Dutch biologist Marc van Roosmalen faces 14 years in a Brazilian prison. He has been convicted of failing to apply for a licence for the monkey refuge at his home in the Amazon region of Brazil. Mr Van Roosmalen, hailed in 2000 as a "hero for the planet", is appealing against the sentence.
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Marc van Roosmalen, "hero for the planet", in happier days.
(photo courtesy of the Apenheul Foundation)
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Monkey researcher Marc van Roosmalen, sentenced to 14 years in prison, seems on the face of it to be a victim of bureaucracy. The primatologist has been living and working for years in the Amazon. He has even discovered several new species of monkey, one of which reminded him of Prince Bernhard. He named it "Callicebus Bernhardi" and five years ago he visited Soestdijk Palace to inform the prince in person.
Hero for the forest
In 2002, in a Dutch television programme, Mr Van Roosmalen explained the original methods he had devised to be able to rescue and study monkeys. Anyone who wanted could give their name to one of the monkeys in his refuge - in exchange for a financial contribution.
Meanwhile, he was expanding his activities. He no longer merely hunted for new species of plants and animals, but increasingly turned his attention to the protection of the Brazilian rainforest.
It is his campaigning activities and his enthusiasm that have been his undoing, says David van Gennip, director of the AAP Foundation, an animal refuge in Almere: he was "a pain in the ass" particularly for logging and soybean companies with major interests in the Brazilian rainforest.
Bert de Boer, director of Apenheul, a zoo and conservation organisation in Apeldoorn, describes Mr Van Roosmalen as "A great conservationist, and passionate with it. These are both things you have to be very cautious about in Brazil." He suspects that the big companies have bribed the government to act against the vociferous biologist.
Biopiracy
It was easy to find a reason to take legal action against Van Roosmalen. He was accused of failing to apply for a permit for the monkey refuge at his home. This meant that the 28 orphaned monkeys he was keeping there were technically stolen. He was accused of monkey theft and biopiracy and sentenced to 14 years in prison. He is appealing against the sentence.
The 60-year-old biologist, hailed by Time Magazine in 2000 as a "hero for the planet", is now behind bars in Brazil.
Tags:
Amazon,
Bernhard,
Brazil,
bureaucracy,
Dutch,
logging,
Marc van Roosmalen,
Monkey researcher,
primatologist,
prison
Walace,
12-10-2007
- The Netherlands
Marc van Roosmalen must have to follow the bureaucracy in the country where he is researching, if he likes it or not! It is known that Mr Van Roosmalen is against this bureaucracy processes, but he, as a Brazilian (he holds Brazilian passport) must follow it.
Mason Fischer,
12-07-2007
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More journalists and media should pick up this story. This is truly a travesty of justice and a story that needs to be told.
Marc's plight is in keeping with the likes of Chico Mendes and others who have fought to save the Brazilian Amazon from politicians, developers and destruction. On top of that he is one of the most accomplished field biologists of our time, a modern-day Alexander von Humboldt who discovered numerous species new to science.
Marc has done a tremendous service to Brazil in educating the world about Brazil's natural heritage, and now he's in a prison in Manaus for sheltering orphaned primates? Who knows what wealth of knowledge about the Amazon and new discoveries will be lost without him.
Marc van Roosmalen's story deserves to be told, and hopefully he can be saved.
jasmin,
03-07-2007
- India
Reply from Amnesty International :
It's Amnesty International's mission to obtain the release of people imprisoned for their political, religious, racial, linguistic or ethnic background (brief summary). The motives for the detention of Mr Van Roosmalen don't fall within this category. In this respect, AI is keeping closely to its stated objectives.
alberto villasmil raven,
27-06-2007
- venezuela
A direct appeal must be made to President Lula da Silva, who seems to me to be a sensible man. Conservation groups in Brazil could also help.
jasmin,
25-06-2007
- India
Good thought Edwin, I have sent this article to three agencies: Amnesty International , Human Rights, Darryl project..You can find similar sites to send to..
Edwin Wiek,
25-06-2007
- Thailand
It seems Marc was really wanted by the big guys in Brazil. I myself have been in similar troubles in Thailand last year. I too was put in jail for rescuing wild animals and faced a fine and jail term. I am still at work helping these animals. I know I can get busted again at any time. Where can we send letters in support of Marc?
Paula Wichall,
24-06-2007
- UK
The government and ecological groups must put influence and pressure on Brazil for the fair treatment and release of the eminent zoologist and Dutch kinsman Marc van Roosmalen.
jasmin,
24-06-2007
- India
It is shocking that Marc is facing a 14 year sentence for his good work, which meant bad news for the forest Mafia. Everybody concerned should campaign for his release, especially the Dutch government, or it will dissuade similar crusades by other well meaning people.
Althea DAy,
23-06-2007
- USA
"Gee, where did that nice country Brazil go?"
"Little boxes on the hill side, little boxes made of ticky tacky.
Little boxes, little boxes, little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one and a blue one and a yellow
one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky, and they all look just
the same.
And the people in the houses all went to the university
Where they were put in boxes, little boxes, all the same.
And there's doctors and there's lawyers, and there's business
executives
And they're all made out of ticky tacky and they all look just
the same.
And they all play on the golf course and drink their martini dry
And they all have pretty children and the children go to school
And the children go to summer camp and then to the university
Where they all get put in boxes and they all come out the same.
And the boys go into business and marry and raise a family
In boxes, little boxes, little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one and a blue one and a yellow
one
And they're all made out of ticky tacky and they all look just
the same."
Words and music by Malvina Reynolds
Only with global warming, they might not even get to.
Save monkeys, plant trees, recycle!!!
