On Tuesday 7 August, a Brazilian court of justice provisionally released from prison Dutch monkey researcher Marc van Roosmalen. The famous botanist and primatologist had previously been sentenced to almost 16 years in jail for 'biopiracy and embezzlement'.
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Biopiracy
Van Roosmalen is allowed to await his appeal in freedom. In June, the famous biologist, who discovered several new monkey species in the Amazon forest, was sentenced to a total of 15 years and nine months of imprisonment for illegal trading of animals and plants. He allegedly hadn't applied for a permit to keep 28 orphaned monkeys at his home. The Brazilian prosecutor labelled it 'biopiracy' and 'embezzlement'.
Rain forest
That seems odd to anyone who has been following Van Roosmalen's activities. The inspirational biologist has increasingly stood out as an environmentalist. In 2000, the American magazine Time even proclaimed Van Roosmalen Hero for the Planet, on account of his attempts to protect the rain forest. His activities were a thorn in the side of the logging and soybean companies, who vehemently defend their own interests in Brazil. Sympathisers say the source of the charge against Van Roosmalen is to be found within those circles.
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Still a Dutch passport holder According to Aguinaldo Lyra, Van Roosmalen told him, shortly after his release, that he got a new Dutch passport two years ago, in Amsterdam. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs had contacted Van Roosmalen, shortly after his arrest, saying that it couldn't do much for the biologist, on account of him having been naturalised as a Brazilian. Source: ANP |
Ironic
In an interview with Radio Netherlands Worldwide, Van Roosmalen's legal adviser and friend Aguinaldo Lyra called the indictment 'ironic'.
"Legally speaking, biopiracy doesn't exist. There is no Brazilian section of the law to that effect. There is, however, a bill in congress that aims at penalising this as a specific crime."
According to Lyra it is correct that Van Roosmalen was found to have 28 monkeys in his possession. What's more, the Brazilian authorities had left the monkeys in the care of Van Roosmalen, after they had been seized from poachers. Lyra:
"So Marc was effectively curator of these creatures by order of the government, but he had put away the document to that effect, and he couldn't remember where."
Lyra expects the appeal to be heard in two to three months time. However, he is opposed to an appeal;
"I explained to Marc that I'd rather nullify the process. There is no legal basis for prosecution whatsoever."
Van Roosmalen himself doesn't want to make any statements. He is at home, but is not allowed to travel without the permission of the authorities.
* RNW translation (fd)
Tags: Amazon rainforest, Dutch primatologist, Marc van Roosmalen