mikej@cdp.uucp (10/22/89)
Subject: GROUPS CALL FOR THE RESIGNATION OF CITES SECRETARY GENERAL
Date: October 16, 1989
Via GreenLink:
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LAUSANNE, Switzerland (GP) - A coalition of 17 conservation
groups, including Greenpeace today called on the United Nations
to dismiss the head of the world's most important wildlife
conservation convention in response to continuing questions of
his professional competence and appearances of conflict of
interests.
Secretary General Eugene Lapointe, head of the Secretariat of
the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
(CITES) has admitted accepting money on behalf of CITES from
ivory traders which conservationists fear may influence his
decision on ivory issues. Yesterday, Lapointe acknowledged that
the Secretariat organized and accepted funds from the sale of
confiscated skins from endangered lizards that had entered Guyana
illegally from Brazil.
The skin scandal is the latest in a series of activities that
cast serious doubt on Mr. Lapointe's integrity and ability to
effectively lead CITES. Monday marked the beginning of the
seventh biannual gathering of the 103 that are party to CITES,
which is meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland to consider the fate of
many endangered animals including the African elephant.
During yesterday's session the U.S. delegation questioned
actions by the Secretariat and it's Secretary - General Eugene
Lapointe about some $80,500 in unexplained funds. The Secretariat
admitted that the money was generated from sales of illegally
traded lizards skins confiscated in Guyana. The Secretariat said
that proceeds of the sale negotiated with the government of
Guyana and the wildlife dealer who tried to trade the skins
originally would be used to fund conservation efforts in Guyana.
The findings prompted the U.S. delegation to CITES to call on
the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) to investigate
the Secretariat's activities.
In a letter to UNEP, the conservation groups including,
Greenpeace International and the Human Society of the US working
at the conference also made their concerns known. The letter
calling for the Secretary General's resignation read, "This
receipt of funds from other wildlife trade interests, and from
the sale of confiscated skins has created a widespread impression
by the Parties of unethical behavior by the CITES Secretariat.
Furthermore, the public and private activities and efforts of
the Secretary General and his staff to publicly oppose full
protection for the African elephant ... is an unprecedented
breach of diplomatic protocol which requires strict neutrality on
the part of international civil servants who administer United
Nations Treaties."
The Secretary General has been under siege since it was
discovered that he had arranged a pre-convention meeting in
Amsterdam of African and Latin delegates key to the ivory issue,
without the knowledge of all the Parties to the Treaty. The
Secretariat has also admitted accepting nearly $200,000 from
ivory traders on behalf of CITES over the past several years.
The Secretariat, who has been lobbying against an international
ban on the ivory trade, was the key figure in forging an amnesty
for poached ivory that legitimized 89 tons of ivory in Burundi,
270 tonnes in Singapore and more than 60 tonnes in Somalia
spurring poaching and a further destruction of African elephant
stocks. This amnesty has created more stockpiling of poached
ivory in Africa, which is disrupting negotiations for an end to
the ivory trade and may perpetuate further amnesties and lead to
the extirpation of the elephants.
"The continuing legislation by the Secretariat of stockpiles of
confiscated products is fueling illegal trade as it is an
incentive for further stockpiles to be accumulated. This travesty
cannot continue," said Jeff Canin, head of the Greenpeace
delegation to CITES.
The Groups that signed the letter represent millions of
supporters all over the world and include:
African Wildlife Foundation
Animal Legal Defense Fund
Animal Welfare Institute
Committee for Humane Legislation
East African Fund for Wildlife Society of Kenya
Elefriends
Environmental Investigation Agency
Friend of Animals
Greenpeace International
The Humane Society of the United States
International Fund for Animal Welfare
International Primate Protection League
International Society for Animal Rights
International Wildlife Coalition
Monitor Consortium International
Society for Animal Protection Legislation
Wildlife Conservation Society
World Society for the Protection of Animals
Contact: Andrew Davis, Greenpeace: 41- 21- 231902
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