FW:FIFA barks at Korean 'animal cruelty'

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http://asia.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/east/11/06/fifa.skorea/index.html

 

FIFA barks at Korean 'animal cruelty'

November 6, 2001 Posted: 9:10 PM HKT (1310 GMT)

 

ZURICH, Switzerland (CNN) -- FIFA, world football's

governing body, has called on South Korean authorities

to put a stop to animal cruelty in the country ahead

of next year's soccer World Cup finals.

 

In a statement, FIFA President Joseph Blatter called

on his vice-President, Korean Chung Mong-Joon, to take

" immediate and decisive measures to put an immediate

end " to the mistreatment of animals.

 

South Korea, the co-host of the 2002 World Cup with

Japan, has been the subject of protests by animal

welfare groups over the sale and consumption of dog

meat.

 

The groups have threatened to boycott the World Cup

unless government officials did more to stamp out the

trade.

 

FIFA said it had received thousands of letters of

protest over the mistreatment of dogs and cats in

Korea.

 

" Dogs, in particular, are tortured while being

prepared for human consumption, " the FIFA statement

said.

 

In an open letter to Chung, Blatter said the practice

damaged Korea's international image and that the World

Cup was an " appropriate moment for Korea to show the

world that it is sensitive to vociferous worldwide

public opinion and that it rejects cruelty. "

 

Chung, also a member of Korea's parliament and

Co-President of the Korean World Cup Organizing

Committee (KOWOC), said that a joint investigation had

been set up with government officials to try and

create a better system to prevent animal abuse.

 

Banned

The sale and consumption of dog meat was banned in the

run up to the 1988 Seoul Olympics by officials worried

at the unfavorable light that would be cast on South

Korea's international reputation.

 

However, although officially illegal, dog meat is

still widely available in the country.

 

Animal rights groups say dogs destined for the pot are

often subject to unimaginable levels of cruelty; kept

in tiny, filthy cages, with cases reported of dogs

being blow-torched to death.

 

Pain is traditionally said to improve the flavor.

 

Although it is expensive, the meat is usually served

up in a soup or a spicy stew and is particularly

popular with old men in the belief that it boosts

virility.

 

Advocates of the dog trade say it is an important

domestic tradition and that Korean dog meat lovers

consume dogs that are bred for eating, not as pets.

 

 

 

 

 

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