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The latest instalment of #Taiwan's #Birdgate- @BirdLife_News refuses to publicly explain why it cut ties with Taiwan bird society @cwbf1988 but a leaked email suggests it feared the conservationists cld promote "secession" from China @TelegraphWorld 1/ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/09/25/leak-reveals-uk-partner-severed-taiwan-bird-society-secession/
In a statement that will be of little surprise to birdwatchers, @cwbf1988 denies it was intending to use its efforts to save Taiwan's endangered birds as a cover for secessionist activities - "We are conservationists, not political actors," it pointed out. 2/
To clarify the situation, @cwbf1988 has released its correspondence with @BirdLife_News, issued a new statement and changed its name to Taiwan Wild Bird Federation 3/ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/09/25/leak-reveals-uk-partner-severed-taiwan-bird-society-secession/
The leaked email from @BirdLife_News to its global partners is not part of that correspondence. However, it offers new insights into the reasons it expelled @cwbf1988 earlier this month. These reasons have not been publicly explained to #Taiwan's conservation community 4/
BirdLife International said the decision was made unanimously by its Global Council “painfully and with sadness.” And justified the move “to avoid wading into the perfectly understandable yet treacherous arena of geopolitical pressures and conflicts.” 5/
It added: "Operational Procedures further make clear that a Partner cannot use the BirdLife name, logo, brand and/or symbols in conjunction with those of any political movement, political party, government,....6/
....territory or other political unit which promotes secession from a UN recognised country.” BirdLife also argued that its obligation under UK charities law was “to avoid any risk which could prevent BirdLife from achieving its aims or carrying out its strategies.” 7/
. @TaiwanBirding called BirdLife's actions "insulting and upsetting," adding "An, otherwise good, international organisation is blatantly doing the political work of China - yet at the same time accusing Taiwan’s apolitical bird society of being a political actor." 8/
