Thailand-based ASEAN-WEN modeled by CITESCoP16

BANGKOK, March 6 (TNA) - The 16th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITESCoP16) has agreed to set up a global wildlife law enforcement network, modeled by Thailand-based Association of Southeast Asian Nations Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN), to protect wildlife against international illegal trading. Theerapat Prayoonsit, Deputy Director-General of the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment's Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, told journalists that the CITES' global wildlife law enforcement network has already been set up since March 5, 2013, after concerned ASEAN ministers met to discuss the problem of worldwide illegal trading of wildlife and resolved that the ASEAN-WEN be modeled for the CITES' similar, but around the globe, network. Theerapat acknowledged that the ASEAN-WEN has been proven to be successful, as it has been well-supported and cooperated by member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its expanding network to connect with more CITES members in other regions should, thus, enhance the worldwide network's efficiency. The INTERPOL also met to discuss measures to cope with more complicated channels of transnational crime related to trafficking of live wildlife or wildlife carcasses currently, covering postal and even online services, and then resolved on their expanding cooperation with custom authorities of member states and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDODC), covering information sharing and relevant guidelines, as well as the detection of money laundering-related illegal wildlife trade. Thailand hosts the CITES CoP16 from March 3-14, during which Cites Secretary-General John Scanlon and some 2000 representative from 150 nations and international non-governmental organizations or NGOs participate. (TNA)