Owner in jumbo case plea to PM

LAMPANG: The Karen owner of two domestic elephants confiscated two years ago has asked the premier to force authorities to return his jumbos.

Suthep Aunsi, a lawyer representing Phor Tor, a Karen villager in Myanmar, last Friday visited the National Elephant Institute (NEI) in Hang Chat district and requested to have the two elephants, a mother and its offspring, returned to the owner.

In addition, Phor Tor also submitted a letter to authorities to forward to prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for help.

The elephants were seized in 2016 near the border adjacent to Khun Pha Wo National Park in Tak province by officials who mistakenly believed them to be wild.

Phor Tor asked the attorney to help him clarify that the elephants are domestic animals.

Mr Suthep asked the authorities in December 2016 to send both elephants back to their owner.

However, t hey were i nstead sent to the NEI in Lampang’s Hang Chat district.

The lawyer said the NEI has told him they cannot return the elephants until final approval is given by the Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation for their release.

Mr Suthep complained this affair has gone on for an unreasonably long amount of time and is causing the owner distress due to his worries about the health of his animals.

Surasit Muthusahim, a member of a committee asked to tackle problems facing civilians who own elephants, said his organisation had been providing legal advice to the owner.