Lao Telecom denies illegal ivory possession

(KPL) The Lao Telecom has denied the possession of 239 elephant tusks, weighing 2,075 kg, which have been seized at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport by Thai customs officials.

According to Thai officials, the ivories addressed to the Lao Telecom, were delivered on a flight from Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

The Lao Telecom was in trouble when Thai newspapers reported the seizure on 25 February saying that the shipment pallets of the ivories were addressed to the Lao Telecommunications.

The pallets were delivered with flight EK372, which had a transit at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Thailand on 24 February.

To address the rumour, Director General of the Lao Telecom, Mr. Thansamay Kommasith held a press conference for the local media people last Friday. “The company is definitely uninvolved in this incident as we have never imported or ordered any equipment from Dubai,” insisted Mr. Thansamay. “Most equipment we use is imported from China and Thailand,” said Mr. Thansamay.

The Lao PDR has law on protecting wildlife which stipulates a ban on wildlife trafficking, said Mr. Thansamay who is also Vice-President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The elephant ivories seized in Thailand weigh more than two tonnes and are valued at 30 billion kip.

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