Tiger Temple abbot 'not at fault'

The abbot of the Tiger Temple had nothing to do with the alleged abuse and illegal trading of tigers and tiger parts, according to his representatives who have put the blame squarely on temple staff and officials.

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Abbot 'not at fault' in tiger case

PIYARACH CHONGCHAROEN

Kanchanaburi: Wat Pa Luang Ta Maha Bua, better known as the Tiger Temple, yesterday claimed its abbot was unaware of any possible misconduct linked to the tigers at the temple.

Media reports have portrayed the temple as being a criminal den involved in illegal wildlife trading, said Siri Wangboonkerd, a former Pheu Thai MP for Bangkok, yesterday.

He represented the temple in its first media conference held to defend the temple's abbot, Phra Wisutthi Sarathera, known as Luang Ta Chan, since the controversy erupted, leading to the forced relocation of 147 live tigers and the confiscation of tiger carcasses.

The relocation of the tigers by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) was carried out between May 30 and last Saturday. Authorities also seized the carcasses of 40 tiger cubs found in fridges and 30 more dead cubs preserved in jars. Around 2,000 tiger carcasses and talismans made mainly from tiger parts were also confiscated.

According to Mr Siri, Luang Ta Chan only provided space to care for the tigers, while veterinarian Somchai Wisetmongkolchai was responsible for actually looking after the tigers for nearly 17 years.

The veterinarian started work in 2001 taking care of six to seven legally registered tigers, said Mr Siri.

Mr Somchai recently filed a complaint with the DNP over the disappearance of three tigers and an incident in which he claimed someone handed him three microchips that had been embedded in the bodies of the missing tigers, said Mr Siri.

If the microchips were the ones embedded in the missing tigers, it meant the tigers were dead by the time the microchips were removed from their bodies, he said.

Siri Wangboonkerd, left, and lawyer Saiyud Pengboonchu speak on behalf of the Tiger Temple's abbot in front of the temple's gate on Thursday.

Following the complaint, the DNP failed to investigate the disappearances and instead confiscated 147 tigers and searched the temple, he added.

Mr Siri said that he was left wondering if the department really had the authority to search the temple and confiscate the tigers without obtaining a proper court order.

According to Mr Siri, the temple took good care of the tigers and their relocation led to the shutdown of one of the most important tourist attractions in Sai Yok while employees hired to take care of the tigers at the temple had lost their jobs.

"What happened to the temple was a conspiracy by the veterinarian and the DNP to destroy the temple. The move was also backed by an international organisation, with a hidden agenda to move the tigers to create a new tourist attraction."

As for the discovery and seizure of 30 dead tiger cubs preserved in jars at the temple, he said only the veterinarian was capable of preserving them.

The abbot knew nothing other than what he was told by the veterinarian, Mr Siri said.

He also dismissed allegations that the temple was part of a wildlife smuggling ring that supplied tigers to the black market, saying the temple had yet to decide whether or not to file a countersuit against those who made the allegations.

Saiyud Phengboonchu, a lawyer representing the temple, meanwhile, claimed the seized talismans were produced by workers who had already been arrested.

Following the raids at the temple, five suspects, three monks and two laymen, were detained for questioning.

A number of talismans were found in the abbot's living quarters simply because the workers hid them there assuming authorities would not go after the abbot during a raid, said Mr Siri.

Luang Ta Chan appeared only briefly after the news conference ended. He arrived in a golf cart and said he was not feeling very well before disappearing into the temple. The media briefing took place outside the temple, near its entrance.

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