Taipei - Taiwan's animal rights groups on Friday opposed the
government's plan to introduce horse racing and legalising betting on
it, saying cruelty to animals should not be tolerated.
'Horses are not suitable for racing. Many break their legs
during racing and are crippled, and when they can no longer race,
they are put to death or sold to slaughter houses,' Chen Yu-min,
director of the Environment and Animal Society of Taiwan, told
Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.
'The government has failed to boost the economy, and now it is
suggesting horse race gambling. We can hold a public debate to see
if the public support it or oppose it,' she added.
Shih Chao-hui, a Buddhist nun involved in animal rights
campaigning and a staunch anti-gambling advocate, also objected to
the government's plan.
'Studies have shown that in places where gambling is legalized,
the gambling industry alone thrives while other businesses decline,'
she said.
On Thursday, a cabinet official said Taiwan plans to legalize
sports gambling in central and south Taiwan to boost regional
economic development.
Chang Ching-sen, deputy director of the Council for Economic
Planning and Development, said apart from betting on horse racing the
cabinet also planned to introduce and legalise two more kinds of
sports gambling, one on car races and another on a type yet
undisclosed.
Car racing could be the first to be introduced, because Taiwan
does not need to change any law for it, Chang said.
Horse racing could be the second, because Taiwan needs to amend
laws since the Animal Protection Law bans using animals for gambling
purposes.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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