Nationwide rice stocks to be inspected for missing 2.5m tons from Thai govt stockpiles

[EyesWideOpen]

This rice never existed.... But the really really sad part is, when this rice scam has run its course, with billions and billions of baht siphoned away, no person of importance will be charged with anything. Amusing to watch for the farangs, I am still amazed that the Thai people never seem to get outraged. Must be a cultural thing.....

[notmyself]

Consider this !. If 1 cubic meter of water is equal to 1 metric ton , then the bags of rice in the picture are probably about a ton each. Now count how many bags you can see in the picture and imagine what 2.5 million of them look like !.

It took 2.3 million similar size blocks to build the Great Pyramid! Having stood at the bottom of that and looked up, it really isn't that easy to hide!

Nor move

[Unkomoncents]

This rice never existed.... But the really really sad part is, when this rice scam has run its course, with billions and billions of baht siphoned away, no person of importance will be charged with anything. Amusing to watch for the farangs, I am still amazed that the Thai people never seem to get outraged. Must be a cultural thing.....

You can't help people who are convinced they have discovered the stairway to transcendence. It's like trying to tell a blind painter what to paint. He's blind, but he's calling himself a painter, so he's already convinced himself of his own efficacy without ever having seen his work.

[hellodolly]

What a spectacular way to save face! Now the bad rice has been "stolen" from government stockpiles, I'm sure there are no problems in the Thai rice pledging scheme.

It will be used as an excuse to justify their Gigantic loss. Theft.

they figured if they could some how prove that 2 and 1/2 million tons of rice were stolen it will account for their loss.

[PoodMaiDai]

Meanwhile a rice warehouse under the government’s rice pledging programme in Ayutthaya province caught fire and burned on Monday night. (MCOT online news)

How convenient.

[webfact]

UPDATE:
Govt vows rice crackdown
The Nation


Members of the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand gesture during a press conference yesterday, after calling on the government to rid the rice-pledging scheme of graft.

PM says cheats to be punished; mills face raids

BANGKOK: -- The Yingluck Shinawatra government is going all out to allay public concerns over the rice-pledging scheme.

The prime minister was quoted by government spokesman Teerat Ratanasevi as saying any people involved in corruption will be punished no matter what backing they have. As the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand presses for more public disclosure of facts and figures of the scheme, an inspection team will kick off an probe today into all warehouses and rice mills participating in the scheme.

The Agriculture Ministry also launched a zoning campaign aimed mainly at increasing rice yields and quality amid increasing production cost, targeting 500,000 rai this year.

The Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand is pressing the government for a better system to manage the rice-pledging scheme. Chairman Pramon Sutivong said the ACT had no desire to block the scheme, which is benefiting farmers, but the government would need to plug loopholes that allowed corruption.

At a press conference, he said the government must quickly initiate a probe into the entire process and punish all offenders. The government must also publicly reveal the volume and value of rice bought under the scheme as well as the volume and value of rice releases, including government-to-government deals.

The ACT also called for the government to release its stockpiled rice in small lots, right after purchase, to reduce the warehousing burden and limit the chances for corruption. Complaint centres should be set up nationwide to receive grievances involving the scheme.

The organisation submitted a written letter to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, requesting an investigation into inventories and accounting.

"The organisation is ready to provide information from our side. We have enough information from exporters and rice millers. The government has so far ignored the problems. If it wants to get serious, it can," Pramon said.

It is also seeking a meeting with the prime minister to present the aggregated information.

Some rice millers reportedly secretly sold stockpiles. The inquiry today is expected to show if these millers cheated. The team expects to check 2,506 spots in 50 provinces. Deputy PM's secretary-general Thawat Boonfueng said the results of inspections should be known after 6pm.

Spokesman Teerat quoted the PM as saying there's no need to worry about if one rice mill or other "belonged" to key people.

Thawat also claimed there would be no deference for governors, government officials or politicians. "We will stick to transparency," he said.

If any facility was found to have less than 5 per cent of the registered amount in its storage, those involved would be prosecuted for corruption.

"For paddy, we will allow a 10-per-cent difference. If what is missing is more than that, entrepreneurs and officials will be charged," he said.

Local police and officials from several ministries will help with the inspection. Governors will head the efforts in their provinces. Any arson attack would be suspected of being carried out to destroy evidence.

Pol Colonel Tawatchai Muannara, from Phichit police, said investigators were working hard to follow up complaints on the rice scheme. Nearly 100 farmers had lodged complaints against trader Amnaj Disathien, whose testimony implicated three people at a rice mill. Arrest warrants were issued, including for Munin Jantra.

"We have found that Munin is linked to three other rice-corruption cases in recent years," he said.

There were also signs of forgery and corruption related to the scheme in Chaiyaphum. Achariya Dejsoong-nern, head of the province's internal trade office, said provincial authorities had closed a suspicious rice mill nearly a month ago.

Deputy government spokeswoman Sunisa Lertpakawat said the Rice Department would distribute a manual on how to cut production costs. "If farmers follow the manual, they should be able to lower the cost by Bt1,500 to Bt3,000 per rai," she said.

Agriculture Minister Yukol Limlamthong is pushing agricultural zoning to educate farmers of the right cultivation processes for better yields with less use of chemicals. Due to poor farming methods and higher wages, the cost per rai is high. The Agricultural Economics Office says the cost for the main crop in the 2012-13 harvest year shot up to Bt9,484 per rai from Bt7,534 in 2009-10.


-- The Nation 2013-06-27

[PaullyW]

<<Members of the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand gesture during a press conference yesterday, after calling on the government to rid the rice-pledging scheme of graft.>>

Umm, isn't it a bit late?

These guys are like watching a bad soap opera. So funny it's hard to contain oneself. They are all clowns -- the entire lot of them here.

All style, no substance. All words, no meaningful action.

[whybother]

Representatives from 19 private companies will join the investigation.

Pol Gen Adul also set up a special centre at the National Police Bureau to receive rice-related information throughout the country, adding that more than 16,000 police nationwide will assist in the operation.

So what they are saying is that the people involved in the scam will be investigating it.

The government have been told, since BEFORE they were in power, that the rice pledging is completely open to corruption. Why is it that it has taken 2 years for them to take notice?

Edited June 26, 2013 by whybother

[Thai at Heart]

UPDATE:

Govt vows rice crackdown

The Nation

Members of the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand gesture during a press conference yesterday, after calling on the government to rid the rice-pledging scheme of graft.

PM says cheats to be punished; mills face raids

BANGKOK: -- The Yingluck Shinawatra government is going all out to allay public concerns over the rice-pledging scheme.

The prime minister was quoted by government spokesman Teerat Ratanasevi as saying any people involved in corruption will be punished no matter what backing they have. As the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand presses for more public disclosure of facts and figures of the scheme, an inspection team will kick off an probe today into all warehouses and rice mills participating in the scheme.

The Agriculture Ministry also launched a zoning campaign aimed mainly at increasing rice yields and quality amid increasing production cost, targeting 500,000 rai this year.

The Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand is pressing the government for a better system to manage the rice-pledging scheme. Chairman Pramon Sutivong said the ACT had no desire to block the scheme, which is benefiting farmers, but the government would need to plug loopholes that allowed corruption.

At a press conference, he said the government must quickly initiate a probe into the entire process and punish all offenders. The government must also publicly reveal the volume and value of rice bought under the scheme as well as the volume and value of rice releases, including government-to-government deals.

The ACT also called for the government to release its stockpiled rice in small lots, right after purchase, to reduce the warehousing burden and limit the chances for corruption. Complaint centres should be set up nationwide to receive grievances involving the scheme.

The organisation submitted a written letter to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, requesting an investigation into inventories and accounting.

"The organisation is ready to provide information from our side. We have enough information from exporters and rice millers. The government has so far ignored the problems. If it wants to get serious, it can," Pramon said.

It is also seeking a meeting with the prime minister to present the aggregated information.

Some rice millers reportedly secretly sold stockpiles. The inquiry today is expected to show if these millers cheated. The team expects to check 2,506 spots in 50 provinces. Deputy PM's secretary-general Thawat Boonfueng said the results of inspections should be known after 6pm.

Spokesman Teerat quoted the PM as saying there's no need to worry about if one rice mill or other "belonged" to key people.

Thawat also claimed there would be no deference for governors, government officials or politicians. "We will stick to transparency," he said.

If any facility was found to have less than 5 per cent of the registered amount in its storage, those involved would be prosecuted for corruption.

"For paddy, we will allow a 10-per-cent difference. If what is missing is more than that, entrepreneurs and officials will be charged," he said.

Local police and officials from several ministries will help with the inspection. Governors will head the efforts in their provinces. Any arson attack would be suspected of being carried out to destroy evidence.

Pol Colonel Tawatchai Muannara, from Phichit police, said investigators were working hard to follow up complaints on the rice scheme. Nearly 100 farmers had lodged complaints against trader Amnaj Disathien, whose testimony implicated three people at a rice mill. Arrest warrants were issued, including for Munin Jantra.

"We have found that Munin is linked to three other rice-corruption cases in recent years," he said.

There were also signs of forgery and corruption related to the scheme in Chaiyaphum. Achariya Dejsoong-nern, head of the province's internal trade office, said provincial authorities had closed a suspicious rice mill nearly a month ago.

Deputy government spokeswoman Sunisa Lertpakawat said the Rice Department would distribute a manual on how to cut production costs. "If farmers follow the manual, they should be able to lower the cost by Bt1,500 to Bt3,000 per rai," she said.

Agriculture Minister Yukol Limlamthong is pushing agricultural zoning to educate farmers of the right cultivation processes for better yields with less use of chemicals. Due to poor farming methods and higher wages, the cost per rai is high. The Agricultural Economics Office says the cost for the main crop in the 2012-13 harvest year shot up to Bt9,484 per rai from Bt7,534 in 2009-10.

-- The Nation 2013-06-27

Hooray.

A crackdown. That's it. Real progress. Yawn

[Thai at Heart]

Agriculture Minister Yukol Limlamthong is pushing agricultural zoning to educate farmers of the right cultivation processes for better yields with less use of chemicals. Due to poor farming methods and higher wages, the cost per rai is high. The Agricultural Economics Office says the cost for the main crop in the 2012-13 harvest year shot up to Bt9,484 per rai from Bt7,534 in 2009-10.

Oh my god. They are going to teach Thai farmers how to grow rice.....

[AleG]

Spokesman Teerat quoted the PM as saying there's no need to worry about if one rice mill or other "belonged" to key people.

Thawat also claimed there would be no deference for governors, government officials or politicians. "We will stick to transparency," he said.

If any facility was found to have less than 5 per cent of the registered amount in its storage, those involved would be prosecuted for corruption.

"For paddy, we will allow a 10-per-cent difference. If what is missing is more than that, entrepreneurs and officials will be charged," he said.

"We will stick to transparency" as in they'll carry on being as transparent as they have been since the beginning of this scheme, that is to say, as transparent as a brick of lead. How reassuring.

"For paddy, we will allow a 10-per-cent difference. If what is missing is more than that, entrepreneurs and officials will be charged," Hey!, all you thieving bastards!, if you siphoned out 10% or less you are golden.

[GeorgeO]

Did it ever exist in the first place, except on an invoice to the Gov for some new sports cars?

Phase 2 is compensation for missing and rotten rice

Exactly...! As opposed to wasting time looking for something that was never there, they should concentrate on the creative accounting that enabled someone to extract funds for an item that didn't exist in the first place.

[Thai at Heart]

Spokesman Teerat quoted the PM as saying there's no need to worry about if one rice mill or other "belonged" to key people.

Thawat also claimed there would be no deference for governors, government officials or politicians. "We will stick to transparency," he said.

If any facility was found to have less than 5 per cent of the registered amount in its storage, those involved would be prosecuted for corruption.

"For paddy, we will allow a 10-per-cent difference. If what is missing is more than that, entrepreneurs and officials will be charged," he said.

"We will stick to transparency" as in they'll carry on being as transparent as they have been since the beginning of this scheme, that is to say, as transparent as a brick of lead. How reassuring.

"For paddy, we will allow a 10-per-cent difference. If what is missing is more than that, entrepreneurs and officials will be charged," Hey!, all you thieving bastards!, if you siphoned out 10% or less you are golden.

10%? Why don't they pay that extra to the farmers? Edited June 27, 2013 by Thai at Heart

[Pops]

2,5 million tonnes against 15000 THB a ton, amounts to a 37,500,000,000 THB theft/scam/embezzlement scheme, whatever you want to call it.

Whether the rice was stolen or never existed, someone paid for it !!

And all of this happening at multiple rice storage facilities all over the entire country.

WOW !!!

[slapout]

The missing (stolen rice) is in the headlines, but look at the wiggle room being given to the warehouse for transport losses.

10% if storing paddy and 5% if milled grain. (you have to mill the paddy to get grain or mositure losses will consumer 100% fairly quickly) That allows for a total of 15% loss of product from the point of leaving famers hand to store in warehouse in milled/grain form. Thawat, is referred to as spokesman for the PM, if so, they both concede that 100% of the entire rice handled/scam is allowed to have 15% pilferage up front in transport. Now throw in mositure loss on amount paid to farmer, farmers not being paid, weight loss thru milling, and you have a loss up front approaching 20% (very consertive estimate)

Now if you as employor were told that 20% of your work force were on paid, perment holiday, or every 10 new cars put on transport to sales outlets would only receive 8 vehicles, or the cash register at local market shorted you 20 baht on every 100 in change we would have a general revolt. This fisco has estimated cost of 500 billion in its first year with a given 20% theft loss and (100 billion) add in storage, politician share,etc and you have a white elephant product, potential spoiling, product, controlled by known thieves with government permission to do so.

[kurnell]

Is this government trying to break some sort of record as the most corrupt in the history of the human race? They don't even try to hide it anymore.

[Thai at Heart]

The missing (stolen rice) is in the headlines, but look at the wiggle room being given to the warehouse for transport losses.

10% if storing paddy and 5% if milled grain. (you have to mill the paddy to get grain or mositure losses will consumer 100% fairly quickly) That allows for a total of 15% loss of product from the point of leaving famers hand to store in warehouse in milled/grain form. Thawat, is referred to as spokesman for the PM, if so, they both concede that 100% of the entire rice handled/scam is allowed to have 15% pilferage up front in transport. Now throw in mositure loss on amount paid to farmer, farmers not being paid, weight loss thru milling, and you have a loss up front approaching 20% (very consertive estimate)

Now if you as employor were told that 20% of your work force were on paid, perment holiday, or every 10 new cars put on transport to sales outlets would only receive 8 vehicles, or the cash register at local market shorted you 20 baht on every 100 in change we would have a general revolt. This fisco has estimated cost of 500 billion in its first year with a given 20% theft loss and (100 billion) add in storage, politician share,etc and you have a white elephant product, potential spoiling, product, controlled by known thieves with government permission to do so.

This is nowhere acceptable as a loss. Any private company would go bust if it lost 15%.

[allan michaud]

After the discovery of wide spread thefts.

2.5mn tonnes at 20 tonnes a truck and they Just noticed that 10% of the stock walked out the back door?

Oh yes. This is going to be fun to watch them squirm on this one.

So that makes 125,000 truck loads !!! Just hilarious.

Another way to look at it. Each truck would be at least 7 meters long = 875 km long line of trucks?

[Unkomoncents]

Is this government trying to break some sort of record as the most corrupt in the history of the human race? They don't even try to hide it anymore.

And you're surprised?! Thais are little more than slightly more educated Cambodians. I'm sure Thailand's BiB would make a Congolese police officer hungry, and I'm sure that Hun Sen is as rotten as wormy apple; nevertheless, they have a Buddhism to prove their virtue. I am one who doesn't question culture. If a Thai says bow down to my nether Kingdom, I will do just that. My head is orbiting a Thai asset. So proud.

[whybother]

Is this government trying to break some sort of record as the most corrupt in the history of the human race? They don't even try to hide it anymore.

I think a few African governments would probably beat the current Thai government, but the current government (including, but not only, Thaksin) do have a few links to some corrupt African governments, so they are probably learning how to break that record.

[Bagwan]

After the discovery of wide spread thefts.

2.5mn tonnes at 20 tonnes a truck and they Just noticed that 10% of the stock walked out the back door?

Oh yes. This is going to be fun to watch them squirm on this one.

The trucks might be rated at 20 tonnes capacity but TIT - they would easily have got 30 tonnes on.

Of course, this more than 100k truck loads wasn't conducted by, or noticed by ANYONE who noticed or possibly thought that it may have been illegal.

This is what I always find amazing about these scams, is that they really do have to involve hundreds if not thousands of people, but there is not one single person willing to shop anyone.

Maybe they want to go on breathing?

[Thai at Heart]

After the discovery of wide spread thefts.

2.5mn tonnes at 20 tonnes a truck and they Just noticed that 10% of the stock walked out the back door?

Oh yes. This is going to be fun to watch them squirm on this one.

The trucks might be rated at 20 tonnes capacity but TIT - they would easily have got 30 tonnes on.

Of course, this more than 100k truck loads wasn't conducted by, or noticed by ANYONE who noticed or possibly thought that it may have been illegal.

This is what I always find amazing about these scams, is that they really do have to involve hundreds if not thousands of people, but there is not one single person willing to shop anyone.

Maybe they want to go on breathing?

Yes, but not one of hundreds has the moral fortitude to call a newspaper? Things like this rely on hundreds biting their tongue plus anyone else who hears the story.

[Jasun]

I don't think even China, with all it's deterrence against corruption (death penalty) would attempt to administer a scheme like this. What were they thinking?

[Bagwan]

The rambutan scandal revisited. Will the Thai Government ever learn? Or are they orchestrating a repeat performance?

[Thai at Heart]

I don't think even China, with all it's deterrence against corruption (death penalty) would attempt to administer a scheme like this. What were they thinking?

By now the middle men would have been lynched. Chinese farmers aren't that placid believe me. They know their rights.

[Nickymaster]

The rambutan scandal revisited. Will the Thai Government ever learn? Or are they orchestrating a repeat performance?

And one day there might be a coup and then all the Red/Thaksin supporters will start screaming again. "How dare you remove an elected government?"

NO government in the world would survive in a decent democracy after they have failed and stolen as much as PT/Thaksin has been doing for the last 10 years.

[Baerboxer]

PM Yingluck asked the public not to worry too much about the rice issue, since only contaminated and infested rice went missing, so everything is all right!

How would she know?

[Baerboxer]

Scam after scam after scam.

Hey, but you can trust us with another 350B THB and 2.2T THB. Everything will be ok when the leader comes home. You'll all be rich in 6 months.

[Nickymaster]

PM Yingluck asked the public not to worry too much about the rice issue, since only contaminated and infested rice went missing, so everything is all right!

How would she know?

Don't try to understand. Some things she knows, and some things she doesn't know.

[klauskunkel]

PM Yingluck asked the public not to worry too much about the rice issue, since only contaminated and infested rice went missing, so everything is all right!

How would she know?

Don't try to understand. Some things she knows, and some things she doesn't know.

She is a college grad after all