WELSH ASSEMBLY IGNORES HINDU PLEAS TO SAVE SHAMBO
(26 June 2007)

With the full support of the Hindu community throughout the UK, monks at Skanda Vale Temple have vowed to stop any attempt to kill Shambo, despite today’s announcement by Jane Davidson, minister for sustainability and rural development. The Welsh Assembly has confirmed its intention to destroy the bullock at religious sanctuary in west Wales. Shambo has tested positive for exposure to bovine tuberculosis.

Despite continued requests for the Welsh Assembly officials to work constructively with the Temple to find a practical solution, the Minister yesterday finally responded to Skanda Vale with a substantive reply, which in effect serves notice on their intention to slaughter Shambo.

Responding to the Welsh Assembly’s decision, Swami Suryananda of the Skanda Vale Temple said: “The Welsh Assembly has chosen to dismiss our constructive proposals to preserve the life of Shambo. They have refused to listen to the concerns of the Hindu community, to conduct further tests on Shambo or even consider other treatment options should the disease ever develop in Shambo. The fact that we have had to wait over a month to hear from them and then been given a matter of days to respond is indicative of their uncooperative approach.

“Some of the information released by the Welsh Assembly Government suggests that Shambo’s current condition poses a grave risk to public health and that he is suffering with disease. This is not true. There is no evidence that he is infectious and shedding TB bacteria and our vet has confirmed he is in excellent health. It is important that people are informed with accurate not hypothetical information concerning the law, public health and animal welfare issues

“We have taken all the required precautions to safeguard both animal and public health. Shambo continues to be in excellent health and shows no sign of the disease. The skin test detects exposure to the infection but officials claim that proof an animal is actually suffering from TB is something that can only be shown by post-mortem examination or by microbiological analysis after death. The Temple state that they have submitted proposals using detailed and accurate diagnostics available at DEFRAs own laboratories that could be used by the government to ascertain whether Shambo is infected without killing him.”

Swami Suryananda: “Now assembly officials are hyping up the case by claiming that other animals in the Temple herd may have tested positive but this is not the case, We have written confirmation from animal health officials that tests carried out in early June have been read using the standard interpretation. The herd all tested negative apart from three animals which were inconclusive and will be tested again in 60 days time.

“The Minister has made her first political pronouncement obviously choosing to ignore the strong concerns of the Hindu community and the constructive proposals of the Temple. She has decided not to exercise her right of discretion to save the Shambo. Should she choose, on Friday, to serve the notice then we will be seeking urgent court action to prevent the slaughter of Shambo.”

UK Hindu organisations have given their full support to Skanda Vales’ campaign, including the Hindu Forum of Britain, the National Council of Hindu Temples, the Hindu Council of Birmingham, Hindu Council of Brent, Hindu Council of Harrow, Hindu Council of the North, Leicester Festival Hindu Council, Hindu Council UK, World Hindu Federation and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad UK.