GMO papaya trial begins

Greenpeace activists appeared in Khon Kaen Provincial Court today in an unprecedented court case regarding a government agency's illegal release of genetically modified crops in the country. Thailand's Department of Agriculture (DOA) has filed criminal charges against the activists in a continuing attempt by the department to cover up its role in the illegal sale of genetically engineered papaya seeds and the spread of GMO contamination in Thai farmlands.

"The DOA is using this prosecution to stop Greenpeace from protecting Thailand's environment from genetic pollution, and from further exposing the DOA's role in the spread of GMO contamination in papaya farms," said Patwajee Srisuwan of Greenpeace, one of the accused.

Lawmakers, farmers and volunteers attended the trial to show their support to the Greenpeace activists.

In July 2004, Greenpeace sealed off an experimental field of genetically modified papaya at the DOA's research station in the province of Khon Kaen, declaring it the source of genetic contamination of one of the country's most important staple foods. The environment group then publicly exposed a scandal involving the department's illegal sale of GMO papaya seeds and the contamination of a farmer's papaya farm 60 kilometers away from the research station.

Instead of investigating and stopping the spread of contamination, officials from the DOA tried to cover up its illegal activities and started a smear campaign against Greenpeace. Government prosecutors filed blanket charges of trespassing, theft and destruction of property against Ms. Patwajee, Dr. Jiragorn Gajaseni, former executive director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, and companions. Meanwhile, DOA officials hastily ordered the destruction of the experimental GMO papaya fields after the scandal was exposed, in further confirmation that it was the cause of GMO contamination.

The illegal sale of GMO papaya seeds violated a 2001 cabinet decision banning GMO crops as well as the Plant Quarantine Act that designates GMO papaya as a prohibited plant that cannot be imported for commercial use. Despite all evidence, however, the government has not punished the DOA and has not implemented any measures to determine the extent of GMO papaya contamination in Thailand. The Khon Kaen research station is the largest seller of papaya seeds in the country.

"The DOA and its backers must be punished because they had violated the field trial ban and quarantine law which prohibits the planting and distribution of GMOs in Thailand. GMOs are a form of genetic pollution with irreversible effects once released into the environment. This GMO papaya contamination case proves that there is no safe way of preventing GMOs from spreading to our fields. The government must therefore close down and ban all GMO field trials, and stop risking Thailand's health, environmental and economic well-being from the scourge of GMO crops and food." said Patwajee.