Robby nz

This is very obviously all the fault of the military Govt for on the 24 April 2014 the then Minister of Commerce :

Minister Yanyong visited the NACC on Wednesday to submit a letter asserting that inspections of the rice stock in warehouses, carried out in March by Ministry of Commerce officials and members of the rice stock inspection committee, found that the entire 18.7 million tons of rice was intact and another 1.1 million tons was being fumigated.

Although subsequent inspections of all warehouses involved in storing rice from the scheme found there was around a million and a half less tons in storage than the minister claimed.

Add to that one of the commerce ministry 'officials' involved in the inspections the minister quoted was deputy commerce minister Nattawut Saikua of "Burn BKK to the ground, I will take responsibility fame" and Nattawut Transport a company involved in moving rice around to unspecified destinations.

There just could be some doubt.

Yes it is a travesty that this (any) amount of food has to be virtually dumped in this hungry world. It only needed proper inspection and control of stocks to avoid this.

And there are still those who claim that a charge of negligence against the former chair of the rice policy committee is unjustified and a witch hunt.

Thank you Robby and Haloween for your opinions.

The Asian Correspondent, Oct 29th 2013, under the name of Saksith Saiyasombot and I quote " There is opposition coming from Pheu Thai's own supporter base, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, who issued a statement voicing their disagreement with the draft re write since it could potentially acquit those responsible for the deadly crack down on the anti government protests in 2010"

There was enough publicity around at that time of this statement and the notes accompanying to corroborate that the author got it right.

I disagree with the UDD on this matter.

It is only when the various factions that make up Thailand can forgive and reconcile that the country can move forward instead of being in virtual lockdown since 1932.

Those are not opinions they are facts.

And I see you sort of agree with them but still want to continue defending the indefensible.

So you believe the charges against the Ex commerce minister should just be dropped and forgotten about, no problem just let him keep his ill gotten gains. Same with all the other corruption so the corrupt can be reconciled and happy.

How does that work with the victims of corruption, in this case the taxpayer and their children who will be paying for the money borrowed to fund this scheme for many years.

Will they be happy to pay so the corrupt can get away with their crime and be happy ?

No way. Go after the corrupt prove them guilty in court then after jailing them for a very long time, strip them of their assets right down to their underwear to get as much back for the country and the people as possible.

>>The four have been dismissed from active service.<<

For crying out loud: They were selling drugs!!

Why don't they go straight to prison??

It doesn't say they are in jail but it also doesn't say they are not, it doesn't even say they have been arrested. The first step it seems was to boot them out of the force.

That brief four sentence story doesn't say much at all, perhaps it would be best if you read farther on this before posting, say the BKK Post " Triple penalty for drug dealing police"

There you will see one has been arrested and there are warrants out for the others.

I have just been given a couple of photos taken by someone else which shows the oldest girl of the family from the house I posted yesterday.

She is around six years old and the only one from that family old enough for school. The teacher told of her not going to school on some days and when he asked her why she said she had to go into the forest to find food.

The school gives the kids a meal every day and the teacher said to her, "You get food here" she said "But I have to find food for the others"

I was on walkabouts at the time so didn't see this but it seems there were a group of kids watching breakfast being eaten so everything that was left was cooked up and the kids were told to get plates. The girl from the house is the second one with the 'off white' school uniform waiting with her plate.

She was also given a teddy, the same color as her shirt. All the small kids got soft toys and armfuls of other things.

These boys have a helicopter, they were also all given shoes kindly donated by a shoe shop.

When we gave our food this lady wanted to give something in return and brought us this small bundle of forest herbs. I thought she was the grandmother of the family but was later told she is the children's mother. We had seen that they start having kids young and her oldest being around six this would make her no older than probably in her late twenties. The women age quick in that environment.

We were told there are 24 houses and 175 people in that village and the houses are well spread out, probably because there is little flat ground.

This photo is of a couple of other houses that are close together. I am told the white garment hanging up in front of the house in the foreground signifies there is a virgin living there of, or close to marriageable age, a sign for a young man looking for a wife.

For now.

After years of detention without trial (in humanitarian conditions of course) they will certainly have good reason to hate the US now if they didn't do so before.

It is all about what is best for the USA. Thailands interests are of no concern to the US

What would you have Thailand do if China damns the Mekong and stops flow of water and fish to Thailand? Who would you suggest Thailand ask for help?

Rich from someone who accuses others of trying to divert from the topic.

Nor do you seem to understand that any dams on the Maekong would affect Cambodia and Vietnam far more than Thailand, or Lao for that matter.

What do you think the US would do, bomb China like they have bombed others ?

What seems strange is the US supporting the 2013 military coup against the government of President Mosi of Egypt which was accused of almost the same things a the PT Govt, yet condemning Thailand.

Mosi:

Opponents had been accusing him of trying to monopolize political power by proposing an openly Islamist constitution, stuffing the bureaucracy with his associates and banning the courts from overruling his decisions.

And PT:

Attempting to change the constitution to benefit themselves : Yes

Stuffing bureaucracy with associates : Yes

Threatening and intimidating courts that may bring down judgments against them : Yes

With the addition of attempting to absolve themselves from crime and corruption : Yes

What was that "H" word again ?

Carrying on down the road I got a look down a 'field' to the paddy in the valley and wondered how they got water up from the stream down in the gully in the foreground to flood the paddy.

I turned around, back through the gate and followed the stream up to where there had been a small dam built of sticks and stones.

All was then revealed as the dam was the start of a race that had been dug in the hillside to direct water down to the paddy. What looked like a track at the top of the first photo was in fact this race carried on all the way down the valley.

Back at he bottom of the village everyone had gone up to the school to the giving out of the things we had brought and I was able to take some photos of a couple of the houses, such as they are.

We later found out that this badly arranged pile of sticks and flattened out bamboo with a corrugated iron roof is the home for a family with 4 kids and a grandmother.

As there was nobody home I was able to have a look inside at their total worldly goods, puts a whole new meaning on poverty. We found out later that his family had no food and we gave them everything we had including things they had never seen before like bread, jam and a packet of spaghetti. We had to tell them what to do with them.

Till tomorrow.

My belief H90 is that the UDD totally opposed amnesty for Suthep, Abhisit et al for perceived crimes. That is in my view where a big problem lies, without amnesty the country of Thailand slips back to a very dark age filled with revenge. Some believe that only Thaksin is corrupt in Thailand and some believe only the military and police are corrupt. Both views are wrong. Corruption is embedded in Thai society. They are some of the nicest people in the world but that does not stop them being corrupt.

I'll balance your belief against their voting record - how many voted against it? The SUPPORTERS of UDD may be totally against it, but the mercenary mouthpieces jump to Thaksin's tune. IIRC there was ONE abstention, and he was putting his income level at serious risk.

IMHO no-one believes "only Thaksin is corrupt." Only apologists believe that is a reason not to prosecute him and his lackeys.

You can correct me if I am wrong Halloween but I understood no UDD member or official can vote in Thailand's parliament because they are not a political party but an organisation or movement which is opposed to amnesty for all. I happen to disagree with the UDD about this. The amnesty I refer to was the one proposed for Abhisit and Suthep which I would support.

As Halloween hasn't answered at this time I will.

There were UDD members (red leaders) in parliament. Whether true or not I have read that 26 red leaders were given jobs as MP's this included Arisman's (monkey on a rope) wife who was given the job in his place as he had run away. You have to subtract Jutaporn who was stupid enough to get himself thrown out.

There was only one, Weng, who abstained in the vote for the amnesty bill. This was probably a planned move to appease the rank and file and make it look like someone was still on their side.

Yes the reds were protesting against amnesty for Abhisit and Suthep, as were they. They didn't and still don't want amnesty for that would rob them of any chance to ever clear their names. The only way they can do that is to go through the court process and be found not guilty.

Rejecting amnesty for themselves shows their confidence in their innocence.

Can we say the same for those who wanted amnesty for themselves ?

But he expected to get away with it Jamie, the amnesty bill was being prepared for just such people as him.

Had that gone through all corruption from 2005 to the time of the bill passing would have been forgiven, remember what the NACC said :

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679702-thai-amnesty-bill-would-kill-25355-graft-cases-nacc/

Amnesty bill would kill 25,355 graft cases: NACC

There was comment in today's Bangkok Post that bidders are complaining now about the junta generals demanding too much commission for tenders on public projects. There are even some complaining the payments being asked now are higher than before. The only way to start again is amnesty for all, but sadly the UDD will never agree to that. For the record, the corruption levels in Bangkok have not changed much in the last 80 years, maybe a touch worse under the military than under civilian rule.

There is, in an article entitled "Cracks in the glass window" for anyone who wants to look.

(While you are not allowed to link or quote directly you are allowed to point to the article in question).

What you forgot to mention was the rider that : "Many people are ready to believe the rumors even though there is no proof" You are apparently one of those.

When there is proof please post it. Also proof that "corruption levels in Bangkok have not changed much in the last 80 years, maybe a touch worse under the military than under civilian rule."

Mr Roby, The issues in the BP articles were quoted as complaints which is what I said. No one knows for sure how much corruption there is as it is almost always under the table

I am not 80 years old but close to it. I have been doing business in Thailand over a span of 30 years. 80 years is the span of the period in Thailand since constitutional monarchy arrived. During my 30 years and the anecdotes of others, I know of no one who thinks the corruption levels have changed much in the last 80 years. Corruption is sometimes stopped in one area and then re routed.In my remarks on corruption I reflect on how lucky I am to be from a country which has one of the world's lowest corruption rates and one of the fairest justice systems. I am currently based in rural Thailand and must say that the corruption I have personally had to deal with has only occurred in Bangkok which seems to be where it is centred. There has been some excellent research done by other members of TV detailing the corruption when Prayut's military unit had the monopoly on the gem trade with the Khmer Rouge. But the simple question you need to ask is how did an officer,who was not even a general, called Preecha Chanocha acquire assets of 90 million baht before his brother even made him a general. I think the greatest proof of the fact that corruption is on the same level as in the last 80 years is in learning the assets of millionaire military officers whose military pay would never amount to much even if they lived to 150 years. Some of the younger posters get a bit confused and think that corruption is all about the Shinawatras. But they arrived on the scene only recently and have ... surprise surprise... not been the greatest of offenders measured over the country's history.

I am also in a small rural city and in my 10 years here travelling around I have rarely seen any corruption at all, yes I know it exists but I have always been treated fairly other than a couple of occasions.

In talking of the military you are coming from a position that the generals started with nothing. I very much doubt that is true for most would have come from at least fairly well off, if not rich families.

You are making the assumption that their wealth came from either salary or corruption without taking into account any inheritance they may have such as family home or land the value of which is included in their wealth. Many also seem to get themselves on boards of various outfits for which they would get a generous salary and probably bonuses. The why and right or wrong of that is another topic.

There is also increase in wealth through reasonable if not good and prudent investments to be taken into account.

An example is the present PM whose father was I understand also a general who recently sold land that he had inherited from his father for, it was reported, over 600million. It was also reported that the PM was given a share of this as presumably was his brother.

Where there are solid grounds for accusations of corruption and proof, good lets get it out in the open and sorted but just to assume corruption because someone has money and spread rumor based on personal bias helps no one.

As for the Shins, of course they didn't invent corruption but unfortunately although they have had the chance they have done nothing to combat it and there is no doubt that in the term of the Yingluck Govt it increased.

The hope that what we are seeing being done now will decrease corruption although it will never be wiped out as it is not exclusive to Thailand but is worldwide in one form or another.

Around 20 security officers were killed by red/blackshirts in 2010.

The protestors had rocket launchers, hand grenades. M-16's, AK47's, shot guns, hand guns, knifes, long sharp sticks and home made bombs to name a few. They also tried to violently steal a tank from soldiers. I realize that I owe you some images. Please be patient you will get them when I'm behind a pc.

Whilst all casualties are to be abhorred it doesn't help to bandy around figures that bear no resemblance to reality. In total 9 "security officers" were killed, one of those deaths being the result of a "blue on blue" incident i.e shot and killed by his fellow troops.

Thank you for confirming that troops were killed by red/black shirts. Now the circle is complete. Your figures are wrong but we can leave it there.

Killed by fellow troops? Yeah that would never happen with those well trained armed protestors.. They know exactly what they are shooting at...

Did I? I don't believe I made any comment about who was responsible for the deaths of military personnel apart from the one army chap unfortunately being killed by his colleagues.

My figures are wrong are they? Here are the details of the 9 soldiers killed in 2010 (10, if you count the renegade Major General Khattiya Sawasdiphol who was killed by a sniper whilst being interviewed by a reporter from the New York Times);

Col. Romklao Thuwatham, 43, Right neck torn, both legs smashed 10 April

Puriwat Praphan, 25, Died from a wound to the head 10 April

Anupong Muangraphan, 21, Died from bruised chest, both legs were torn 10 April

Singha Onthrong Died from wounds to chest and thigh 10 April

Anupong Hommalee, 22, Head hit by a bomb blast, died in hospital. 10 April

Narong Ritthisara Died during crackdown at the National Memorial 28 April

Karnnuphat Lertchanphen, 38, Shot in front of the Krung Thai Bank, Silom Road 7 May

Wittaya Promsari, 35, Died from a bomb blast during the crackdown at gate 4, Lumpini Park 8 May

Chatchai Chalao, 25, Died from wounds to neck during the crackdown at Lumpini Park 13 May

Edit: 2 other Soldiers killed on the 15th May at Lumpini Park

Pongchalit Thippanontakarn Shot in the head. A sergeant, aged 31.

Anusit Chansanto, 44 Died on the spot. A sergeant

Total 11 Soldiers killed.

I await your detailed list of "around 20". I could give you a list of all the civilians killed in the 2010 "Crackdown" but that's a lot longer list.

You forgot to mention that Major General Khattiya Sawasdiphol (Sae Daeng) was killed on orders of either Thaksin or the red leadership after he had come out and said the had talked to Thaksin and Thaksin had made him the leader of the reds, sacking the previous leaders for agreeing to disperse in exchange for elections (which they had been demanding).

This was doing 4 things ; 1/ It was exposing Thaksin as the true leader of the riots for it was saying he had the power to hire and fire the leadership, something that had been denied.

2/ Whether true or not it was a huge loss of face for the red leaders an if true a loss of paid position as well.

3/ It was pitting Sae Daeng (and his MIB) against the red leaders and setting up an internal power struggle.

4/ It was causing disruption in the red ranks as the rank and file were not to know if it was true.

All these things played into the hands of the Govt and the military so they had every reason to want Sae Daeng alive at that time to continue to disrupt.

On the other hand Thaksin and the red leaders had ample reason to want him silenced.

I would not be surprised if proof of this was included in the new evidence or the evidence already presented by Abhisit and Suthep.

He deserves everything coming to him which incidentally might be a nice condo in Dubai or Paris...Depending on which red shirt criminal he would prefer to bunk with.

Was it really worth holding those voters in contempt Boonsong...

But he expected to get away with it Jamie, the amnesty bill was being prepared for just such people as him.

Had that gone through all corruption from 2005 to the time of the bill passing would have been forgiven, remember what the NACC said :

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679702-thai-amnesty-bill-would-kill-25355-graft-cases-nacc/

Amnesty bill would kill 25,355 graft cases: NACC

There was comment in today's Bangkok Post that bidders are complaining now about the junta generals demanding too much commission for tenders on public projects. There are even some complaining the payments being asked now are higher than before. The only way to start again is amnesty for all, but sadly the UDD will never agree to that. For the record, the corruption levels in Bangkok have not changed much in the last 80 years, maybe a touch worse under the military than under civilian rule.

the corruption level tripled under Thaksin. UDD always was for amnesty. It was the Democrats and the PAD who was against amnesty and I am sure it is the same now.

I don't think that's true, during Thaksin first stint as PM perceived corruption actually dropped, however in his second the honeymoon period was over and rather than corruption increasing it was just recognized and therefor an increase was noted, things like the 'honest mistake' confirm that.

However during the Thaksin proxy Govts it rose again and in particular during the Yingluck administration rose to a new unprecedented level, we are now seeing this being exposed, as per this topic.

Hence the need to include forgiveness of corruption in the amnesty bill which originally, before being altered in the committee stage, was only supposed to give amnesty to political prisoners.

Those who have followed this will know that the first reading of that bill was agreed to by all parties and passed..... Before the changes.

The fact that Thailand has to boirrow a measly $320 million from the Japanese government screams to me that Thailand has no money. That is a tiny amount of money in the scheme of things unless of course you are flat broke.

The Thai people need to be worried about their future economy, if the government can not come up with an amount of cash that is comparable to 0.1% of its GDP to finance a much needed infrastructural project for their country.

I think you will find that's its normal for countries to take out loans for infrastructure projects.

But then you may well be a world class economist experienced in international finance, if so then I would certainly defer to your superior knowledge.

Possibly its not so surprising they would use loan finance considering the annual repayment of the principal and interest of the loans taken out to finance the Yingluck rice pledging scheme since its inception are 64 billion baht per year.

If $320 is measly and a tiny amount to you perhaps you would like to help out with a small gift of say $100 million.

The issue isn't that the government borrowed the money but that it keeps borrowing from foreign governments. Acquisition of capital through foreign debt depresses the GDP growth rate. The simplest way for a nation to borrow funds and still increase GDP growth rate is to SELF-FINANCE by selling treasury bonds.

It's good business for foreign lenders as they will boost their own GDP growth rate over the 20+-year life of the loans. Plus, they will typically get "deal boosters" in the form of special tax exemptions and land development priviledges in exchange for low interest rates. I believe that Prayut wants to reserve the Thai treasury for domestic cash subsidies that he can use immediately to "reward" certain political behaviors.

If the 2007 Constitution were still in effect, Prayut would be prevented by the Election Commission from borrowing funds from foreign governments as a caretaker government. Fortunately for him, someone abolished the 2007 Constitution so the Junta can take whatever fiscal action it wants without accountability.

When bonds are issued it is a form of borrowing that has to be repaid at the term of the bond with interest paid annually and the interest rate offered in a bond sale is usually much higher than the terms of this loan, for instance :

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779562-thai-finance-ministry-issues-bonds-to-restructure-rice-mortgage-scheme-debts/

BANGKOK, 26 November 2014 (NNT) – The Finance Ministry has issued bonds worth 50 billion baht, the biggest-ever bond issuance in history, in its latest move to restructure the debts incurred from the rice-mortgage scheme from the previous administration.

The bonds, which are issued by Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), are divided into two categories. The first category, which is worth 42 billion baht offers an interest rate of 2.75 percent per year. The latter, which is worth eight billion baht, offers an interest rate of 3 percent per year.

As you can see it is still a debt the country must pay and the interest rate is way above that of the loan in this topic.

One difference is that bonds can be and are traded, that is someone who buys a bond can sell it to someone else this could be an attraction to someone who thinks they can make a profit selling bonds. While a loan is a fixed thing between the one making the loan and the recipient although in some cases loans have been sold on. Particularly non preforming loans which are sometimes sold to debt collectors at way below their paper value so the lender cuts their losses and the debt collector takes on the risk.

As for what's in it for the Japanese, they want a piece of the high or medium speed rail projects so becoming a loan partner in a urban rail projects gives them a foot in the door.

What pack of loonies posting on here, but they are the usual anti-everything loonies.

Don't you think there are concerned people out there who know what students "Need" not what they want.

No need to ask students who haven't had the experience to know what they need.

There are plenty of Thais who have been educated overseas and have first hand experience of good education systems, the problem has been getting those in authority to listen to them.

Now things are under new management and I read that those who know are being listened to.

However we wait to see exactly what comes out of this as there will be resistance to any change from the education establishment.

It seems strange that the Cambodian incursion into Thailand at that time happened straight after the reds had been cleaned out from BKK.

I hope it had nothing to do with Hun Sen's advisor being in a temper over his inspired and funded riots being unsuccessful.

This has nothing to do with Hun Sen's adviser. The physical border demarcation activity has been ongoing since 2013. Public knowledge.

Is it not possible that is indeed a legitimate disagreement?

No. It is NOT possible that this is a legitimate disagreement. Thailand wasn't notified so couldn't be a party to any 'disagreement'. Even if there is a problem with a border demarcation, a sensible country would petition the government which was occupying contested land. A sensible country wouldn't send soldiers and immediately let Cambodians begin planting seed on the land they claimed. A claim should be worked out by negotiation or treaty or international courts. No, Hun Sen's provocation is too well timed to coincide with the problems his very good friend, the fugitive, felon, ex PM, Thaksin Shinawatra.

The same kind of coincidence that made the Red Shirts come blockade Bangkok (2010) coinciding with the seizing of Thaksin's ill-gotten gains. Funny they didn't protest his overthrow by the army in 2006. Calling my claims, "silly" and otherwise trying to distract from the obvious influence of Thaksin on Thailand doesn't change any facts. Thaksin is too far gone, mentally, to be subtle anymore. He is playing the end-game now and losing badly. He is pulling out the stops just to survive.

Thanks for the opportunity to give more detail to my previous post

.

No. You are still making an unfounded claim. There is no conspiracy. The border activity has been known to Thailand for quite some time. Thailand and Cambodia met in January to review progress. They even addressed a dispute in another area.

It appears that the Cambodians are testing the water, to see how far they can go before being physically challenged.

A similar ploy was carried out by German troops during WW2, when they crossed over a bridge into French territory just prior to their invasion of France.

Although it may appear as a few Cambodian troops intruding onto a few metres of Thai territory, there is more to this than that. It places Thailand in a rather precarious situation. It`s a sort of the testing of strength. Would be interesting to see how this situation transpires.

The Cambodians are not testing any waters, because this activity has been ongoing for several years.

I am surprised at the lack of knowledge of current events. Either some people are clueless as to events in the country they live in, or they have some mental health issues. There is absolutely no evidence to support the claim of a plot by Thaksin and/or Hun Sen and/or the UDD. These claims are utterly stupid and unfounded. Why spread this nonsense?

The border activity is no secret. It's been going on for years. A concerted effort was undertaken by Cambodia several years ago to mark its borders. As I mentioned previously when the nonsensical and unsubstantiated claims of a Thaksin linked conspiracy were spat up, the need to set the boundaries became evident after the yellow shirt nationalists were caught trespassing in Cambodia. Shortly after the event, Cambodia entered into discussions with its neighbors to mark their common borders. The marking process started in 2013. It was no secret.

Last July, the media carried multiple reports as to the progress of the Cambodia border activity

Cambodia boundary demarcation underway (23 July 2014)

The majority of Cambodian boundaries with Vietnam and Laos have been demarcated, according to Keo Piseth, a spokesman for Cambodian Parliamentary President Heng Samrin. Piseth estimated that the 1,270-km boundary between Cambodia and Vietnam was over 80 percent demarcated, and the 540km boundary with Laos was over 75 percent demarcated.

Delegations from Vietnam and Laos visited Cambodia to attend a conference on the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Triangle Development Area in July. At the meeting, Cambodian National Assembly president stated that Cambodia would prioritize “further enhance[ing] ties between Cambodia and the two countries for mutual benefits.” Boundary demarcation between Cambodia and Thailand to Cambodia’s north and west has slowed due to border disputes and domestic turmoil within Thailand, Xinhua news agency reports.

In October 2014, General Prayuth visited Cambodia. One of the issues on the agenda was the Preaha Vehear Temple border dispute with Cambodia. Shortly thereafter the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 15 October, released a statement that an international legal advisory team had been assembled, a map drafted and the court judgement translated (in respect to the Temple border). In the meantime, other border demarcation would continue. This was nothing new. Subsequent to Cambodian Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Tea Banh's visit to Thailand last July, a Thai military government spokesman said that Cambodia understood that the ‘political situation in Thailand’ meant that the (Temple border) issue could not progress quickly. The coup has slowed border demarcation activity, but it has continued.

The small dispute which is the subject of this thread is not unusual. There have been other similar incidents. As I stated earlier, the Thais and Cambodians have resolved similar issues previously. Here's a recent example; In January 2015, the Thais and Cambodians met to discuss the border demarcation process,

Cambodia and Thailand to “redraw” disputed boundary section (23 January 2015) Thai 2^nd Army Commander Thawat Sukplang announced that a section of disputed boundary between Thailand’s Ubon's Ratchathani's Nam Yuen district and Cambodia's Preah Vihear province will be “redrawn”. Previously, Cambodian road excavations in the vicinity of the Chong Arn Ma border crossing (located at 14° 23’ 17” N, 104° 57’ 56” E) had heightened tensions between the two countries. After road construction began in 2014, Thailand sent 200 soldiers to the region and closed the crossing. All roadwork will be suspended until the border is demarcated, according to to Thawat, and the border crossing will be designated as a permanent border checkpoint after the demarcation is completed. The demarcation news comes after officials from Cambodia and Thailand gathered earlier this month for the 9th meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation. Although the officials did not take up the issue of the disputed boundary near the Preah Vihear Temple (which lies around 30 km west of the Chong Arn Ma crossing), a joint statement released by the two countries reported that, “The two sides are also committed to stepping up our relations and cooperation in all important areas.”

There is no need to spread false rumours or to make unfounded claims of plots. The government of Thailand is aware of the situation and has been monitoring the Cambodian border marking activity since it started.

Go away Gerry, I was answering a poster who claimed Abhisit had deliberately started the 2011 dispute over the land round the temple.

Instead of twisting it out of context, if you want to quote my posts also quote the one I was answering.

He deserves everything coming to him which incidentally might be a nice condo in Dubai or Paris...Depending on which red shirt criminal he would prefer to bunk with.

Was it really worth holding those voters in contempt Boonsong...

But he expected to get away with it Jamie, the amnesty bill was being prepared for just such people as him.

Had that gone through all corruption from 2005 to the time of the bill passing would have been forgiven, remember what the NACC said :

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679702-thai-amnesty-bill-would-kill-25355-graft-cases-nacc/

Amnesty bill would kill 25,355 graft cases: NACC

There was comment in today's Bangkok Post that bidders are complaining now about the junta generals demanding too much commission for tenders on public projects. There are even some complaining the payments being asked now are higher than before. The only way to start again is amnesty for all, but sadly the UDD will never agree to that. For the record, the corruption levels in Bangkok have not changed much in the last 80 years, maybe a touch worse under the military than under civilian rule.

There is, in an article entitled "Cracks in the glass window" for anyone who wants to look.

(While you are not allowed to link or quote directly you are allowed to point to the article in question).

What you forgot to mention was the rider that : "Many people are ready to believe the rumors even though there is no proof" You are apparently one of those.

When there is proof please post it. Also proof that "corruption levels in Bangkok have not changed much in the last 80 years, maybe a touch worse under the military than under civilian rule."

The girls are slipping it usually only takes one to rob a tourist....Apparently they get far more if the marry him first.

As little aside :

Huge amount of rice missing in Phichit

This is the same warehouse mentioned in the original evidence taken to the NACC. I suspect this has not escaped the notice of the NACC.

The plot thickens.

Lets see just how much the farmers have benefited under the Yingluck Govt. From the detailed 14 page Freedom barometer report published well before the protests started : So who did benefit ? well it wasn't the poor farmers that's for sure :

http://freedombarometer.org/assets/pdfs/Freedom-Barometer-Special-Report-Thailands-Agrarian-Policy.pdf

……………….. Farmers Debt under Yingluck

Coinciding with increases in

governmental debt is overall debt

held by farmers, which now

amounts to 103,047 baht per

head. Since 2010 debts have

climbed by 6% per year. About

63% of all households in

Thailand are in debt, of which 15

percent originate from the

agricultural sector. One reason

for this tendency is intensified

have risen from between 5,000 and 6,000 baht per ton of rice to between

7,000 and 9,000 baht per ton, mainly due to increasing rents and increasing prices of

fertilisers and insecticides. In addition, there are new minimum wages for agricultural workers

which have to be paid by the farmers. One also has to consider the fact that the grain mills are

authorised to deduct an amount of up to 3,000 baht per ton if the rice is assessed as being too

wet. According to a study of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the majority of

the farmers are not able to pay back their loans. The currently available government loan

schemes are still often unknown in Thailand's northern region. Moreover, farmers are

restricted by state regulations of trading the rice between different provinces, making trade

more difficult. Overall, farmers’ average revenues have decreased by 23% between 2011 and

2012. This is not solely a result of problems in the rice industry, but also because of a weak

market for other agricultural products such as rubber and palm oil.

So who did benefit ? well it wasn't the poor farmers that's for sure :

So far only one million of Thailand's three million farms have participated in the rice pledging

scheme. According to a study by the World Bank, only 18% of poor farmers profited from the

subsidised prices as small producers are unable to produce large surpluses on their relatively

small planting areas. In accordance with another study by the TDRI, only 5% of the

programme's revenues reach poor farmers

OK so now for the subject of this topic, how much was gained and lost through one non existent G 2 G deal. From the original information to the NACC on the fake deal that has led to this topic :

The ministers defense for this at the time : "(After buying the rice) I won't be investigating what buyers do with it"

I suspect he will need more than that this time.

My apologies for the mucked up fonts, a problem with pasting from reports.

Another kick in the guts for the poor farmers who he and his mates were screwing, seeing them being able to put up tens of millions in bail while they, the poor farmers are struggling deep in debt.

That just shows your ignorance to the facts. Basically you have no clue about the scheme at all. The farmers lost out AFTER the coup when the banks where ordered to stop funding it. The scheme benefited the farmers tremendously. The internal corruption screwed the scheme and we are not talking about red shirts here. It failed because people in power who where against the scheme working made sure it would fail. ''Another kick in the guts for farmers hahaha'' clueless

I will say this to you, I live in a rice farming area and therefor have followed this scheme closely and know it very well.

The reason the farmers were not paid was because the PT Govt failed to make provision for the debt they knew had been incurred and had to be paid, when they dissolved the house, this was "Criminal negligence".

Some of the farmers had not been paid from a far back as September well before the house was dissolved.

A caretaker Govt by law is not allowed to rack up any debts that would fall on a future Govt therefor they could not by law borrow money to cover their negligence.

They attempted to subvert the law by coercing the Govt owned banks into lending them the money, however the banks and their depositors knew the law. The banks refused to lend and the depositors threatened to withdraw their money if the banks did lend, some did withdraw their money causing a mini run on some Govt owned banks.

Back in early February 2013 the scheme was running out of money with the BAAC having been paid only a fraction of what they had paid out to the farmers : http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/08/business/global/thai-rice-subsidy-program-short-of-money.html?_r=0

Yingluck made repeated promises to pay the farmers .......Next week. She lied. Feb 14th : http://www.mcot.net/site/content?id=52fd8b2ebe0470fdbf8b4569

Then next week Feb 22nd : http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2014/02/22/Thailand-government-promises-to-pay-rice-farmers-subsidy-money/64051393098303/

You obviously don't know how they treated the farmers who did protest non payment :

I know you wont read that link so I will post a brief excerpt :

"We don't know what to do next," Siraprapha Kukhong, 49, one of the protest leaders, said yesterday.

Another protest leader, Chatree Ampoon, could not be reached for comment following reports that red shirts and officials had intimidated his wife over his participation in the protest. "She called him about the threats she faced. He was overwhelmed and cried. Many of us cried with him," Siraprapha said.

That's right they sent their red thugs And 'officials' to threaten the farmers families when the farmers protested lack of payment.

They say ignorance is bliss but for your ignorance there is another word.

The fact that Thailand has to boirrow a measly $320 million from the Japanese government screams to me that Thailand has no money. That is a tiny amount of money in the scheme of things unless of course you are flat broke.

The Thai people need to be worried about their future economy, if the government can not come up with an amount of cash that is comparable to 0.1% of its GDP to finance a much needed infrastructural project for their country.

I think you will find that's its normal for countries to take out loans for infrastructure projects.

But then you may well be a world class economist experienced in international finance, if so then I would certainly defer to your superior knowledge.

Possibly its not so surprising they would use loan finance considering the annual repayment of the principal and interest of the loans taken out to finance the Yingluck rice pledging scheme since its inception are 64 billion baht per year.

If $320 is measly and a tiny amount to you perhaps you would like to help out with a small gift of say $100 million.

UPDATE

I have just been informed by an excited complains department that she was on TV this morning.

One of the organisors of the trip is a PBS cameraman and a short Doco on the trip was shown this morning.

It is now on Y tube if anyone is interested and can be seen at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV0gNN7qZGY

The relevant part is from 6.2 min to 12.56 min into the video.

Also informed that the village is 115 KM from Tha Song Yang.

It was getting fairly late when we arrived so we went up to the top of the village to where the school is on a small piece of flat ground, there we unloaded the things we had brought into the school for distribution the next day. There was not enough room there for everyone so the vehicle we were in and a couple of others went back down the slightly steep track again to close to the stream crossing.

Where the designated cook had set up his kitchen.

We set up our tent on the left of the above photo on the top tier of paddy that had not as yet been worked up, by that time the cook had been busy and dinner was served. After that dark and sleep time.

Next morning Things were to be given out at the school, those who have watched the video will have seen this in action. Being somewhat independent and nosy I gave that a miss and wandered around, first down the road where I encountered a gate.

After negotiating that, farther on there was a small side track with a house a bit isolated from the others.

More tomorrow.

Ah yes stronger steps against Putin, a handy one to turn to now that they are not sure any longer about Iran and Syria.

After all they are both fighting the IS as the US is fighting the IS, so just who is the enemy, or the worst enemy. Must get real confusing when your enemies are helping to fight your enemy.

Yes safe to forget about the ME and turn to Putin as the one to attack.