Austrian activists want chimp declared a 'person'

[Amby 490]

VIENNA, Austria (AP) - In some ways, Hiasl is like any other Viennese: He indulges a weakness for pastry, likes to paint and enjoys chilling out watching TV.

But he doesn't care for coffee, and he isn't actually a person - at least not yet.

In a case that could set a global legal precedent for granting basic rights to apes, animal rights advocates are seeking to get the 26-year-old male chimpanzee legally declared a "person."

Hiasl's supporters argue he needs that status to become a legal entity that can receive donations and get a guardian to look out for his interests.

"Our main argument is that Hiasl is a person and has basic legal rights," said Eberhart Theuer, a lawyer leading the challenge on behalf of the Association Against Animal Factories, a Vienna animal rights group.

"We mean the right to life, the right to not be tortured, the right to freedom under certain conditions," Theuer said

"We're not talking about the right to vote here."

Red the whole story here http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Science/2007/0...4154637-ap.html

[cmartyn 0]

Oh brother.

Why not just fight for basic Animal rights. Why is this particular chimp so special?

I ran over a squirell yesterday. If this keeps up I would have to stop and call emergency services. Probably have to go to court and pay damages to its mom or something.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Kinda hard to declare the chimp a *person* when the genetic makeup is very different.

[JODO 2]

Now this is an interesting read. The activists do make some valid points though.