Animal rights march draws crowd

A crowd of pet owners and animal lovers staged a demonstration from Tap Seac Square to the Legislative Assembly (AL) yesterday afternoon. The march happened at a moment when the Abandoned Animals Protect Association of Macau (AAPAM), the main organizer of the march, submitted a collective petition to government representatives opposing the latest revision of the draft Animal Protection Bill.
The demonstrators, some of whom were clad in orange or with their pets, gathered at Tap Seac Square at around 4.00 p.m. before marching their way to the city’s legislature one hour later. According to the organizer’s estimate, turnout reached a record high of over 3,000, which was double the highest number recorded in previous protests.
“It reflected the fact to the government that citizens cannot put up with regression of the bill. We hope they can face the true meaning of the legislation. It’s about deterrent regulations that can protect those animals and penalize the abusers,” said Yoko Choi, AAPAM’s president.
The AL’s first standing committee is currently awaiting a further revised bill from the government for a second review and discussion. However, the latest draft after the first review saw a reduction of the longest jail term for animal abusers to just one year. Additionally, the government also removed a clause regarding forced sterilization of dogs at construction sites, citing humane reasons. Combined with this was the case of a brutal killing of a dog this month that triggered yesterday’s march, where the city’s animal lovers united against the law they regarded as “too lax.”
The animal rights concern group has strived for almost eight years to bring the bill to the Legislative Assembly; however the act’s latest version has angered and disappointed the NGO, which led a second protest of the year.
“So would we wait another eight years for the law’s revision?” said Josephine Lau, AAPAM vice president. “This remains unknown. Within our ability, we wish to use a peaceful means to fight for it. We really hope that the lawmakers can listen to public opinion to optimize the law.”
She also told media that some promotional posters on yesterday’s march posted in public spaces were removed immediately after only a day, while other posters nearby remained intact. Besides, Lau also added that some of their volunteers were ordered by several government departments to remove the posters already posted to avoid being fined.
Despite the contentious content of the draft bill, some protesters think that the government should first enforce a law against animal brutality.
“Animal abuse is getting more serious in Macau. It would just get way more serious without legislation. That’s why I’m here to demand the legislation be finished as soon as possible,” said Christina Lei, who believes that the government has to take action to make the law possible in the city first, while its improvement might come later.
Anna, another protester originally from Poland, said: “We think Macau society is not aware of this issue. People get animals, they think it’s a good idea but then they abandon them or mistreat them. I think it’s time for society do something about it.” Staff reporter