Chiapas Revives Cockfighting with Temporary Decree
The Mexican state of Chiapas has issued an official decree temporarily making cockfighting legal again in its jurisdiction.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:According to El Heraldo de Chiapas, a local newspaper, the ruling will permit authorized cockfighting events in Chiapas until June 30.
This decision represents a sudden reversal for the Chiapas authorities, who had suspended all cockfighting and horse racing events earlier this year.
At the time, opponents claimed that the ban resulted in substantial financial losses for workers and investors in Chiapas' cockfighting and horse racing sectors. Instead, they argue that cockfighting should be recognized as a cultural heritage in Chiapas, as it is already in other Mexican states like Hildago, Zacatecas, Nayarit, Tlaxcala, and Aguascalientes.
Divided Opinions on Decision
The latest development has been met with mixed reactions from the public, with some expressing support and others voicing outrage.
Efraín Rábago, leader of the Sistema Nacional de Criadores de Aves de Combate (National System of Fighting Bird Breeders), welcomed the decision. According to him, the move will benefit breeders of all sizes, from those with a single bird to those with a thousand flocks.
Rábago added that the Sistema will continue advocating for the interests of the entire cockfighting community. The Sistema was founded in 1973 to represent and protect the legal rights of Mexico's fighting bird breeders.
However, animal rights activists contend that cockfighting contradicts the spirit of laws designed to protect animals, such as the Chiapas State Wildlife Protection Act.
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New Rules for Cockfighting
The Chiapas government justified the move as a measure to curb the growth of secret and unregulated cockfights. They claim that secret cockfighting events increase the danger to animals and participants alike.
Officials also noted that underground cockfights encourage unregulated wagering. To address this, the decree mandates that organizers receive official approval to permit betting at cockfighting events.
The new measure also prohibits the organizers from accessing public funds. Additionally, it requires them to have veterinarians on-site during all events.
Cockfights in the state are also limited to between noon and 11:00 p.m. and must not exceed eight hours per event.
It remains to be seen if Chiapas will continue to allow cockfighting after the provisional period or join the ranks of Mexican states that have banned the sport, like Sonora, Coahuila, Mexico City, and Veracruz.
RELATED TOPICS: Regulation
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