Article Summary In the article “In Trafficking of Wildlife, Out of Reach of the Law”, written by The New York Times writer Thomas Fuller, Laotian officials have their hands full with wildlife trafficking. In Hong Tong, Laos there lies a large compound which is owned by Vixay Keosavang, a “suspected” wildlife trafficker, a kingpin no less. This compound is where Keosavang controls his operation under the occupation of a breeder. Freeland which is a non-profit organization that is involved in anti-trafficking has been investigating Keosavang for several years, collecting evidence and building a case against him. Despite enormous efforts by Freeland the man remains free and safe from the law. Little was even known until recently when one of his subordinates, who according to him was his right-hand man. After gaining insight into the organization through questioning Keosavang’s associate many were hopeful, but this was fairly short-lived. Official Laotian documents show that Keosavang’s business, Xaysavang Trading, was allowed to sell and breed rare animals inside Laos and outside the boarders. This put a hole into investigators plans because, now legally Keosavang’s operations were safe as long as he did his trading from within Laos. This was troubling to many because now all of the evidence built up against him was now useless due to the fact that as far as the Laotian government was concerned his operations were legal. Many have urged the Laotian government to further investigate Keosavang’s business, but they have refused. Some suggest that he may have contacts in the Laotian government that he either paid off, or was in league with. Everyone knows what the problem is and even where he lives but for now he is safe behind the Laotian government.
Article Analysis In this article there is a look into the Laotian government through the illegal wildlife