Oommen Chandy rejects Pamela's suggestion, says stands by the decision of district administration

Kochi/Thiruvananthapuram: In yet another alien language attack, Keralites showered abuses on Pamela Anderson’s Facebook page after she requested the government to prohibit the parade of elephants in the Thrissur Pooram.

Baywatch star and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) ambassador Pamela Anderson, in an e-mail communication sent on Monday, had asked Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Cochin Dewaswom Board president not to parade elephants in the Pooram to be held on Wednesday. According to Pamela, elephants can be replaced with bamboo and papier- mache versions.

The news of Pamela's requests became viral on social media and as usual netizens started their ‘ponkala’ (vernacular word for online abuse) on Pamela’s official page. Netizens boasted that the elephant was part of their culture and parading elephants was their right.

Most Keralites used their mother tongue to criticise Pamela. Many used sexually explicit remarks against her and criticised her profession.  “Thrissur Pooram is our passion, you should respect us,” one comment read. Criticising her offer of 30 faux elephants, Keralites posted the word Aana in Malayalam many times. One guy went on to ask Pamela to visit Kerala once and watch the Pooram. “Once you finish watching it you will not make such requests,” a comment read.

Most of the comments were made by persons using their fake profiles named after fictional characters or famous movie characters.

Among the thousands of comments criticising Pamela, one guy Anandhu Rajeev supported her by posting, “Thrissur Pooram is a culture I agree with that. Elephant is an animal and it need freedom.”(sic)

Oommen Chandy rejects Pamela Anderson’s idea to use fake jumbos

Oommen Chandy has virtually rejected model and Hollywood star Pamela Anderson's suggestion that elephants should be kept out and life-size bamboo and papier-mache (chewed paper) elephants be used for Thrissur Pooram on April 29.

 "There are specific laws that govern the parade of elephants in festivals and processions, most notably the Captive Elephant Management rules. A committee headed by district collectors has been tasked to take decisions regarding the welfare of elephants on the basis of these laws. The Thrissur Collector has assessed the situation and has found nothing wrong in parading live elephants. The government also stands by the decision of the Thrissur district administration," a spokesperson from the Chief Minister's office said.

 In a letter to the Chief Minister, Ms Anderson has offered to contribute the cost of providing 30 life-sized, realistic and portable elephants made of bamboo and papier-mâché to replace live elephants. Anderson is also a patron of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India.

 Nonetheless, the Chief Minister’s Office said that Ms Anderson’s proposal would be taken up for a larger discussion with concerned stakeholders. “Though Ms Andersons’s concern is laudable, Thrissur pooram has a long tradition and any radical change in its conduct would require elaborate and deep discussions,” the spokesperson said.