Shocking news
____________________________
To the surprise and shock of everyone who protested the Nepal 'monkey business' during the past five years, The Himalayan Times on November 18 announced that soon 25 monkeys from the Lele breeding centre will be send to the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research in Texas. A Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation member stated that, "[m]onkeys born in the centre are their personal property. We cannot oppose experiments on them".
This completely contradicts an earlier announcement by the Department. In a letter to diplomatic missions written in August the Department stated it would not allow monkeys to be exported for biomedical research.
The coalition will oppose the shipment both in Nepal and overseas. Letters have been send to the President and Prime Minister, as well as the airlines. A demonstration will be organized in front of the government office, and a press conference will be called. We will NOT allow innocent living beings to undergo terrible suffering in US labs!
What We Do
Inform the media
Since 2003 we have informed the media about the unholy US-Nepal alliances through press releases and interviews. Nepal 's journalists are very aware of the issue and generally highlight the controversies surrounding it. This has helped the Nepalese public to get to know about the misuse of rhesus monkeys for medical research.
Inform the public
The public is being informed through talks at schools, stalls at festivals, a brochure, a campaign report (see Campaign Downloads) and this website. Further exposure will be created through a radio jingle, a rock song and a documentary.
Organise signature campaign and demonstrations
Since 2003 some 4,000 people from around the globe have signed our online signature campaign, calling for an end to the misuse of Nepal 's rhesus macaque. In February 2007 our partner Roots and Shoots organised a demonstration in front of the concerned Ministry. Over a hundred students and animal welfare campaigners joined the demonstration.
Pressurize the government
On February 13, 2004, we waited in vain for over two hours at the Ministry of Forestry and Soil Conservation to hand over a petition signed by 500 individuals. Despite our formal appointment officials said they had no time to receive the petition regarding breeding and export of rhesus monkeys for medical research. After waiting for two hours after the appointed time, we left the petition and signatures at the Ministry. Till today the government has not replied. Through informal discussions and letter writing we continue to pressurize the government.
Take legal action
Although the Nepalese government has opened the door to US-Nepal primate research, the issue is marred with controversies. Together with specialised lawyers we are raising objections in the Nepalese court.
