MPs, including some from the Thai Rak Thai party, distributed tens of thousands of papaya seedlings from the agricultural research station in the province where genetically modified papayas were grown on trial, according to a local farmer.

Farmer Chalermsak Intakote, from tambon Chaiso of Chum Phae district, Khon Kaen, told a press conference organised by NGOs yesterday that many MPs had taken papaya seedlings from the Agriculture Department's Tha Phra research station for distribution to farmers.

Each MP distributed at least 10,000 seedlings, he said.

He named three Thai Rak Thai MPs as being involved in the distribution.

According to Mr Chalermsak, Somsak Kiartsuranont distributed seedlings in Chum Phae and Phu Pha Man districts as well as Nong Na Kham sub-districts.

He said Suchai Srisurapol handed them out in Phu Wiang and Si Chomphu districts, and Somsak Khunngern in Nong Rua and Ban Fang districts.

The farmer wanted authorities to check if the distributed seedlings were genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Pipat Kumpitak, of the Northeastern Farmers Network, told the press conference the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology confirmed on Sept 28 that a papaya sample from a plantation belonging to Karn Kuinongbua in Ban Nong Tako village, tambon Chaiso, Chum Phae district tested GM-positive.

The sample was among 10 collected in Khon Kaen, Sakon Nakhon and Mukdahan provinces. Mr Karn had taken 200 seedlings from the Tha Phra research station in May, Mr Pipat said.

He said it was likely that GM papaya had been spread nationwide and the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry was to blame for failing to handle the matter decisively and for concealing information related to the GM problem.

"We demand the names of all the farmers who received papaya seedlings be revealed, not only the 2,600 farmers who got them this year.

It's a very serious concern since we found that apart from the farmers who took papaya by themselves, politicians, land development officials, provincial agricultural authorities and several other agencies took and distributed papaya but the Agriculture Department refuses to reveal names. I don't know how far GM papaya has been spread," Mr Pipat said.

He demanded the dismissal of Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Somsak Thepsuthin and Chakarn Saengruksawong, the Agriculture Department director-general.

He threatened to petition His Majesty the King if Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra failed to handle the issue swiftly by himself.

Khumpong Phumphukhiao, representative of the Law Society in Khon Kaen, said that he would file a complaint with local police about GM papaya.

He said he would also ask the National Counter Corruption Commission to investigate the issue since government officials were responsible.