Thai Democrats To Seek Info From China Over Rice Deal

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POLITICS

Democrats to seek info from China

The Nation

Embassy to be asked to verify details of order for purchase of rice

BANGKOK: -- China is getting caught in the political rivalry in Thailand over a rice deal between the two countries as the opposition Democrat Party plans to ask the Chinese Embassy here to verify a 5,000-tonne rice purchase order placed by a China-registered company.

Democrat spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said yesterday that the party would send an official query to the Chinese Embassy to ask whether the Chinese government had ordered the rice from Thailand, with GSSG Import & Export Corporation representing it for the purchase from Thailand, as had been claimed by the government.

"We want the embassy to clearly answer all the questions. We don't want the [Thai] government to use China as its tool for corruption," Chavanond said. "The Chinese government should tell the truth about this matter."

The Chinese Embassy, when contacted by The Nation yesterday, said it had no information about GSSG Import & Export. It gave no further comment on the so-called government-to-government rice deal between the two countries.

The rice deal erupted in controversy after the opposition accused the government during the censure debate on Monday of creating a ghost company to purchase a lot of rice from the government to benefit its close associates.

In response, Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom insisted strongly that the government did indeed sell rice as part of a government-to-government contract. All rice exports are verified by the Foreign Trade Department while the buyers are verified by the embassy, he said, adding that those involved in the deal are government agencies, not a Chinese company as alleged by the opposition.

Anti-Money Laundering Office secretary-general Seehanat Prayoonrat yesterday said AMLO was ready to investigate complaints regarding the rice deal to be submitted by the opposition.

He added that the agency had followed the censure debate but that it could act only after a complaint was filed.

However, he clarified that AMLO could not confiscate or freeze assets of the persons named by the opposition. For that to happen, it would need an indictment by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

"As long as the NACC has not clearly indicted [the suspects involved in irregularities], AMLO can only investigate via transaction reports from financial institutions. We can do nothing more yet as they might be just normal transactions," he said.

According to the Democrats, the rice purchase - supposed to be part of a government-to-government contract - was done through a dummy company set up for international transactions. While the transactions were done via four banks, irregularities were observed as the money transferred to the account in the morning would be completely withdrawn in the afternoon. Moreover, there was no letter of credit issued as evidence of payment from the foreign government. Therefore, it was a suspicious case of money laundering.

NACC commissioner Klanarong Chantik said the agency was transcribing the recording of the censure debate to see what issues had been scrutinised. It would be used to support the cases filed by the opposition when it filed an impeachment motion.

However, the NACC might investigate other irregularities it finds suspicious without having to wait for anyone to file complaint, he said.

In a separate development, Mongkolkit Suksintharanon, secretary-general of the National Anti-Corruption Network (NACN), yesterday petitioned the NACC, charging widespread corruption in the implementation of the rice-pledging scheme.

Mongkolkit said his group has sufficient evidence that implicated politicians' associates in the irregularities. He asked the anti-graft agency to investigate whether the rice scheme was conducted transparently and whether there were unusual monetary movements involving senior civil servants.

-- The Nation 2012-11- 30

[Moruya]

Come on NACC and AMLO. Gather up some energy and do your jobs with gusto.

[Ricardo]

Is it not normal, for a government-to-government contract in Thailand, to be placed via a dummy-company or intermediary ?

It's a good way to ensure that the appropriate commissions & fees get paid, to the right people, isn't it ?

[bigbamboo]

This might be interesting!

[Moruya]

This might be interesting!

Indeed. The red underpants brigade will have to lie low

[monkfish]

This might be interesting!

Indeed. The red underpants brigade will have to lie low

Name calling is really very childish grow up!

Edited November 30, 2012 by monkfish

[FOODLOVER]

This might be interesting!

Indeed. The red underpants brigade will have to lie low

And the yellow belly underpants residue club will come out of hiding.

Really why resort to name calling it does work 2 ways and very childish.

I don't get it.

[Payboy]

Sort of like asking the condo manager whether your wife is sleeping with your neighbour.

[MaxLee]

China is Thailand biggest corruption partner that they cannot afford to lose... They expect China to bail them out the face saving way

Edited November 30, 2012 by MaxLee

[DLock]

This might be interesting!

Indeed. The red underpants brigade will have to lie low

Name calling is really very childish grow up!

So is not punctuating posts correctly.

[bigbamboo]

China is Thailand biggest corruption partner that they cannot afford to lose... They expect China to bail them out the face saving way

China is the biggest corruption partner of half of South East Asia.

Thailand will have to get in the queue.

[Pimay1]

Sort of like asking the condo manager whether your wife is sleeping with your neighbour.

Or asking your neighbour if he is sleeping with your wife.

[dcutman]

I hope these guys are not pinning there entire case, on the information they get from China. I hope this is just extra icing on the cake.

[waza]

Come on NACC and AMLO. Gather up some energy and do your jobs with gusto.

The NACC is busy............

However, this time the Democrat Party has filed motions of impeachment against Prime Minister Yingluck, Defense Minister Sukampol Suwannathat, and Deputy Interior Minister Chatt Kuldiloke. Under a procedure set out in Articles 270-274 of the Constitution, the Senate has forwarded the cases to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), which is now considering the request. If, after conducting its investigation, the NACC recommends impeachment, the Senate can remove the Prime Minister from her position by a supermajority of sixty percent.

» The National Anti-Corruption Commission on Thursday accepted for consideration five petitions asking that it establish whether the 3G spectrum auction was in violation of the Anti-Price Collusion Act of 2009, commissione...

Democrat MP Boonyod Sooktinthai will ask the National Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate budget spending by House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont.

The senate has agreed to the nomination of Pol Gen Sathaporn Laothong as a new member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission amid protests over his qualifications.

Police have recovered about 16 million baht stolen from transport permanent secretary Supoj Saplom’s home and they suspect much more was in the house. Now the National Anti-Corruption Commission wants to know where he got it.

» The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) will set up its own armed witness protection unit because it does not trust security personnel from other agencies.

» The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has been requested to rule whether Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat had abused his power by issuing an order to remove his military rank, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Ve...

ect ect

Edited November 30, 2012 by waza

[Moruya]

This might be interesting!

Indeed. The red underpants brigade will have to lie low

Name calling is really very childish grow up!

Are you not familiar with the French Revolution? The modern day "sans culottes" would be the red shirts and the Dems would be the Jacobins.

[Arkady]

The Chinese government is not going to be able to respond to this request because it is not from the Thai government via the MoFA which is the correct protocol.

[Thai at Heart]

The Chinese government is not going to be able to respond to this request because it is not from the Thai government via the MoFA which is the correct protocol.

Tootong krup

[1bbcd5]

Oh, most definitely. Very nice.

[Barabbas]

The Chinese government is not going to be able to respond to this request because it is not from the Thai government via the MoFA which is the correct protocol.

Gets me thinking, were they (Democrats) not aware of the correct procedure before sending a petition to China Embassy? Or was it done on purpose?

[whybother]

The Chinese government is not going to be able to respond to this request because it is not from the Thai government via the MoFA which is the correct protocol.

Gets me thinking, were they (Democrats) not aware of the correct procedure before sending a petition to China Embassy? Or was it done on purpose?

Exactly how do the Democrats get the ministry to make enquiries on their behalf?

[Thai at Heart]

The Chinese government is not going to be able to respond to this request because it is not from the Thai government via the MoFA which is the correct protocol.

Gets me thinking, were they (Democrats) not aware of the correct procedure before sending a petition to China Embassy? Or was it done on purpose?

No doubt someone has a friend of a friend in there. Why don't they just get someone from CP to check the numbers in China.

They only have about 200 factories exporting food, so have just a few contacts in the food industry over there.

[Barabbas]

The Chinese government is not going to be able to respond to this request because it is not from the Thai government via the MoFA which is the correct protocol.

Gets me thinking, were they (Democrats) not aware of the correct procedure before sending a petition to China Embassy? Or was it done on purpose?

Exactly how do the Democrats get the ministry to make enquiries on their behalf?

If they indeed cannot do it due to bureaucratic reasons - then the whole idea was rubbish in the first place. BTW, it's an interesting legal question - although, separation of powers will have to be circumvented somehow, in order for legislature (or part of it) to instruct executive to do something.

[Barabbas]

The Chinese government is not going to be able to respond to this request because it is not from the Thai government via the MoFA which is the correct protocol.

Gets me thinking, were they (Democrats) not aware of the correct procedure before sending a petition to China Embassy? Or was it done on purpose?

No doubt someone has a friend of a friend in there. Why don't they just get someone from CP to check the numbers in China.

They only have about 200 factories exporting food, so have just a few contacts in the food industry over there.

I'm afraid any proof (if ever found) will not be legal, due to breach of procedure. Then it will take them another 9000+ years to try to push it through in the Parliament. And I'm sure new unpleasant facts about both sides will come up in the meantime, so finally everybody will forget how the whole thing started.

[Thai at Heart]

The Chinese government is not going to be able to respond to this request because it is not from the Thai government via the MoFA which is the correct protocol.

Gets me thinking, were they (Democrats) not aware of the correct procedure before sending a petition to China Embassy? Or was it done on purpose?

No doubt someone has a friend of a friend in there. Why don't they just get someone from CP to check the numbers in China.

They only have about 200 factories exporting food, so have just a few contacts in the food industry over there.

I'm afraid any proof (if ever found) will not be legal, due to breach of procedure. Then it will take them another 9000+ years to try to push it through in the Parliament. And I'm sure new unpleasant facts about both sides will come up in the meantime, so finally everybody will forget how the whole thing started.

Well how you happen to get hold of a document showing something illegal, doesn't actually mean it still isn't illegal.

[OzMick]

If they indeed cannot do it due to bureaucratic reasons - then the whole idea was rubbish in the first place. BTW, it's an interesting legal question - although, separation of powers will have to be circumvented somehow, in order for legislature (or part of it) to instruct executive to do something.

If the opposition can't get one Ministry of a corrupt government to investigate another Ministry of the same corrupt government, then the whole idea is rubbish?

What methods should the opposition use then to reveal corruption and government lies? That is, after all, their principal occupation.

[khunken]

The Chinese government is not going to be able to respond to this request because it is not from the Thai government via the MoFA which is the correct protocol.

Gets me thinking, were they (Democrats) not aware of the correct procedure before sending a petition to China Embassy? Or was it done on purpose?

No doubt someone has a friend of a friend in there. Why don't they just get someone from CP to check the numbers in China.

They only have about 200 factories exporting food, so have just a few contacts in the food industry over there.

I'm afraid any proof (if ever found) will not be legal, due to breach of procedure. Then it will take them another 9000+ years to try to push it through in the Parliament. And I'm sure new unpleasant facts about both sides will come up in the meantime, so finally everybody will forget how the whole thing started.

Procedure? Parliament? No, if they can find any evidence by insider leaks (the Thai way) it will be all over the media & that's where the PTP is vulnerable.

[Thai at Heart]

If they indeed cannot do it due to bureaucratic reasons - then the whole idea was rubbish in the first place. BTW, it's an interesting legal question - although, separation of powers will have to be circumvented somehow, in order for legislature (or part of it) to instruct executive to do something.

If the opposition can't get one Ministry of a corrupt government to investigate another Ministry of the same corrupt government, then the whole idea is rubbish?

What methods should the opposition use then to reveal corruption and government lies? That is, after all, their principal occupation.

Ordinarily, this is what newspapers do anyway. Investigate and discovering this type of thing should be right up their street.

[Barabbas]

If they indeed cannot do it due to bureaucratic reasons - then the whole idea was rubbish in the first place. BTW, it's an interesting legal question - although, separation of powers will have to be circumvented somehow, in order for legislature (or part of it) to instruct executive to do something.

If the opposition can't get one Ministry of a corrupt government to investigate another Ministry of the same corrupt government, then the whole idea is rubbish?

What methods should the opposition use then to reveal corruption and government lies? That is, after all, their principal occupation.

Ordinarily, this is what newspapers do anyway. Investigate and discovering this type of thing should be right up their street.

2OzMick - my point exactly. The opposition should've come up with some more or less legit way of getting the evidence - apart from sending a petition to the Chinese Embassy, which I'm quite sure went straight into the bin. Now they made <deleted> of themselves, although the public might not understand this.

2Thai at Heart - have you heard about any Thai official who stepped down from the office due to results of media investigations? After all, I've spent some time yesterday comparing The Nation's English publications with the actual live recordings of the Parliament proceedings described in the newspaper and I've found some interesting repeating patters...

[Thai at Heart]

If they indeed cannot do it due to bureaucratic reasons - then the whole idea was rubbish in the first place. BTW, it's an interesting legal question - although, separation of powers will have to be circumvented somehow, in order for legislature (or part of it) to instruct executive to do something.

If the opposition can't get one Ministry of a corrupt government to investigate another Ministry of the same corrupt government, then the whole idea is rubbish?

What methods should the opposition use then to reveal corruption and government lies? That is, after all, their principal occupation.

Ordinarily, this is what newspapers do anyway. Investigate and discovering this type of thing should be right up their street.

2OzMick - my point exactly. The opposition should've come up with some more or less legit way of getting the evidence - apart from sending a petition to the Chinese Embassy, which I'm quite sure went straight into the bin. Now they made <deleted> of themselves, although the public might not understand this.

2Thai at Heart - have you heard about any Thai official who stepped down from the office due to results of media investigations? After all, I've spent some time yesterday comparing The Nation's English publications with the actual live recordings of the Parliament proceedings described in the newspaper and I've found some interesting repeating patters...

This requires.creating a critical mass. Since the nationnews, the dems, tge army plus the dems industrial backers would all like to see the back ptp, don't tell me they can't all co_ordinate to make the evidence so large that no one can get out of it.

They need to go after each big cheese and build something against yinhluck, chalerm and the other big wigs.

it won't be pretty, but it isn't as though that bunch don't know the avenues ptp use to channel money around and cover their ass.

They've been at it for years themselves.

If they want to know what us going on in China, the boss of CP probably knows better than the Chinese premier. Oil, go to Shell, that i's populated with na Ayttayas who despise ptt. Turn land officers for evidence, get the tax people and the banks, lest we forget bangkok bank has a democrat mp who was front and centre with the pad many times.

The info is out there, they just have to get it.... You think every ptp mp loves thaksin? how did they turn newin. For the love of the country? Don't make me laugh.

Everyone will spill their guts with the right push.

[Barabbas]

This requires.creating a critical mass. Since the nationnews, the dems, tge army plus the dems industrial backers would all like to see the back ptp, don't tell me they can't all co_ordinate to make the evidence so large that no one can get out of it.

They need to go after each big cheese and build something against yinhluck, chalerm and the other big wigs.

it won't be pretty, but it isn't as though that bunch don't know the avenues ptp use to channel money around and cover their ass.

They've been at it for years themselves.

If they want to know what us going on in China, the boss of CP probably knows better than the Chinese premier. Oil, go to Shell, that i's populated with na Ayttayas who despise ptt. Turn land officers for evidence, get the tax people and the banks, lest we forget bangkok bank has a democrat mp who was front and centre with the pad many times.

The info is out there, they just have to get it.... You think every ptp mp loves thaksin? how did they turn newin. For the love of the country? Don't make me laugh.

Everyone will spill their guts with the right push.

I can agree that if all of the above came to pass, it would probably work. However there are just too many "ifs". Too many parties involved, it would be extremely difficult to consolidate all of those groups who are pursuing their own interests. All under scrutiny and under pressure and counteraction from PTP.