doubts about the sincerity of the conservationist lobby, and have expressed bitterness over what they consider to be a heavily politicised campaign which has been engineered to carry the political objectives of privileged Western states at the expense of their livelihood. They have petitioned for the ivory market to be re-opened under strict control and supervision; for CITES parties to be asked to re-open their trade in ivory for a finite period so as to allow for existing stock to be consumed; and, in the event that these measures should fail that CITES parties and relevant NGOs be asked to compensate them for their losses.
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Options
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the idea pursuing
that the
We feel,
The decisions taken at the CITES Conference have left very little room for manoeuvre. We think that of an international "buy-out" scheme is worth irrespective of the prospect of success since it would demonstrate to the trade and to the public Government has explored all possible avenues. however, that the entering of a reservation is a more practical way forward. This is a course which CITES parties are entitled to adopt, and does not amount to an abrogation of the resolution banning the ivory trade. The aim would be to provide a realistic breathing space for
breathing space for the traders to dispose of their stocks in an orderly way and for the Government to establish a retraining programme for redundant workers.
11
The only other remaining option would appear to be that of compensating (from public funds) both the traders for their stock and the workers for their loss of employment. Legal advice is that the Government could not be held liable for such compensation, even in the event that a reservation was not taken out. This option is not recommended. Apart from the legal position, such an option is wrong in principle and would set а most undesirable precedent for other industries facing sanctions imposed by other countries.
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In the present situation, we do not consider that the Government can be seen to be doing nothing. If none of the above options were to be pursued, the traders would be strongly tempted to trade illegally. The Government would then have to prosecute and confiscate any ivory which might be involved in illegal trading. Such action is most likely to generate public sympathy for the traders and hostility towards the Government in the absence of any moves the trade in their current predicament.
assist