Probe Into Controversial Thai Rice Subsidy Half Complete

[webfact]

Probe into controversial rice subsidy half complete
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, April 5 – An independent investigation into alleged corruption in the multi-million-baht rice pledge scheme is more than 50 per cent complete, a member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) said today.

Sakchai Metinipisaskul, a member of the NACC investigative subcommittee, deplored the government’s failure to cooperate in the probe which started last October.

The investigation was launched following a corruption charge by a civic group, led by Somsak Kosaisuk, leader of the New Political Party and a core leader of the anti-government People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD, the Yellow Shirts), over the rice deal.

Mr Somsak showed up at NACC headquarters today to follow up on the case.

The group charged the Commerce Ministry with malfeasance in executing the rice subsidy programme which was launched last year. The scheme continues this year for the second rice crop despite widespread criticism.

Mr Sakchai said the NACC will exercise its power under the law in taking legal action against those refusing to provide information concerning the rice scheme.

He said the subcommittee delved into the rice trading procedures to determine if there were bogus farmers/traders cashing in on the scheme, and government-to-government deals as claimed (by the Commerce Ministry).

“We have investigated from the (Cabinet) level down to ministries and officials working in the field,” he said. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-04-05

[Pimay1]

Sakchai Metinipisaskul, a member of the NACC investigative subcommittee, deplored the government’s failure to cooperate in the probe which started last October.

The foxes are not cooperating with the hen house investigation. What a suprise.

[billd766]

But But But the................

[bigbamboo]

It could be a question of who will get the chop first.......... the corrupt government officials or the NACC itself.

[Ricardo]

"Sakchai Metinipisaskul, a member of the NACC investigative subcommittee, deplored the government’s failure to cooperate in the probe which started last October."

But P.M. Yingluck promises no corruption, or is this failure to help the investigation perhaps because, the government is so very confident that the whole scam scheme is corruption-free, that they are certain that no investigation is needed ?

In which case, what do they have to loose, in cooperating with the NACC ?

[Thaddeus]

“We have investigated from the (Cabinet) level down to ministries and officials working in the field,” he said. (MCOT online news)

I hope they have gone as far down as the people who really do work in a field.

[MunterHunter]

By 50% complete they mean they have asked for the back-hander, but it has not yet been paid...?

[LuckyLew]

when they receive the other have of the payoff ... they will announce their findings

[slapout]

You mean the police assigned to each sales point, (along with the huge budget alloted them) must have cracked the case by now.

With all the avenues for corruption built into this program, they are seemly only investigating for bogus companies/farmers, How do you find a bogus entity, if they do not exist? Add no cooperation from those who are handling the disperment of funds and I foresee another assurance of "everything is right mate", so go play in some one elses sand box.

[rubl]

After the months we've spent on investigation we can at least tell for 100% confidence that the THB 400 billion from the 2011-2012 period is gone. As we haven't dealt with 2012-2013 yet, we're only about halfway

[Buchholz]

"Sakchai Metinipisaskul, a member of the NACC investigative subcommittee, deplored the government’s failure to cooperate in the probe which started last October."

But P.M. Yingluck promises no corruption, or is this failure to help the investigation perhaps because, the government is so very confident that the whole scam scheme is corruption-free, that they are certain that no investigation is needed ?

In which case, what do they have to loose, in cooperating with the NACC ?

.

"government's failure to cooperate"...

For all the hundreds of billions involved, in addition to being corruption-free, she also assured the scheme would be carried out with all transparency....

.

.

PM to request THB400 Billion for rice pledging scheme

BANGKOK, 15 September 2012 (NNT) – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will ask the Cabinet to approve her request for 400 billion baht to sponsor a new round of the Commerce Ministry’s rice pledging scheme.

The PM has promised that the rice program will be carried out in a transparent manner despite rumors of corruption.

.

more Yingluck lies...

.

Edited April 5, 2013 by Buchholz

[AleG]

"Sakchai Metinipisaskul, a member of the NACC investigative subcommittee, deplored the government’s failure to cooperate in the probe which started last October."

But P.M. Yingluck promises no corruption, or is this failure to help the investigation perhaps because, the government is so very confident that the whole scam scheme is corruption-free, that they are certain that no investigation is needed ?

In which case, what do they have to loose, in cooperating with the NACC ?

.

"government's failure to cooperate"...

For all the hundreds of billions involved, in addition to being corruption-free, she also assured the scheme would be carried out with all transparency....

.

>.

PM to request THB400 Billion for rice pledging scheme

BANGKOK, 15 September 2012 (NNT) – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will ask the Cabinet to approve her request for 400 billion baht to sponsor a new round of the Commerce Ministry’s rice pledging scheme.

The PM has promised that the rice program will be carried out in a transparent manner despite rumors of corruption.

.

more Yingluck lies...

.

They are giving the same assurances for the 5.x trillion infrastructure loans that would bypass parliamentary scrutiny, "we'll keep it transparent and no corruption, cross my heart!" Yeah right.

[dcutman]

If the real truth comes out about this scam, it will rip this country wide open and crush it financially, and the NACC knows it.

You only have to look what happen to the stock market yesterday (Yingluck being ousted on a minor infraction) to see what would happen.

Edited April 5, 2013 by dcutman

[belg]

the committee came to the conclusion that everything is in order and everybody drove home in their newly gifted mercedes

[arthurboy]

Which half?

[OzMick]

The first question that should be asked goes to the PM and her Ministers - "Have you profited in any way from this policy?"

[kotsak]

Bloomberg - Thailand May Sell 7 Million Tons of Rice From State Stockpiles

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-05/thailand-may-sell-7-million-tons-of-rice-from-state-stockpiles.html

[philw]

The first question that should be asked goes to the PM and her Ministers - "Have you profited in any way from this policy?"

Is there or has there been, any suggestion that she has ???

Or is it just the usual ignorant and biased presumption on the part of some posters here ??

Funny that the rest of the country, including the parliamentary opposition are silent, but 5 or 6 folks on TV are certain of her guilt in certain and huge corruption............

Funny that.

Must ask my mate Phuked Iffarno what he thinks.

[rubl]

The first question should be: a fully detailed accounting of how those THB 400 billion in the 2011/2012 fiscal year have been spent. Maybe some of the hundreds of billions to be spent in 2012/2013 could be detailed already as well.

Furthermore a breakdown in revenue gained from G2G or other sales from government stock would help complete the picture. Transparently and so.

[OzMick]

The first question that should be asked goes to the PM and her Ministers - "Have you profited in any way from this policy?"

Is there or has there been, any suggestion that she has ???

Or is it just the usual ignorant and biased presumption on the part of some posters here ??

Funny that the rest of the country, including the parliamentary opposition are silent, but 5 or 6 folks on TV are certain of her guilt in certain and huge corruption............

Funny that.

Must ask my mate Phuked Iffarno what he thinks.

It has been widely reported that the rental price of rice-growing land has increased markedly. Are you suggesting that the PM, her cabinet and fellow PTP MPs, many large landholders, do not commercially grow rice or rent land for that purpose? Did those that do declare a conflict of interest? Has this policy achieved its stated aims efficiently and cost-effectively? If not, what is its REAL purpose?

Your friend seems better informed than yourself.

Edited April 7, 2013 by OzMick

[ballpoint]

The first question that should be asked goes to the PM and her Ministers - "Have you profited in any way from this policy?"

Is there or has there been, any suggestion that she has ???

Or is it just the usual ignorant and biased presumption on the part of some posters here ??

Funny that the rest of the country, including the parliamentary opposition are silent, but 5 or 6 folks on TV are certain of her guilt in certain and huge corruption............

Funny that.

Must ask my mate Phuked Iffarno what he thinks.

It has been widely reported that the rental price of rice-growing land has increased markedly. Are you suggesting that the PM, her cabinet and fellow PTP MPs, many large landholders, do not commercially grow rice or rent land for that purpose? Did those that do declare a conflict of interest? Has this policy achieved its stated aims efficiently and cost-effectively? If not, what is its REAL purpose?

Your friend seems better informed than yourself.

His friend appears to be the source of information for the majority of his posts.

[muttley]

The first question that should be asked goes to the PM and her Ministers - "Have you profited in any way from this policy?"

Is there or has there been, any suggestion that she has ???

Or is it just the usual ignorant and biased presumption on the part of some posters here ??

Funny that the rest of the country, including the parliamentary opposition are silent, but 5 or 6 folks on TV are certain of her guilt in certain and huge corruption............

Funny that.

Must ask my mate Phuked Iffarno what he thinks.

It has been widely reported that the rental price of rice-growing land has increased markedly. Are you suggesting that the PM, her cabinet and fellow PTP MPs, many large landholders, do not commercially grow rice or rent land for that purpose? Did those that do declare a conflict of interest? Has this policy achieved its stated aims efficiently and cost-effectively? If not, what is its REAL purpose?

Your friend seems better informed than yourself.

And you are better informed than philw because you allege that the "PM, her cabinet and fellow PTP MPs, many large landholders, do commercially grow rice or rent land for that purpose" without a shred of evidence?

[muttley]

Your friend seems better informed than yourself.

His friend appears to be the source of information for the majority of his posts.

And Ozmicks source aka "his opinion", i.e. no facts, just fiction is better?

[rubl]

It is 'well' known that lots of local overlords upcountry have not seen their rights, status and properties change much since serfs were freed and were allowed to enter a different form of bondage with those benevolent local rulers.

[slapout]

Those bankers (world bank included), rice exporters, unpaid/underpaid farmers, consumers, etc may be a refference of someone other than ozmick and the other opponents to this scam, if anyone was really interested in enlightening themselves.

This was played up as a populist vote buying tactic from the beginning, but in truth was a payday for the propentents and their hencemen/supporters. When only 5% of the rice program money went to the poor farmers (as per independent accounting) is accepted as fact (even the present government did not contest this) I think the proff of accountability should be asked from those running this program, not those who question it. Now the latter is opinion.

[OzMick]

The first question that should be asked goes to the PM and her Ministers - "Have you profited in any way from this policy?"

Is there or has there been, any suggestion that she has ???

Or is it just the usual ignorant and biased presumption on the part of some posters here ??

Funny that the rest of the country, including the parliamentary opposition are silent, but 5 or 6 folks on TV are certain of her guilt in certain and huge corruption............

Funny that.

Must ask my mate Phuked Iffarno what he thinks.

It has been widely reported that the rental price of rice-growing land has increased markedly. Are you suggesting that the PM, her cabinet and fellow PTP MPs, many large landholders, do not commercially grow rice or rent land for that purpose? Did those that do declare a conflict of interest? Has this policy achieved its stated aims efficiently and cost-effectively? If not, what is its REAL purpose?

Your friend seems better informed than yourself.

And you are better informed than philw because you allege that the "PM, her cabinet and fellow PTP MPs, many large landholders, do commercially grow rice or rent land for that purpose" without a shred of evidence?

No. My post stated that they should be asked. Do you think that being in government makes you above being honest about your financial position?

[muttley]

It is 'well' known that lots of local overlords upcountry have not seen their rights, status and properties change much since serfs were freed and were allowed to enter a different form of bondage with those benevolent local rulers.

And the relevance to this thread? If it is relevant are you saying that because, in your opinion, "It is 'well' known that lots of local overlords upcountry have not seen their rights, status and properties change much since serfs were freed and were allowed to enter a different form of bondage with those benevolent local rulers" that Yingluck and other members of the cabinet have rice fields and directly benefitted from the rice subsidy as OzMick implies?

Wouldn't someone with half a brain realise that if you were to make the most money out of this arrangement it would be best to be a miller or an export agent or hadn't you thought of that?

[rubl]

Now that at least one member here has stated that millers and exporters made the most of it (the 400 billion Baht I guess is meant), surely we can stop this probe

[muttley]

Is there or has there been, any suggestion that she has ???

Or is it just the usual ignorant and biased presumption on the part of some posters here ??

Funny that the rest of the country, including the parliamentary opposition are silent, but 5 or 6 folks on TV are certain of her guilt in certain and huge corruption............

Funny that.

Must ask my mate Phuked Iffarno what he thinks.

It has been widely reported that the rental price of rice-growing land has increased markedly. Are you suggesting that the PM, her cabinet and fellow PTP MPs, many large landholders, do not commercially grow rice or rent land for that purpose? Did those that do declare a conflict of interest? Has this policy achieved its stated aims efficiently and cost-effectively? If not, what is its REAL purpose?

Your friend seems better informed than yourself.

And you are better informed than philw because you allege that the "PM, her cabinet and fellow PTP MPs, many large landholders, do commercially grow rice or rent land for that purpose" without a shred of evidence?

No. My post stated that they should be asked. Do you think that being in government makes you above being honest about your financial position?

Just speculation then. Fair enough, though it would be helpful if you could let us know when you're speculating and when you have definite proof.

[rubl]

With 2011/2012 seeing 400 billion spent in price pledging, with 2012/2013 planned to be 'just as good', it would help when this transparent government would provide detailed information on how the billions have been spent. The accounting should also include the billions recovered by selling from increasing government stocks.

If only we had that type of information we would depends less on speculation and wishful thinking and could come up with plans for adjustments which really, structurally and effectively help poor farmers.