Authority of Thailand in February 2009.

In keeping with its responsibilities to promote enforcement of the
Convention and to assess and communicate relevant information, the
Secretariat contacted the Thai Management Authority about these
messages. The Thai Management Authority responded immediately, stating
that the animals had been well cared for since their confiscation and
that DNA analysis showed they were Bornean orangutans. It advised the
Secretariat that the Thai and Indonesian authorities had been
consulting about the possible return of the animals - as both
countries had arranged for the return of a number of orangutans three
years ago. The Thai Management Authority further stated that it had
written officially to the CITES Management Authority of Indonesia
earlier this month to find out whether it would like the animals to be
returned at its expense â€"

as provided under Article VIII of the Convention.

The Secretariat is also in contact with the Indonesian Management
Authority about this matter.

As provided by the Convention, the determination of the most suitable
long-term home for confiscated animals rests with the State of
confiscation, following consultation with the State of export. The
State of confiscation may consult with the Secretariat, whenever it
considers this desirable, but the CITES Secretariat has no power to
decide the final destination of confiscated animals.

The Thai Management Authority has advised that its investigation into
the events leading up to the confiscation of the 11 orangutans is
ongoing. The role of the Secretariat in relation to domestic law
enforcement is supportive in nature and is focused on exchanging
information about alleged violations, strengthening law enforcement
capacity and facilitating coordinated action by interested States. In
this context, the Secretariat offers and provides technical back-up to
assist States in their investigation and pursuit of individuals or
organizations which are suspected of having violated the Convention
and relevant national law.

The emails sent to the Secretariat also raise issues of compliance
with the Convention. The Secretariat supports other CITES bodies in
carrying out their functions concerning compliance. It advises and
assists Parties in complying with their CITES obligations and makes
recommendations for achieving compliance. Compliance measures under
the Convention, however, can only be taken by the Conference of the
Parties or its Standing Committee.

John Scanlon

CITES Secretary-General

http://www.cites.org/eng/news/press/2010/20100520_SG_statement_orangutan.shtml