Agribusiness large contests claims made by BioThai captain about aggressive fish.
PUBLISHED: 7 Sep 2024 at 15: 33
In connection with statements he made about Charoen Pokphand Foods ( CPF ) and the spread of invasive blackchin tilapia fish in various provinces, the BioThai Foundation’s secretary-general is facing libel charges.
On Saturday, BioThai reported on its Facebook page that Witoon Lianjamroon was given a policeman summons to respond to the defamation complaint made by CPF, a subsidiary of the Charoen Pokphand farming conglomerate.
Mr. Witoon is instructed to appear in court at the Rattanathibet police stop on September 12 at 1pm.
Mr. Witoon claimed he received the call on Friday night, one day after Samut Songkhram province’s fishing, supported by the Lawyers Council, complained to CPF about problems. This was the second call, according to the letter, and only one section of documentation was provided with no specifics.
The details of the summons have been forwarded to the non-governmental organisation’s legal team, led by the Environmental Law Foundation ( EnLaw ), which is authorised to handle the case, Mr Witoon said.
Mr. Witoon claimed in a conference titled” Natural Disaster from Blackchin Tilapia” hosted by BioThai that CPF imported 2, 000 blackchin fish from Ghana for research and development at its breeding facility in Samut Songkhram territory in July. The Department of Fisheries merely granted the fish to CPF as the only business.
After the fish’s majority died within three days of being transported to Thailand, CPF later informed the department that the job was being canceled. The firm claimed that all the fish were disposed of in accordance with regulations and that paperwork was sent to the department.
However, as nearby waters became more abundant, local fish species started declining as a result.
Climate advocate Witoon Lianchamroon. ( Photo: Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council )
CPF continues to insist that these bass have nothing to do with the study project that was abandoned. Additionally, it states that it has been constantly supporting efforts to solve the issue.
Mr. Witoon criticized the government at the conference for failing to bring legal actions against those responsible for the spread of the invasive species.
Mr. Witoon explained to attendees at a community in Bangkok on Thursday that the country’s system of government is incredibly centralized and closely linked to large corporations. Despite some changes in government, conglomerates remain, and small business users are excluded from the business, he added.