Vietnamese pig-halving festival causes animal rights outcry
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Hanoi (dpa) - An annual pig-slaughtering festival in Vietnam was slammed as "extremely barbaric" by animal welfare groups, news reports said Wednesday.
Pigs are held down with ropes and sliced in half across the belly with swords or decapitated as part of Lunar New Year celebrations in the village of Nem Thuong, in the northern province of Bac Ninh.
"The cruelty is in stark contrast and incompatible with the vibrant, modern and economic success of Vietnam," the Animals Asia Foundation (AAF) said in a petition started last week.
"It has a negative impact on the mental state of visitors, as well as society and the country's tourism image.
"More than 30,000 people had signed the petition, the group said Wednesday.
The festival is due to take place on February 24.
The ceremony commemorates General Ly Doan Thuong who is said to have butchered wild boar in the area to feed his men on their way to defeating Chinese invading troops under the Ly dynasty (1009-1225AD).
Locals then dip bank notes in the animals' blood as an augury of prosperity, fertility, vitality and a good harvest.
The Culture Ministry supported the petition, Viet Nam News reported.
"Living in this civilised world, we should support cultural and civilised activities and limit uncultured and uncivilised acts," spokesman Phan Dinh Tan was quoted as saying.
Such ceremonies are facing a "shift in attitude," according to Trinh Hoa Binh from the Institute of Sociology. People are less prepared to put up with the "negative impact on people, especially the young and children," he said.
