Paraquat green light under scrutiny by human rights commission

By CHULARAT SAENGPASSA 
THE NATION 

 

File photo

 

THE NATIONAL Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is investigating the Agriculture Department over allegations that it violated human rights last October when it extended the licences for many companies to sell paraquat.
 

The extension was approved even though a committee seeking solutions to the risk caused by farm chemicals, and which was chaired by the public health minister, concluded on April 5, 2017 that paraquat should face a total ban before the end of 2019 due to its health hazard.

 

The NHRC interest reframes the exposure of farmers and consumers to toxic chemicals as a potential human-rights violation.

 

“The NHRC has now summoned academic experts and representatives from the Agriculture Department to testify this coming Thursday,” said Foundation for Consumers official Patchara Klaewkla yesterday.

 

The human-rights body took the action in response to his foundation’s complaint, he added. 

 

Associate Professor Puangrat Kajitvichyanukul from Naresuan University is among those invited to provide information to the NHRC. Puangrat spoke out early this year about the possible link between high concentrations of paraquat in Nong Bua Lamphu province and the high incidence of flesh-eating disease there. 

 

The herbicide is widely used on Thailand’s farms but considered too dangerous for use in 53 countries around the world. 

 

On May 23, the Hazardous Substances Committee of Thailand decided not to ban paraquat, but instead place restrictions on its use. It has given the Agriculture Department two months to introduce control measures. 

 

That is not enough for critics concerned about the effects of exposure on farmers and consumers. 

 

“We have filed a complaint against the Agriculture Department because it used to say that it could not decide whether to ban paraquat since it lacked expertise in the field,” said Patchara. “The department claimed the Hazardous Substances Committee should be the one to decide. But if the department really thought so, how could it extend the paraquat licence for many companies even before the committee announced its decision?” 

 

Thailand Pesticide Alert Network co-ordinator Prokchol Ousap said she too could not understand the Agriculture Department’s approach to the handling of paraquat.

 

“I wonder if it intends to favour some companies,” she said. 

 

According to Prokchol, the extension means licences are renewed for as long as six years. 

 

However, Prokchol has high hopes that the Cabinet will review the use of paraquat. 

 

She said she had heard that Agriculture Minister Grisada Boonrach would assign Deputy Agriculture Minister Wiwat Salyakamthorn to chair the review committee. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30347505

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-06-12

Just pointing out Paraquat is a non selective Herbicide. The picture being used is a farmer spraying an insecticide to kill mosquitoes in a rice field. Why would you destroy the rice crop? I don't think connected.  Flesh-eating disease is caused by fungus or bacteria and possibly a virus they has recently reported.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The NHRC interest reframes the exposure of farmers and consumers to toxic chemicals as a potential human-rights violation.

appears an innate human right is that they can voluntarily, knowing poison themselves

Government connection to the massive Chinese chemical producers, is allowing these dangerous chemicals to continue to be used in Thailand.....while banned in China.

Again.....it's all about money and probably "commissions" that allow these products continued use, that harm and kill Thais and taint almost all agriculturally produced foods.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Hazardous Substances Committee of Thailand

Make the names and business connections of the members public then visit their mansions and spray tons of Paraquat, Glyphosate and Asbestos over their properties. Make sure there is TV coverage when the panic starts.

11 hours ago, webfact said:

“We have filed a complaint against the Agriculture Department because it used to say that it could not decide whether to ban paraquat since it lacked expertise in the field,”

This sums up many problems here.  Declare ignorance, and choose not to learn what you should already know, or try to know about your job, as an excuse to do nothing.  No integrity,  not oversight, no action, and nobody doing their job.  This involves slowly killing the population, those always called brother and sister.  Up next, the blame game...

11 hours ago, Mrjlh said:

Just pointing out Paraquat is a non selective Herbicide. The picture being used is a farmer spraying an insecticide to kill mosquitoes in a rice field. Why would you destroy the rice crop? I don't think connected.  Flesh-eating disease is caused by fungus or bacteria and possibly a virus they has recently reported.

Plus the farmer spraying is walking into the spray cloud, which he definitely should not be doing if it's paraquat. No mask, no gloves, no brains. Must be Thailand then.

 

Still for a Thai reporter looking for a picture of someone spraying something, it's close enough...

Edited June 12, 20188 yr by KiwiKiwi

9 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

Government connection to the massive Chinese chemical producers, is allowing these dangerous chemicals to continue to be used in Thailand.....while banned in China.

Again.....it's all about money and probably "commissions" that allow these products continued use, that harm and kill Thais and taint almost all agriculturally produced foods.

Commissions... yes, commissions. Lots of them.

 

Thailand is the hub of commissions.

15 hours ago, YetAnother said:

appears an innate human right is that they can voluntarily, knowing poison themselves

That fits perfectly with an innately ineffective National Human Rights Commission that's not recognized by the UN Human Rights Commission since 2015.

 

So what is it that the Thai NHRC can do with its investigation?

Article 247 of the 2017 Constitution under Chapter XII Constitutional Organizations, Part 6 states:

• it can prepare an assessment report to the (now) junta-appointed NLA, the Prayut's Council of Ministers and relevant agencies.
• it shall in performing its duties shall also take the happiness of Thai people and the common interests of the country.

Any report that reflects negatively on the government will likely be rewritten. The Constitution further states that the Council of Ministers shall expeditiously make improvement and rectification as appropriate to the NHRC reports. In essence the NHRC is not truly independent but more an extension of the Prime Minister's Office - one of the reasons that the NHRC lost its accreditation with the UN HRC.

I bet Thaksin, "The Slippery eel / Mr. 20%" is secretly making all the corrupt deals behind the scene.....

 

The pesticide companies pay well!

Paraquat shall be banned worldwide !