Does the junta want to win farmers’ votes?

[rooster59]

Does the junta want to win farmers’ votes?

By PIYAPORN WONGRUANG 
THE SUNDAY NATION

 

 

WITH 23 million people in nearly six million households, it’s no wonder that the farming sector is attractive to politicians who want to win their votes.

 

Although the junta has not confirmed that it will contest the coming election, the latest set of questions tossed around by its leader, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, has made people think twice about the issue. One of the questions he asked people was whether it was the junta’s right to support a political party, raising speculation that the junta might even set up its own party.

 

Prayut has just reshuffled his Cabinet for the fourth time. With the election drawing near, it cannot help but make people think that these changes, especially at the Agriculture Ministry, really have something to do with the election.

 

The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry has long been known among government executives as the “grade A” ministry, not only because of its huge budget, but because it deals with rural masses who could become a good political base.

 

As a result, major parties have long vied to wield power at the ministry. In recent coalition governments, it has been dominated by major parties. 

 

When Thaksin Shinawatra wielded power a decade ago, the Agriculture Ministry was overseen by his party’s ministers: Somsak Thepsuthin and his vice minister, Newin Chidchob, followed by Sudarat Keyurapan and others.

 

Populist policies

 

It was also at this time that the ministry became political, with a number of populist projects introduced – from the “million cow” project to the “million rubber tree” project – to win popularity among the many farmers.

 

 As a result of these policies over many years, Thai Rak Thai and its successor Pheu Thai have been able to maintain popularity among the rural masses. This highlights how significant the ministry is in terms of creating a strong political base.

 

The latest Cabinet reshuffle, if anything, has suggested a renewed effort by the junta to reach these masses. The new ministers and vice ministers, Krisda Boonrat, Luck Wajananawat and Wiwat Salayakamthorn, are all high-profile figures who have long been working with the farmers.

 

Krisda was a former permanent secretary at the Interior Ministry, which works directly towards improving people’s living conditions and security at the grassroots level. Over the past 30 years, Luck has worked as a banker for the poor at the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, the largest lender to Thai farmers. Wiwat, meanwhile, for almost all of his life served the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and adopted His Majesty’s self-sufficiency philosophy to initiate self-sufficient agricultural education centres nationwide.

 

Although the junta has not yet confirmed that it will enter politics, by sending people who have worked closely with the masses it is strongly suggesting that it wants the approval of farmers … if not yet their votes.

 

The only question that remains is whether the junta would be able to give them back something more sustainable than populist projects, rather than just try to take their votes and use their support for political purposes, as past governments did.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30332507

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-11-26

[Dave67]

The Junta is completely underestimating their lack of popularity with the rural people of Thailand. Stop squirming and go before you are kicked out

[Samui Bodoh]

14 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

The only question that remains is whether the junta would be able to give them back something more sustainable than populist projects, rather than just try to take their votes and use their support for political purposes, as past governments did.

 

What a pile of nonsense.

 

This is a "glory" piece saying how wonderful the current government ministers are, and by contrast, how bad the previous ones were. Unfortunately, the 'evidence' provided is a bit thin to non-existent... 

 

This is thinly disguised Junta propaganda.

 

One must conclude that the writer of this "news story" wants a government job with the Junta.

 

Edited November 25, 2017 by Samui Bodoh

[Chris Lawrence]

The question they are trying to promote is populist policies. A propaganda exercise.

 

What they have to consider is policies that help and promote the lives of the people in the country. This can not be bargained for, it has to be earned. Love him or hate him this is what Mr T delivered to the country folk and has endeared him in their minds.  

 

Just look at what has been promoted for Issan area by the Junta? What is the population there? How much do they contribute to GDP a year?  How much does the government spend a year on this area?

 

The country folk also has the numbers to change a government no matter how many constitutions they write.

[ezzra]

The farmers don't give a hoot who's sitting on the PM chair and who

are the rest of the elite of Bangkok, all they care about is what's

left in their pockets at the end of they, and of course, free handout,

debt's moratorium, and high prices for their crops, even if the poisen

the public in the process.... 

[Get Real]

Off course they want, and they are actually not so unpopular. Unfortunately!

[Thechook]

Does he need anyone's vote.  I don't believe he is going anywhere

[Cadbury]

The popularity of politicians in the country areas is directly proportional to the number of frogs kissed during tokenistic PR visits.

[yellowboat]

5 hours ago, Dave67 said:

The Junta is completely underestimating their lack of popularity with the rural people of Thailand. Stop squirming and go before you are kicked out

The junta does not know because most stay quiet unless around trusted friends.  Lack of freedom of speech has put the junta in a pickle.  They know less about Thailand than the average Thai.  How can you manage a people, unless by force, if you do not know them ?  The lack of debate and discussion makes ones sense dull. 

[candide]

They are not even able to understand that one of the main factor of unpopularity is this outmoded TV speech proudly made by the PM every friday....

[anon789561]

9 hours ago, Dave67 said:

The Junta is completely underestimating their lack of popularity with the rural people of Thailand. Stop squirming and go before you are kicked out

and you honestly believe the 'people' are going to rise up and kick him out. no mate 555

[Belzybob]

Standby for a rice buy-back scheme.....

[Dave67]

11 minutes ago, Happy enough said:

and you honestly believe the 'people' are going to rise up and kick him out. no mate 555

555 all you like sunshine you obviously don't know or can't read what's going on, not the people someone above the Junta

 

Edited November 26, 2017 by Dave67

[martinhp]

10 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

 

What a pile of nonsense.

 

This is a "glory" piece saying how wonderful the current government ministers are, and by contrast, how bad the previous ones were. Unfortunately, the 'evidence' provided is a bit thin to non-existent... 

 

This is thinly disguised Junta propaganda.

 

One must conclude that the writer of this "news story" wants a government job with the Junta.

 

Sure thing only propaganda and exactly why they can not support any party as they use guns 

[jenny2017]

•  

 

 

 

Although the junta has not yet confirmed that it will enter politics, by sending people who have worked closely with the masses it is strongly suggesting that it wants the approval of farmers … if not yet their votes.

 

    Please do not sell rotten rice to Isaan farmers, Khun Prayut. 

 

   P.S. What a bummer he is. I'll send you half of my salary if you stop your TV speeches.

Edited November 26, 2017 by jenny2017

[anon789561]

1 hour ago, Dave67 said:

555 all you like sunshine you obviously don't know or can't read what's going on, not the people someone above the Junta

 

i don't know. apart from the families who is above the junta and who is intending to kick them out? i am missing something. fill me in please

[sweatalot]

What was legitimate for tak should be legitimate for any government - and probably every government needs to do that because they will be compared with tak. Nothing wrong with this if they use it as a means to an end to a better and liberate Thailand which is not a tak empire.

Edited November 26, 2017 by sweatalot