Thai Court Declines To Review Government-To-Government Rice Sales

[webfact]

Court declines to review G2G rice sales

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Constitution Court yesterday decided not to launch a judicial review on whether the government-to-government sale of rice violated the charter.

In a unanimous decision, the court said the petition had failed to cite any specific contract as evidence, and hence the judges had no way of knowing what they would be ruling on.

A group of 67 senators sought court intervention on the government's controversial rice-pledging scheme.

They demanded that the rice sale be publicly disclosed after |the government defended |the scheme by citing its success |in marking up the price via |transactions with other governments.

In a move to force disclosure, the senators asked for judicial opinion on whether the government-to-government transaction should be construed as an international agreement that requires vetting by the House.

Court spokesman Pimol Thampitakpong said that under court procedures, a judicial decision cannot be made on an assumption or an idea without a specific document or evidence.

The high court also rejected a petition questioning the qualifications of former Pheu Thai MP Yongyuth Wichaidit. The ruling said since Yongyuth had resigned his House seat and the case did not merit a review.

In another development, |the Senate has forwarded a petition signed by 40 senators seeking a judicial review of the qualifications of PM's Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn. The senators contend that Varathep may not be fit to serve because of his 2009 conviction in relation to a lottery case.

Under the Constitution, politicians need to wait five years after a conviction before seeking state employment. Court clerks will vet the petition before adding it to the high court's docket.

-- The Nation 2012-11-08

[GentlemanJim]

Well as there appears to be no evidence of any Government to Government sales of rice, other than the unreliable word of some PTP Ministers then there would be no documents or evidence to cite to the court that pointed at any specific case. Perhaps the Senators need to re-phrase to the court what it is they are trying to achieve from a judicial review. It's funny that there seems to be no evidence of 7 million tons of rice being shifted anywhere, let alone internationally.

[asiawatcher]

67 Senators and not one can get a petition right or seek legal opinion prior to serving it? Wow this country is in good hands. And I loved the comment the Govt deems the rice scam scheme a success by marking it up... how? By pricing Thailand out of the market! Well done PTP. More of this please.

[whybother]

It's quite amazing that government to government contracts are secret, with even basic details (ie which government) being hidden.

[Nickymaster]

It's quite amazing that government to government contracts are secret, with even basic details (ie which government) being hidden.

Really amazing indeed, even senators have to go through court to see them.

[Thai at Heart]

It's quite amazing that government to government contracts are secret, with even basic details (ie which government) being hidden.

Truly bizarre isn't it. Does this mean they can secretly sell any government asset and declare it to the public domain? How about mortgaging government house? They have gone to the ends of the earth to create these ludicrous government e-bidding systems that people run rings around anyway, but when it comes to selling something, they don't have to declare it?

[Nickymaster]

67 Senators and not one can get a petition right or seek legal opinion prior to serving it? Wow this country is in good hands. And I loved the comment the Govt deems the rice scam scheme a success by marking it up... how? By pricing Thailand out of the market! Well done PTP. More of this please.

They can get a petition (I think). The court told the senators to submit the contracts (with the petition). I read in the other paper that the senate has asked copies from the Commerce Ministry to submit to the court. I think they are getting somewhere.

[backtonormal]

For those of you who bleated about wasting money on the rice pledging are now starting to be proved wrong. Thaksin this and Thaksin that but now you are starting to see the big picture. Its all about dismantling the monopoly that has kept the poor poor. The rice exporters who you would have to believe are part of the infamous amart will slowly but surely become one of Thailands relics of a bygone era. This government will maybe lose a few bob on the deal but the long term impact of the poor will be profound.

Presently there is no alternative employment but investment is on the cards and ASEAN is just around the corner. Thailand does not need to export millions of tonnes of rice to keep a few families filthy rich. As for the senate being incompetent, well what do you expect. A bunch of geriatric generals hand picked to hold sway in that institution. Very soon a coup is the only option left to the few who currently control. Thaksin is way to clever for the competition and he'll keep buying rice until they have no more to export. One smart cookie..(puts on tin hat waiting for the orchestrated naysayers to respond)

Thaksin had these G2G contracts sown up while he was gallavanting around as a fugitive. Id give anything to see the faces now

Edited November 8, 2012 by backtonormal

[rubl]

For those of you who bleated about wasting money on the rice pledging are now starting to be proved wrong. Thaksin this and Thaksin that but now you are starting to see the big picture. Its all about dismantling the monopoly that has kept the poor poor. The rice exporters who you would have to believe are part of the infamous amart will slowly but surely become one of Thailands relics of a bygone era. This government will maybe lose a few bob on the deal but the long term impact of the poor will be profound.

Presently there is no alternative employment but investment is on the cards and ASEAN is just around the corner. Thailand does not need to export millions of tonnes of rice to keep a few families filthy rich. As for the senate being incompetent, well what do you expect. A bunch of geriatric generals hand picked to hold sway in that institution. Very soon a coup is the only option left to the few who currently control. Thaksin is way to clever for the competition and he'll keep buying rice until they have no more to export. One smart cookie..(puts on tin hat waiting for the orchestrated naysayers to respond)

Thaksin had these G2G contracts sown up while he was gallavanting around as a fugitive. Id give anything to see the faces now

With most rice grown in the Central plain and North-East of Thailand and higher level people involved and profitting being Pheu Thai related local gentry I'm a bit confused about the quoted post. Mind you with k. Thaksin having G2G contracts sown and worldwide foodprices slightly declining, the government has thrown away THB 280 billion just to keep the infamous amart who are part of their most profitting supporters down.

The logic of it all escapes me, but with some posters and their posts that's as back to normal

The senate, or groups of senators has been refused by courts at least two times now. Courts citing lack of details to rule on / against. Maybe three times lucky?

[backtonormal]

For those of you who bleated about wasting money on the rice pledging are now starting to be proved wrong. Thaksin this and Thaksin that but now you are starting to see the big picture. Its all about dismantling the monopoly that has kept the poor poor. The rice exporters who you would have to believe are part of the infamous amart will slowly but surely become one of Thailands relics of a bygone era. This government will maybe lose a few bob on the deal but the long term impact of the poor will be profound.

Presently there is no alternative employment but investment is on the cards and ASEAN is just around the corner. Thailand does not need to export millions of tonnes of rice to keep a few families filthy rich. As for the senate being incompetent, well what do you expect. A bunch of geriatric generals hand picked to hold sway in that institution. Very soon a coup is the only option left to the few who currently control. Thaksin is way to clever for the competition and he'll keep buying rice until they have no more to export. One smart cookie..(puts on tin hat waiting for the orchestrated naysayers to respond)

Thaksin had these G2G contracts sown up while he was gallavanting around as a fugitive. Id give anything to see the faces now

With most rice grown in the Central plain and North-East of Thailand and higher level people involved and profitting being Pheu Thai related local gentry I'm a bit confused about the quoted post. Mind you with k. Thaksin having G2G contracts sown and worldwide foodprices slightly declining, the government has thrown away THB 280 billion just to keep the infamous amart who are part of their most profitting supporters down.

The logic of it all escapes me, but with some posters and their posts that's as back to normal

The senate, or groups of senators has been refused by courts at least two times now. Courts citing lack of details to rule on / against. Maybe three times lucky?

The guys that export the rice can be traced back to the original Chinese families that came as immigrants and as all the mills and all the export the profit from rice is firmly in the hands of a few. And they dont live in the NE Trace the family history of the top boys at the rice exporters of Thailand. Close shop mate. The guys who export 8 million tonnes of rice per annum are 100% not PT supporters.

The power base of Thailand runs rice, banking, buses, owns all the taxis construction, brewerys amongst others.

Edited November 9, 2012 by backtonormal

[backtonormal]

For those of you who bleated about wasting money on the rice pledging are now starting to be proved wrong. Thaksin this and Thaksin that but now you are starting to see the big picture. Its all about dismantling the monopoly that has kept the poor poor. The rice exporters who you would have to believe are part of the infamous amart will slowly but surely become one of Thailands relics of a bygone era. This government will maybe lose a few bob on the deal but the long term impact of the poor will be profound.

Presently there is no alternative employment but investment is on the cards and ASEAN is just around the corner. Thailand does not need to export millions of tonnes of rice to keep a few families filthy rich. As for the senate being incompetent, well what do you expect. A bunch of geriatric generals hand picked to hold sway in that institution. Very soon a coup is the only option left to the few who currently control. Thaksin is way to clever for the competition and he'll keep buying rice until they have no more to export. One smart cookie..(puts on tin hat waiting for the orchestrated naysayers to respond)

Thaksin had these G2G contracts sown up while he was gallavanting around as a fugitive. Id give anything to see the faces now

With most rice grown in the Central plain and North-East of Thailand and higher level people involved and profitting being Pheu Thai related local gentry I'm a bit confused about the quoted post. Mind you with k. Thaksin having G2G contracts sown and worldwide foodprices slightly declining, the government has thrown away THB 280 billion just to keep the infamous amart who are part of their most profitting supporters down.

The logic of it all escapes me, but with some posters and their posts that's as back to normal

The senate, or groups of senators has been refused by courts at least two times now. Courts citing lack of details to rule on / against. Maybe three times lucky?

So you know how much the G2G contracts are worth. Did you put a blindfold on and hit numbers with one finger while keeping one firmly on the zero

[rubl]

For those of you who bleated about wasting money on the rice pledging are now starting to be proved wrong. Thaksin this and Thaksin that but now you are starting to see the big picture. Its all about dismantling the monopoly that has kept the poor poor. The rice exporters who you would have to believe are part of the infamous amart will slowly but surely become one of Thailands relics of a bygone era. This government will maybe lose a few bob on the deal but the long term impact of the poor will be profound.

Presently there is no alternative employment but investment is on the cards and ASEAN is just around the corner. Thailand does not need to export millions of tonnes of rice to keep a few families filthy rich. As for the senate being incompetent, well what do you expect. A bunch of geriatric generals hand picked to hold sway in that institution. Very soon a coup is the only option left to the few who currently control. Thaksin is way to clever for the competition and he'll keep buying rice until they have no more to export. One smart cookie..(puts on tin hat waiting for the orchestrated naysayers to respond)

Thaksin had these G2G contracts sown up while he was gallavanting around as a fugitive. Id give anything to see the faces now

With most rice grown in the Central plain and North-East of Thailand and higher level people involved and profitting being Pheu Thai related local gentry I'm a bit confused about the quoted post. Mind you with k. Thaksin having G2G contracts sown and worldwide foodprices slightly declining, the government has thrown away THB 280 billion just to keep the infamous amart who are part of their most profitting supporters down.

The logic of it all escapes me, but with some posters and their posts that's as back to normal

The senate, or groups of senators has been refused by courts at least two times now. Courts citing lack of details to rule on / against. Maybe three times lucky?

So you know how much the G2G contracts are worth. Did you put a blindfold on and hit numbers with one finger while keeping one firmly on the zero

I only know how much the government spent on rice price pledging in the 2011 fiscal year. That was reported as being THB 280 billion.

How much the G2G contracts are worth I do not know and it looks like the government isn't telling either, whether anyone likes it or not. Must be part of their interpretation on transparency and accountability

[kimamey]

For those of you who bleated about wasting money on the rice pledging are now starting to be proved wrong. Thaksin this and Thaksin that but now you are starting to see the big picture. Its all about dismantling the monopoly that has kept the poor poor. The rice exporters who you would have to believe are part of the infamous amart will slowly but surely become one of Thailands relics of a bygone era. This government will maybe lose a few bob on the deal but the long term impact of the poor will be profound.

Presently there is no alternative employment but investment is on the cards and ASEAN is just around the corner. Thailand does not need to export millions of tonnes of rice to keep a few families filthy rich. As for the senate being incompetent, well what do you expect. A bunch of geriatric generals hand picked to hold sway in that institution. Very soon a coup is the only option left to the few who currently control. Thaksin is way to clever for the competition and he'll keep buying rice until they have no more to export. One smart cookie..(puts on tin hat waiting for the orchestrated naysayers to respond)

Thaksin had these G2G contracts sown up while he was gallavanting around as a fugitive. Id give anything to see the faces now

So Thaksin is buying the rice? Or am I reading this incorrectly.