Rice-pledging scheme: Thai Senate's committee backs Supa

[webfact]

RICE-PLEDGING SCHEME
Senate's committee backs Supa
The Nation

Threatens impeachment if official who criticised rice scheme is harassed

BANGKOK: -- The Senate committee on economics, commerce and industry has threatened to launch an impeachment motion against the government if Finance Ministry deputy permanent secretary Supa Piyajitti is transferred.

The committee yesterday announced its decision to protect Supa against further "political harassment" after hearing her testimony about possible irregularities in the government's rice-pledging scheme.

Committee chairman Bunchai Chokwattana and spokesman Senator Wanchai Sonsiri issued a statement voicing disapproval of Finance Minister and Deputy PM Kittiratt Na-Ranong's decision to order an investigation against Supa after she told the panel on July 2 that the scheme could suffer losses of Bt260 billion. This declaration apparently upset Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The statement said Kittiratt's moves could be seen as means to harass a permanent official who was carrying out her duty under the scope of the law and the Constitution.

The move is also interfering with the panel's work, as this investigation might discourage others from giving their testimony, the statement said.

'Support for honest workers'

"We would like to offer moral support to Supa to be steadfast on the right path,'' Bunchai said.

Meanwhile, Nipon Puapong-sakorn and Ammar Siamwalla, distinguished scholars at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), circulated an article titled: "Who must show 'receipts' of the rice-pledging corruption?''

The article quoted a message posted on Twitter by the prime minister asking Supa to submit information on graft so the premier could take legal action.

The day after the Twitter message was posted, however, the Finance Ministry ordered the setting up of a fact-finding panel to investigate Supa for her testimony to the Senate committee.

"If the PM is sincere in preventing and suppressing corruption, then she should admire Supa for doing an honest job in protecting the country's interests. The PM should have set up a panel to investigate the corruption instead," the article read.

It also urged the authorities to look into claims that 2.9 million tonnes of rice might be missing from the central warehouses, because just one inspection on June 28 can hardly prove whether this massive amount of rice is actually missing.

The government must also investigate claims that some rice was stolen from the warehouses to be sold locally and that cheap rice was bought from neighbouring countries to replace it, it said.

The article called on the Commerce Ministry to disclose whom it had sold the rice to and at what price, because it has been nearly two years since the grain was sold. The claim that the information is secret is no longer reasonable, it said.

The article went on to say that the government had all the information about the rice-pledging scheme and that it also issued "receipts", hence it was wrong to order the Post-Audit Committee of the pledging scheme to show receipts.

The PM should, instead, have state agencies submit receipts on the sale of rice to the National-Anti Corruption Commission or an independent committee so they can look into corruption claims and report the results of the investigation to Parliament, it added.

In a related development, the government is considering a new pledging price to be introduced next month for the upcoming harvest season, to help protect poor farmers from the adverse impact of price reduction. Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Phuangrach said the government would hold a meeting to discuss the scheme with farmers and relevant agencies tomorrow.


-- The Nation 2013-07-09

[notmyself]

This could turn out to be the fracture which just gets bigger and bigger.

[NongKhaiKid]

Does anyone think we might actually get the truth about the scheme ? I wish I hadn't said that.

[Thai at Heart]

Does anyone think we might actually get the truth about the scheme ? I wish I hadn't said that.

Well that is just a matter of time. The absolute truth will out inevitably once everything is sold or mouldy.

[MaiChai]

This government will go down in history as destroying Thailands rice export business.

Will the government go bankrupt paying the farmers for over priced rice, when there is no income being generated by selling the rice on? Assets on a ledger are not income?

Edited July 9, 2013 by MaiChai

[MaxLee]

Someone had to spill the beans about the RICE SCAM CORRUPTION, and according to BKK post articles that have praised Khun Supakarn for 'blowing the whistle', it's better late than never...

It's just a senator minority backing up Supha, but hopefully it will encourage more parliament people in Thailand to speak up...

[Bluespunk]

For a cabinet who claimed their number one priority was to stop corruption, this is not a great start. It's almost as if they meant all forms of corruption except ones they are involved or if it's revelation makes them look bad and as we all know that could never happen with PT.

Edited July 9, 2013 by Bluespunk

[OzMick]

Any simple evaluation of this policy, what has it achieved and at what cost, is damning for this government. Continuing it after admitting it is causing massive losses is criminal waste of tax revenue.

[drdoom6996]

"If the PM is sincere in preventing and suppressing corruption, then she should admire Supa for doing an honest job in protecting the country's interests. The PM should have set up a panel to investigate the corruption instead," the article read.

The key word here is "IF".

Is she ever sincere about anything except shopping?

[moe666]

Any simple evaluation of this policy, what has it achieved and at what cost, is damning for this government. Continuing it after admitting it is causing massive losses is criminal waste of tax revenue.

How short your memory according to Yingluck it is doing what they want no matter the loss, helping poor farmers. I think I will now go throw up.

[tomross46]

Shoot the messenger! That will teach anyone who wants to tell the public the truth. Look at the USA, anyone that tells the truth about the corruption and dishonesty is labeled a traitor and will be hunted down and persecuted. The lady is a hero and should be labeled a true patriot.

[Utley]

IMO, respect for the "rule of law" is one of the major dividing lines between healthy, productive governments and third world banana republics. Respect for the law is meant not only for individual citizens but also for government officials. With government officials going after the whistle blower who reported that the "emperor has no clothes", they continue to demonstrate that they are firmly embedded as one of the world's leading banana republics. Bravo to the officials who are trying to protect Supa but I suspect their protection is more for political reasons than lofty ideological standards.

[Utley]

Shoot the messenger! That will teach anyone who wants to tell the public the truth. Look at the USA, anyone that tells the truth about the corruption and dishonesty is labeled a traitor and will be hunted down and persecuted. The lady is a hero and should be labeled a true patriot.

Get real! USA bashing is not going to further your argument.

[Bluespunk]

Deleted

Edited July 9, 2013 by Bluespunk

[Bluespunk]

Shoot the messenger! That will teach anyone who wants to tell the public the truth. Look at the USA, anyone that tells the truth about the corruption and dishonesty is labeled a traitor and will be hunted down and persecuted. The lady is a hero and should be labeled a true patriot.

There's a difference here. Snowden, while acting on his conscience, did break the law when he decided to spill the beans on the USA govts spying activities. Whether this was wrong from moral standpoint is another issue, but legally he was. Supa is being prosecuted for doing her job properly. Legally she has done nothing wrong except upset PT. granted, these days this does appear to be a crime.

P.S. if you were not referring to the current snowden case, my apologies for a wrongful assumption.

Edited July 9, 2013 by Bluespunk

[bigbamboo]

This government is so ham fisted it beggars belief. They ask the people to report corruption yet as soon as an individual does so and tries to reveal the truth they are jumped on.

To make it worse the instigator is Kittikat.... Thailand's very own 'Lying King'.

[Neilly]

Senate's committee backs Supa

The Nation

Threatens impeachment if official who criticised rice scheme is harassed

BANGKOK: -- The Senate committee on economics, commerce and industry has threatened to launch an impeachment motion against the government if Finance Ministry deputy permanent secretary Supa Piyajitti is transferred.

About time someone spoke up for this fine lady...

[Baerboxer]

This government is so ham fisted it beggars belief. They ask the people to report corruption yet as soon as an individual does so and tries to reveal the truth they are jumped on.

To make it worse the instigator is Kittikat.... Thailand's very own 'Lying King'.

They might ask and even provide a phone line - but they don't expect anyone to be brave enough to actually do it!

How many members of PTP and its government have benefited directly, or relatives benefited, or business's they have an interest in have benefited? Is there any evidence of outflows of money to place like HK or Dubai?

This lady is very brave in trying to do her job honestly and professionaly. Now she faces the wrath and hypocracy of PTP.

Let's hope she is widely supported and protected.

[slapout]

Boxer; There was a report of 4 billion being transfered from Thiland to HK, several months ago. This report came out of the HK monetary system. It went silent as to any follow up from this end, Guess the DSI, AMLO, etc were too busy to be bothered with such a pittance. If memory serves the figure was in dollars, not Baht

How many have benifited? I doubt any substantial amount of this little haul came back to Thiland for the PTP rank and file.It does seem that we only hear complaints about inflation, debt, and hard times from the everyday working people of Thailand and the politicans, big businesses seem to be increasing their bottom line on a regular bases. About as regular as the intiation of anotherpopulist project that are being financed by massive borrowing.

[Thai at Heart]

For a cabinet who claimed their number one priority was to stop corruption, this is not a great start. It's almost as if they meant all forms of corruption except ones they are involved or if it's revelation makes them look bad and as we all know that could never happen with PT.

The problem is, 90% of what changed is legal.

Rents up, fertiliser up etc etc. What they can claim as fraud is fiddling the moisture. Good luck. The rest is just plain theft and false documents.

Give it a month or so when they restate the stock level. The difference is going to brr huge because it's been sold out the backdoor. But they inspected only last month and found no corruption, but they missed simple theft.

[davehowden]

IMO, respect for the "rule of law" is one of the major dividing lines between healthy, productive governments and third world banana republics. Respect for the law is meant not only for individual citizens but also for government officials. With government officials going after the whistle blower who reported that the "emperor has no clothes", they continue to demonstrate that they are firmly embedded as one of the world's leading banana republics. Bravo to the officials who are trying to protect Supa but I suspect their protection is more for political reasons than lofty ideological standards.

Not only in Thailand!

Edited July 9, 2013 by davehowden

[Jay Sata]

For a cabinet who claimed their number one priority was to stop corruption, this is not a great start. It's almost as if they meant all forms of corruption except ones they are involved or if it's revelation makes them look bad and as we all know that could never happen with PT.

The problem is, 90% of what changed is legal.

Rents up, fertiliser up etc etc. What they can claim as fraud is fiddling the moisture. Good luck. The rest is just plain theft and false documents.

Give it a month or so when they restate the stock level. The difference is going to brr huge because it's been sold out the backdoor. But they inspected only last month and found no corruption, but they missed simple theft.

With the baht at it's present level they are stuffed trying to sell rice. With the scams importing rice the warehouse's must be bursting at the seams.Where will they put the next harvest?

[virtualtraveller]

The govt should just come out with all the figures and stop being secretive about them, it only adds to the suspicion. That will clear up all the allegations. Counter attacking Supa just makes them look even more likely to be hiding something.

[OzMick]

The govt should just come out with all the figures and stop being secretive about them, it only adds to the suspicion. That will clear up all the allegations. Counter attacking Supa just makes them look even more likely to be hiding something.

They are hiding something; in fact many things. But its like herding cats, and every one that escapes brings us closer to the truth of this matter - that it has been a hugely expensive scam designed to enrich members of this government.

[Thai at Heart]

For a cabinet who claimed their number one priority was to stop corruption, this is not a great start. It's almost as if they meant all forms of corruption except ones they are involved or if it's revelation makes them look bad and as we all know that could never happen with PT.

The problem is, 90% of what changed is legal.

Rents up, fertiliser up etc etc. What they can claim as fraud is fiddling the moisture. Good luck. The rest is just plain theft and false documents.

Give it a month or so when they restate the stock level. The difference is going to brr huge because it's been sold out the backdoor. But they inspected only last month and found no corruption, but they missed simple theft.

With the baht at it's present level they are stuffed trying to sell rice. With the scams importing rice the warehouse's must be bursting at the seams.Where will they put the next harvest?

They aren't bursting because a huge amount has been sold out the backdoor. I.e. stolen

[MaxLee]

For a cabinet who claimed their number one priority was to stop corruption, this is not a great start. It's almost as if they meant all forms of corruption except ones they are involved or if it's revelation makes them look bad and as we all know that could never happen with PT.

The problem is, 90% of what changed is legal.

Rents up, fertiliser up etc etc. What they can claim as fraud is fiddling the moisture. Good luck. The rest is just plain theft and false documents.

Give it a month or so when they restate the stock level. The difference is going to brr huge because it's been sold out the backdoor. But they inspected only last month and found no corruption, but they missed simple theft.

With the baht at it's present level they are stuffed trying to sell rice. With the scams importing rice the warehouse's must be bursting at the seams.Where will they put the next harvest?

They aren't bursting because a huge amount has been sold out the backdoor. I.e. stolen

As Sandbags for the upcoming great floods.... anyone???