BBS threatens to reveal names of baby elephant thieves
The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) yesterday threatened to reveal names of those who are illegally keeping elephants, if measures are not taken to stop the illegal capture of elephants from the wild. BBS General Secretary, Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, while addressing the media, said rich and influential people, elephant thieves and mudalalis are illegally capturing elephants from the wild and taking them home. “We have all the names of the people, including monks, who presently are illegally keeping elephants. We know the people who are capturing and hiding these illegal elephants.
“We also know how many monks are involved in this racket and how many secretaries of ministries are using monks to get illegal elephants,” Gnanasara Thera alleged. He added that they know where these elephants are kept. “The relevant authorities can check how many elephants are in the wild and the number of blind elephants and tuskers, but they cannot check the number of elephants being kept by private parties,” he said.
“Environmentalists are constantly talking about this issue. The Wildlife and Resources Conservation Minister, Vijith Wijayamuni Soysa, has addressed this problem. But those who can take action against theses elephant thieves are saying they cannot intervene due to pressure from influential people,” Gnanasara Thera said.
He added the BBS’ main concern was that Buddhism and the cultural and religious aspect were being used as an excuse by elephant thieves to illegally capture baby elephants from the wild.
“It has been highlighted that mothers are killed and their babies taken away. We have our teams checking on these issues. The police are not acting on complaints because they have been told not to get involved in raids. We will go with the police and conduct the raids,” Gnanasara Thera said.
“Elephants have been treated as sacred and with respect since the birth of the Buddha. The Sacred Tooth Relic is also taken on the back of a tusker. However, some temples are being used to keep elephants illegally. We are ashamed of what is happening. The public is alert to this issue but the Malwatte Hamuduruwo is keeping silent on this problem, which is a very sad situation,” he noted.
He added that the country is noted for cruelty to elephants. “We are inviting the minister to discuss this issue with us and asking the Department of Wildlife and Conservation (DWLC) Director General H.D. Ratnayake to take action against these thieves.”
According to the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (FFPO) the birth of a baby elephant has to be registered with the DWLC. But there are many baby elephants with permits but have not been registered. Where did these baby elephants come from,” Gnanasara Thera questioned.
He said they are requesting all those engaged in this illegal racket to stop it.
(Courtesy: Ceylon Today)
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“The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) yesterday threatened to reveal names of those who are illegally keeping elephants”
This is called BLACKMAILING. I think it is a criminal offence. If, not it is utterly morally wrong thing to do to. If they have this information the right thing to do is to provide it to the police or reveal it to the media at once, rather than using it for threats. This shows the real nature and the quality of this guardians of the nation!
Indra rightly said.
The BBS is taking the right action. Keeping elephants illegally exceeds offence caused by keeping gold illegally.
Elephants are animals; gold does not have life. Anything with life is more valuable than gold.
As Indra suggests, if the BBS provides a list to the Police, the list will probably dissaper promptly and no action taken.
BBS is providing leadership in security affairs and should be commended for providing the lleadership which is exactly the right thing to do.
In recognition of the awesome initiatives of the BBS, I have offerred my chalet in Switzerland and airfares to Ven GAG and his follwers for a well-earned holiday.
‘As Indra suggests, if the BBS provides a list to the Police, the list will probably dissaper promptly and no action taken.’says Panjagani…
Even through Blackmailing or Whitemailing if this cruel activity has to be stopped. I see the point Panjagani, many people like BBS to disappear even for a short period as they often challenge status-quo.
Ganjapani, Just don’t go cherry picking. If and when the list given to the police disappears, as I have mentioned, it can be released to the media. Also there are numerous internet sites if they want to publicise the names. Until that happens, I take it as serious bluffing by BBS. Because, once they release it, if any names are false, the BBS is liable to be prosecuted in the court by those wrongly accused individuals. Also, if there are no names, of course the BBS can not release anything. We need to look at explanations both for and against there claim.
Dear Indra,
Yesterday, in Sri Lanka’s illustrious House of Representatives, a Cabinet Minister reported that a Judge of the Courts of Sri Lanka was in possession of a stolen elephant, retained illegally with proper papers.
How can SL citizens rely on the Judiciary to deliver justice, without fear or favor, with behaviors as above?
It is only Ven GAG and the BBS which act without fear or favor simply because they have nothing to gain or lose. With solid visions of safeguading our Sinhala Buddhist State, it’s culture, it’s Sinhala Buddhist citizens and our lands, the BBS should be institutionalsed to ensure its presence in every sector that impacts on the Nation.
Can anyone come up with a better idea of social renaiisance which is needed to treat the ailments of the Sinhala Buddhist citizens who are recovering from 30 years of lethal Tamil terrorism?
Dear Ganjapani,
Will you be kind enough to put names to the ‘a cabinet minister’ and ‘a judge’. Also, just check whether the minister made his remark under his parliamentary privileges inside the parliament. Because, any politician can make any false remark under PP without the fear of being prosecuted.
I have nothing much else to say other than your Sinhala Buddhist state is a joke, because Buddhism was sent from India, and again in the recent past it was re-imported from Thailand. Just like any other religion these days, it is an industry. Lots of people make there livelihood out of it.
Perhaps when and if your BBS come to power one day when the SL begin to burn out of religious and ethnic hatred, and all other countries in the world stop dealing with it, you can have your culture as it was before the white man arrived. Ie. Only the Gammuladaniya, gurunnanse and the village monk had any say and decided how everybody else should live and only their children had a substantial education. The rest lived and died serving them. You can travel along with the BBS lot in bullock carts too or walk barefoot and start writing with a panhinda on a palm leave adhering to the Sinhalese buddist culture there was before contaminated by the westerners.