Bear bile production site visits lack ‘power of truth’

Hui'an (CNS) -- In response to charges that it uses cruel methods of bear-bile production, Guizhentang Pharmaceuticals, a Fujian-based company that produces traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) from the animals, announced it will open its black bear breeding base for scheduled public visits.

However, contrary to its statement that visitors won't be separated according to occupation, reporters and experts are arranged in separate batches – the media on Wednesday, and officials, experts and animal protection organizations on Friday, CNS reported.

Zhang Yue, a founding member of the Beijing Loving Animals Foundation, finds the division suspicious and is inclined to think the company seeks to limit communication between the two groups, thus more or less keeping the truth buried.

A Mr. Wu requested of Guizhentang's PR representative Ms. Wang that he be allowed to join the public tour during his short business trip to the city, but was declined on the grounds there were no vacancies that day. A CNS reporter called Ms. Wang on Tuesday evening, and was told that the composition of the next day's guest list was unclear.

Ironically, Guizhentang's public day notification included the statements "we respect the rights and welfare of animals" and "we are open to public supervision, because we believe in the power of truth."