Rice-pledging scheme: Thai farmers driven to despair

[gabruce]

The conspiracy to sabotage the rice pledging scheme has been ongoing since its inception.

It was conceived as a money losing subsidized program from day one. It's a subsidy, and a popular one at that. It was intended to lose money.

Even the farmers know it needs to be reformed, and it will be. I also doubt that the Thai civil service has anyone qualified to administer a plan of this scheme's scale. What makes reform more difficult is political sabotage carried out by (self censorship here).

If Thailand can't even organize an election how can anyone expect them to run a scheme of the rice pledging plan's magnitude. Recall the flood a couple of years ago? They need better water resource managers as well.

I can't find a single G7 country that does not afford agricultural subsidies. They are constantly squabbling about them in the WTO and NAFTA. I think this is why Thailand can't offer an outright subsidy as the competing counties would cry foul to the WTO.

Elitists prefer corporate welfare for those "two big to fail". It's all money politics and in Thailand it is uniquely centred mostly around (self censorship here). Thailand isn't broke and isn't going broke any time soon.

This turmoil will continue until the sad day that the inevitable happens and the question of (self censorship here) is resolved, this because most of Thailand is owned by (self censorship here).

It's NOT a straightforward subsidy. It's buying at an inflated price and stockpiling. Much more expensive than a subsidy. There was a subsidy before (Democrat government) that guaranteed a price and paid the difference (unless they sold for more). Definitely losing money, however much more manageable.

[Valentine]

The downside for farmers here in Thailand that have not been paid, is that their farms will now be available for sale......another aspect of the scheme that is meant to keep the poor people poor....

Now the businessmen and politicians can move in, once again, and buy up more huge tracts of prime farm land for rent back to these same farmers.

The rice scheme has not only created enormous wealth for the already wealthy, but left taxpayers again to foot the bill.

Hopefully, the NACC will continue their corruption probes to the many politicians as they have stated......this of course remains to be seen.

The question that may be asked now is, was it all planned?...

If ir was, that's the greatest betrayal of all in the rice scam.

Could it be the biggest land grab in Thai history?

[kikoman]

Thailand's ability to feed itself in the future is uncertain, as it was before the present controversy, with the rice farmers aging and retiring and their children turning their backs on the family farm due to the hard work and low profit, are going into other career fields.

The PTP must take responsibilities for their mistakes up to the point (2) months ago ehen they became a caretaker government and were no longer allowed to borrow money to pay the nations farmers.

The EC must approve any request for a loan to the government and for the last two months have rejected all the PTP loan request to pay the farmers, as the EC has actively championed the protest request to cancel the election. As voiced on this forum the opposition to the government, are actively backing the EC refusal to pay the farmers, that are being held as political hostages, in the hopes they will vote against the current government. The EC must bear the responsibilities for denying payment to a million and a half Thai farmers (only for political gain)!

Many of the nation farmers will leave the rice fields and look to more profitable crops or into other occupations to support themselves and their families!

Thailand will end up the loser in the long run with a vastly decreased national rice production, by the EC failure to approve the loan to pay the farmers!

Cheers

Edited January 29, 2014 by kikoman

[smedly]

The conspiracy to sabotage the rice pledging scheme has been ongoing since its inception.

It was conceived as a money losing subsidized program from day one. It's a subsidy, and a popular one at that. It was intended to lose money.

Even the farmers know it needs to be reformed, and it will be. I also doubt that the Thai civil service has anyone qualified to administer a plan of this scheme's scale. What makes reform more difficult is political sabotage carried out by (self censorship here).

If Thailand can't even organize an election how can anyone expect them to run a scheme of the rice pledging plan's magnitude. Recall the flood a couple of years ago? They need better water resource managers as well.

I can't find a single G7 country that does not afford agricultural subsidies. They are constantly squabbling about them in the WTO and NAFTA. I think this is why Thailand can't offer an outright subsidy as the competing counties would cry foul to the WTO.

Elitists prefer corporate welfare for those "two big to fail". It's all money politics and in Thailand it is uniquely centred mostly around (self censorship here). Thailand isn't broke and isn't going broke any time soon.

This turmoil will continue until the sad day that the inevitable happens and the question of (self censorship here) is resolved, this because most of Thailand is owned by (self censorship here).

what on earth are you going on about ?

This scheme was introduced for one reason only - to buy votes at the last election - simple

[smedly]

Thailand's ability to feed itself in the future is uncertain, as it was before the present controversy, with the rice farmers aging and retiring and their children turning their backs on the family farm due to the hard work and low profit, are going into other career fields.

The PTP must take responsibilities for their mistakes up to the point (2) months ago ehen they became a caretaker government and were no longer allowed to borrow money to pay the nations farmers.

The EC must approve any request for a loan to the government and for the last two months have rejected all the PTP loan request to pay the farmers, as the EC has actively championed the protest request to cancel the election. As voiced on this forum the opposition to the government, are actively backing the EC refusal to pay the farmers, that are being held as political hostages, in the hopes they will vote against the current government. The EC must bear the responsibilities for denying payment to a million and a half Thai farmers (only for political gain)!

Many of the nation farmers will leave the rice fields and look to more profitable crops or into other occupations to support themselves and their families!

Thailand will end up the loser in the long run with a vastly decreased national rice production, by the EC failure to approve the loan to pay the farmers!

Cheers

The EC are not refusing to pay the farmers, they are not allowed too by law

PTP are now going to break the law to pay the farmers

[wprime]

Trying to feel sorry for these farmers who voted for Thaksin and his clone, but am having a hard time doing

so. They voted for a liar who told them they would become rich, and now they are paying the price.....

But they didn't vote for Thaksin, Look what provinces they're protesting from, Buriram, Samut Songkran, Phicit, Kanchanaburi - these aren't PTP provinces, the PTP voting farmers have been paid.

[Spalpeen]

On BBC just now.

"I don't think I'll vote for them again, as I haven;t been paid (for my rice)."

.

So they can vote for the Democrats instead and see off the Shinawatra party. Oh no, hang on a second, the Democrats have given two fingers to democracy so the farmers don't have an alternative to vote for. Looks like its going to be the Shins again, thanks to the Democrats dereliction of duty.

Many former pro-Govt supporters I know will be voting for Chuvit and the Rak Pra Thed Thai party.

.

And it would be a good thing if they do. Thailand needs real multi party democracy. There's nothing like a good range of choices on election day to keep politicians on their toes.

[djjamie]

On BBC just now.

"I don't think I'll vote for them again, as I haven;t been paid (for my rice)."

.

So they can vote for the Democrats instead and see off the Shinawatra party. Oh no, hang on a second, the Democrats have given two fingers to democracy so the farmers don't have an alternative to vote for. Looks like its going to be the Shins again, thanks to the Democrats dereliction of duty.

Not sure if your aware, but there are many parties that the Thai people can vote for and not all preferences go to the PTP.

See the below ballot for the 2014 poll choices. You may notice there is no "Sample" water mark on this one which has been circulated online. That is because the PTP have given 2 fingers up to the democracy and are planning to manipulate the ballot box so they can meet the required 20% of registered voters' vote in a constituency.

By the way, PTP supporters don't have the right to campaign for people to respect their votes when the MP's from the PTP are committing vote fraud in parliament which was proven. When the vote is in their favour the PTP believe in democracy. When the vote is not in their favor they then manipulate the outcome.

Kinda reminds me the contempt they show for the courts too. When innocent the courts are right. When guilty the courts are a tool of the DEMS.

[fab4]

Have to disagree. Part of the plan was to withhold this rice from the market, drive up global rice prices, and make a profit by selling into a higher market price. That was one of the selling points they touted.

Only, someone forgot that people can grow rice elsewhere and India and Vietnam stepped up production and kept global rice prices in check by providing a steady supply.

Yes, subsidies exist and had they set forth with a traditional subsidy program and managed it as a subsidy, they wouldn't be in the place they're in. The problem is that the entire program was poorly thought out and poorly executed.

Anybody who took Econ 101 could have seen this coming a mile away. And many economists around the world did see this coming and have been franticly warning Thailand to abandon the rice scheme.

I mean, this isn't rocket science.

It's not a matter of

"someone forgot that people can grow rice elsewhere and India and Vietnam stepped up production and kept global rice prices in check by providing a steady supply."

India had banned the export of non basmati rice since 1998 and was not a player in the market at all. Then they had a bumper crop, too much was held in storage over and above local consumption so huge amounts of cheap rice undercutting the market price suddenly became available on the World Market. The government tried to ride this out reasoning that eventually India would reduce exports. Due to flooding and a bad crop last year exports from India are due to be cut to fill the domestic demand.

From The Nation July 2011

India's buffer stocks exceed 60 million tonnes because of its export ban, against the normal stockpile of 20 million tonnes. India has set a minimum export price for parboiled rice at only $400 a tonne, while the Thai equivalent is currently quoted at $535-$545. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/07/28/business/Pledging-scheme-could-cut-rice-exports-in-half-30161319.html

[96tehtarp]

Thailand's ability to feed itself in the future is uncertain, as it was before the present controversy, with the rice farmers aging and retiring and their children turning their backs on the family farm due to the hard work and low profit, are going into other career fields.

The PTP must take responsibilities for their mistakes up to the point (2) months ago ehen they became a caretaker government and were no longer allowed to borrow money to pay the nations farmers.

The EC must approve any request for a loan to the government and for the last two months have rejected all the PTP loan request to pay the farmers, as the EC has actively championed the protest request to cancel the election. As voiced on this forum the opposition to the government, are actively backing the EC refusal to pay the farmers, that are being held as political hostages, in the hopes they will vote against the current government. The EC must bear the responsibilities for denying payment to a million and a half Thai farmers (only for political gain)!

Many of the nation farmers will leave the rice fields and look to more profitable crops or into other occupations to support themselves and their families!

Thailand will end up the loser in the long run with a vastly decreased national rice production, by the EC failure to approve the loan to pay the farmers!

Cheers

The EC are not refusing to pay the farmers, they are not allowed too by law

PTP are now going to break the law to pay the farmers

Section 181 of the current constitution requires prior approval by the Election Commission to finalize the payment to the farmers. The EC refused.

[96tehtarp]

Trying to feel sorry for these farmers who voted for Thaksin and his clone, but am having a hard time doing

so. They voted for a liar who told them they would become rich, and now they are paying the price.....

But they didn't vote for Thaksin, Look what provinces they're protesting from, Buriram, Samut Songkran, Phicit, Kanchanaburi - these aren't PTP provinces, the PTP voting farmers have been paid.

"the PTP voting farmers have been paid."

Respectfully, they have not. They are still waiting in the queue.

[jaapfries]

"Another farmer put his tractor up for sale yesterday....."

Okay, it's farm machinery, but you'd have thought he'd at least give it a bit of a clean if he was serious.....

Without wanting to belittle the farmers' plight, this is just staged sensational jounalism me thinks.

@LucidLucifer: [what a disgusting 'handle' to start with; unless you're attempting to play "Devil's Advocate ? ?]

Mate; it is obvious that you have never ventured into the "real" Thailand; because if you had, you would instantly recognize the absence of thick layers of dust & dirt on that tractor.

Maybe divert some of your 'beer-budget' on a bus-trip into the Isaan: a new world will open-up for you . . . . . . .

[laobali]

 

Hopefully they learn from this. Don't sell your vote for 500 baht and promises.

 

Hold out for 1000?

[aimbc]

What this artcle fails to do like most articles translated, is to tell the details accurately. The farmer who killed himself was like a designated person to sell rice for farmers who have pool their rice togther to sell to the govt. Because most people can not qualify (more than 50% of farmers) they had to pool together to sell the rice. This left this designated person with the burden of collecting the money from the govt. He has been pressured by everyone to get the money and probably felt depressed and killed himself. But we may never know the real truth. This was from a source in one of the Thai news. It was announced early Tuesday morning, but most the English news media did not cover it. Maybe in fear of SOE. RIP

[smileydude]

and yet....Amazingly there are still people who actually support this government

I guess perhaps being that for those who earn below the taxable income level why should they care how taxpayers money is being spent when they contribute zero? Of course don't forget the manipulating middlemen getting rich siphoning off it like parasites. I'm sure they vote where their pockets are.

Edited January 29, 2014 by smileydude

[Bkkbound]

Not that many farmers made much more than the usual annual payments for their rice, a lot of middle men made money and now thats dried up serious trouble is brewing. The lies and propaganda being told to the farmers is symptomatic of PTs contempt for their own supporters. They may fool some on the people , but they can,t fool all. Taksins problems are not with Suthep, he has an increasingly angry riural base turning on him.. It was always going to end this way as corrupt politics eventually implodes on itself.

[PattayaPhom]

Government subsidies rarely work, history has proven this. Butter mountains spring to mind, along with minimum wage hikes and rampant inflation its a vicious circle that can only end in misery for millions. I took ten everyday items for a staple diet and worked out that over the past 4 years all have increased by at least 60% and some over 100% Wonder when there will be calls for another raise in the minimum wage.

[BangkokGastronaut]

Consider also that many farmers took out loans based on the promise of 15,000 Baht/tonne and the financial institutions were all too eager to lend them the money; so, no money from the rice scheme + the inability to repay loans = a spiral down into yet more debt.

[Throatwobbler]

Have to disagree. Part of the plan was to withhold this rice from the market, drive up global rice prices, and make a profit by selling into a higher market price. That was one of the selling points they touted.

Only, someone forgot that people can grow rice elsewhere and India and Vietnam stepped up production and kept global rice prices in check by providing a steady supply.

Yes, subsidies exist and had they set forth with a traditional subsidy program and managed it as a subsidy, they wouldn't be in the place they're in. The problem is that the entire program was poorly thought out and poorly executed.

Anybody who took Econ 101 could have seen this coming a mile away. And many economists around the world did see this coming and have been franticly warning Thailand to abandon the rice scheme.

I mean, this isn't rocket science.

The conspiracy to sabotage the rice pledging scheme has been ongoing since its inception.

It was conceived as a money losing subsidized program from day one. It's a subsidy, and a popular one at that. It was intended to lose money.

Even the farmers know it needs to be reformed, and it will be. I also doubt that the Thai civil service has anyone qualified to administer a plan of this scheme's scale. What makes reform more difficult is political sabotage carried out by (self censorship here).

If Thailand can't even organize an election how can anyone expect them to run a scheme of the rice pledging plan's magnitude. Recall the flood a couple of years ago? They need better water resource managers as well.

I can't find a single G7 country that does not afford agricultural subsidies. They are constantly squabbling about them in the WTO and NAFTA. I think this is why Thailand can't offer an outright subsidy as the competing counties would cry foul to the WTO.

Elitists prefer corporate welfare for those "two big to fail". It's all money politics and in Thailand it is uniquely centred mostly around (self censorship here). Thailand isn't broke and isn't going broke any time soon.

This turmoil will continue until the sad day that the inevitable happens and the question of (self censorship here) is resolved, this because most of Thailand is owned by (self censorship here).

The plan was that the rice scheme would make money.

http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21583281-increasingly-unpopular-government-sticks-its-worst-and-most-costly-policy-rice-mountain

[aimbc]

Thailand's ability to feed itself in the future is uncertain, as it was before the present controversy, with the rice farmers aging and retiring and their children turning their backs on the family farm due to the hard work and low profit, are going into other career fields.

The PTP must take responsibilities for their mistakes up to the point (2) months ago ehen they became a caretaker government and were no longer allowed to borrow money to pay the nations farmers.

The EC must approve any request for a loan to the government and for the last two months have rejected all the PTP loan request to pay the farmers, as the EC has actively championed the protest request to cancel the election. As voiced on this forum the opposition to the government, are actively backing the EC refusal to pay the farmers, that are being held as political hostages, in the hopes they will vote against the current government. The EC must bear the responsibilities for denying payment to a million and a half Thai farmers (only for political gain)!

Many of the nation farmers will leave the rice fields and look to more profitable crops or into other occupations to support themselves and their families!

Thailand will end up the loser in the long run with a vastly decreased national rice production, by the EC failure to approve the loan to pay the farmers!

Cheers

The only mistake they made was miscalculating the shortage of funds so quickly, which has already been swindled. The govt could have survived with the 500billion cap on the project, but instead they tried to play the market. That they have no understanding in. Simply they can't sell the rice today because no one is confident that the rice they pay for will include the bad rice or not. Most rice traders believe that new crop has all been sold, leaving the old crop. I won't go into details about why there is so much bad rice left.

The point is, we need to get to bottom of why it is so mismanaged. Because by past exp. the govt borrow additional money and it was still not enough but failed to find out why the project is a failure and how to remedy the problem. So borrowing the money, how ever the much amount is will result in the need to borrow more. And they will, as we don't know if the millers all got paid or storage fees have been paid. So unless the govt allow an independent audit on the rice program, no loans should be made. I think everyone knows they won't allow it because there are wide and deep corruption with the scheme.

[rogerdee123]

The bottom line is ....... "The Rice Buying Scheme is the idea of Thaksin, the former Thai Policeman" and self proclaimed "Economic Expert" ... why would anyone in their right mind think this and his grand plans for revenge and to rule Thailand was intended to benefit anyone but him and his mafia friends?

Let's not forget he got his start in his "business career" by ripping off his farang business partner and using his police buddies to expel his farang partner, who had put up all the working capital to start what became the "Thaksin Empire", from the country. This has been reported in Thai and US newspapers before ... and of course Thaksin has since paid this guy off to drop his legal charges.

He then made his billions by securing a monopoly thru his mafia and corrupt network and for those years mobile phones and services in Thailand were the most expensive in SE Asia as he amassed his fortune by overcharging everyone in Thailand who had a mobile phone, including those rich and poor alike. In many Thai eyes this makes him "clever" and qualified to manage the country. Hun Sen also appreciates this kind of cleverness and this is why Thaksin is Hun Sen's "economic advisor".

For those of you who can't think of anything to say but ... "where's the evidence" ... I will answer you in advance .... to do your own research. If there is anything above which you think is incorrect, you show the evidence.

[Throatwobbler]

Poor guy needing to sell his tractor.....All because of the rice pledging thing......Really?....Are we sure of that?......Certainly is a heartfelt story against the Govt. as the Opposition likes to spin....Does this farmer have other financial woes not detailed here precipitating this thing?....It is a Govt. policy screwing him up?....."Is it just a stunt putting a 'for sale' sign on a new tractor?...

"The rice-pledging scheme, one of Pheu Thai Party's populist policies..."..

.Another shot at the policies of this Govt. consistently demonized by denigrating a political notion called 'Populism"

Populism defined: Policies for ordinary people....The significance of this is that the DP cannot hope to win on a national level until they propose serious policies which would benefit the majority of the electorate. But they have consistently opposed the universal health care system, the job creation policies, this rice support scheme and any infrastructural development projects. They reject state spending on the population and instead favour local patronage.

Instead of reforming themselves to reverse their unelectability resulting from these agenda's, they can only envision systemic changes....Electoral Democracy in other countries are filled with examples of a seemingly down-and-out political party resurrecting itself and winning national elections by reforming its' policies and leadership......It baffles me why the DP cannot fathom this....I can only attribute it to arrogant, holier-than-thou convictions of being the sole repository of political wisdom, and a dogma that the electorate must conform to their enlightened approach.

You talk garbage. "they have consistently opposed the universal health care system". Which party made the system free when they were in power? I'll give you a clue it wasn't PTP. Which party made school books and uniforms free for all kids going to school up to mattayom 6, and which party reintroduced the fees when they got back into power. Which party had a rice scheme which was a lot more sustainable and would not bankrupt the country in the long run.

Before you go on a rant it is better that you look into what you are ranting about, otherwise you just look foolish.

[Mosha]

Have to disagree. Part of the plan was to withhold this rice from the market, drive up global rice prices, and make a profit by selling into a higher market price. That was one of the selling points they touted.

Only, someone forgot that people can grow rice elsewhere and India and Vietnam stepped up production and kept global rice prices in check by providing a steady supply.

Yes, subsidies exist and had they set forth with a traditional subsidy program and managed it as a subsidy, they wouldn't be in the place they're in. The problem is that the entire program was poorly thought out and poorly executed.

Anybody who took Econ 101 could have seen this coming a mile away. And many economists around the world did see this coming and have been franticly warning Thailand to abandon the rice scheme.

I mean, this isn't rocket science.

The conspiracy to sabotage the rice pledging scheme has been ongoing since its inception.

It was conceived as a money losing subsidized program from day one. It's a subsidy, and a popular one at that. It was intended to lose money.

Even the farmers know it needs to be reformed, and it will be. I also doubt that the Thai civil service has anyone qualified to administer a plan of this scheme's scale. What makes reform more difficult is political sabotage carried out by (self censorship here).

If Thailand can't even organize an election how can anyone expect them to run a scheme of the rice pledging plan's magnitude. Recall the flood a couple of years ago? They need better water resource managers as well.

I can't find a single G7 country that does not afford agricultural subsidies. They are constantly squabbling about them in the WTO and NAFTA. I think this is why Thailand can't offer an outright subsidy as the competing counties would cry foul to the WTO.

Elitists prefer corporate welfare for those "two big to fail". It's all money politics and in Thailand it is uniquely centred mostly around (self censorship here). Thailand isn't broke and isn't going broke any time soon.

This turmoil will continue until the sad day that the inevitable happens and the question of (self censorship here) is resolved, this because most of Thailand is owned by (self censorship here).

The plan was that the rice scheme would make money.

http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21583281-increasingly-unpopular-government-sticks-its-worst-and-most-costly-policy-rice-mountain

Stupidity of the 1st order not to believe competing countries would step up to the plate and plug the gap, and more. Even if things returned to normal, it will be hard to regain the customers they lost.

[jocko]

Consider also that many farmers took out loans based on the promise of 15,000 Baht/tonne and the financial institutions were all too eager to lend them the money; so, no money from the rice scheme + the inability to repay loans = a spiral down into yet more debt.

Sounds familiar.

[djjamie]

Thailand's ability to feed itself in the future is uncertain, as it was before the present controversy, with the rice farmers aging and retiring and their children turning their backs on the family farm due to the hard work and low profit, are going into other career fields.

The PTP must take responsibilities for their mistakes up to the point (2) months ago ehen they became a caretaker government and were no longer allowed to borrow money to pay the nations farmers.

The EC must approve any request for a loan to the government and for the last two months have rejected all the PTP loan request to pay the farmers, as the EC has actively championed the protest request to cancel the election. As voiced on this forum the opposition to the government, are actively backing the EC refusal to pay the farmers, that are being held as political hostages, in the hopes they will vote against the current government. The EC must bear the responsibilities for denying payment to a million and a half Thai farmers (only for political gain)!

Many of the nation farmers will leave the rice fields and look to more profitable crops or into other occupations to support themselves and their families!

Thailand will end up the loser in the long run with a vastly decreased national rice production, by the EC failure to approve the loan to pay the farmers!

Cheers

And that my friend is called supply and demand and progress.

They will turn to other profitable crops which they will be able to sustain them and their family. With the extra money they may be able to afford more nutritional foods such as meats, fruits, and vegetables which has actually been happening now with a declining trend in per capita rice consumption.

Demonizing the WORLD BANK

I remember on the 9th of October (5 days after rice farmers were not paid) last year the world bank said the scheme was incurring heavy losses and the Deputy PM defended Thailand and criticized the world bank saying the two-year pledging scheme for farmers cost the state only Bt200 billion. Mr Niwatthamrong ruled out a report that PT would have only Bt230 billion for rice purchases in the 2013/2014 crop, stating the Cabinet approved Bt270 billion for the scheme up until the end of February, 2014. That was a lie. But if it was not a lie then they had budgeted enough money and all would be good now? The rice farmers started waiting for payments from the 4th of January and even on that day the PTP were saying everything was OK. Doesn't sound like the EC's fault? If the PTP had taken the advice of the World Bank they would not be in this position today.

Demonizing IMF

I remember on the 12th of November (1 month and 8 days since rice farmers were not paid) last year IMF urged Thailand to drop its multibillion-dollar rice subsidy program. The the Finance Ministry said it hadn't seen the IMF report and wasn't worried about the subsidy program. The Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisal however did say something and that was surprise surprise refuting the claim, telling reporters last week that losses from the program “should be not over 100 billion baht a year.” That was a lie. If it wasn't a lie the rice farmers would be paid and all would be good now. 1 month and 8 days after rice farmers stopped getting paid the PTP said everything was still OK. Doesn't sound like the EC's fault. Had the PTP listened to the IMF they would not be in this position today.

Now we fast forward to today and even though the world bank had warned them. IMF had warned them. Even though the Deputy PM said they had budgeted for the 13/14 crop season. Even though the finance minster said "nothing to worry about". Even though the Commerce minister said he refuted the claim and demonized the IMF..drum roll...It is now the EC's fault that the rice farmers haven't been paid. PTP logic.

Unaccountability is the PTP's favorite dish. Followed for desert by blame. Washed down with a swig of propaganda so it can all be digested.

I do love your blind faith in this party though. It is admirable and worthy of a mention at the yearly PTP ministry of propaganda awards night.

Edited January 29, 2014 by djjamie

[Pops]

Trying to feel sorry for these farmers who voted for Thaksin and his clone, but am having a hard time doing

so. They voted for a liar who told them they would become rich, and now they are paying the price.....

What a stupid thing to say, "they voted for a liar who told them they would become rich".

They voted because they thought they would have an option on a better life.

They voted for something that sounded good at the time.

You cannot blame them for getting lied to.

Look at what they received from anybody, after any past election, for as long as they have voted.

Some-one played them by giving them hope and they got burned.

You shouldn't feel anything else but sorry for them.

[fullcave]

Consider also that many farmers took out loans based on the promise of 15,000 Baht/tonne and the financial institutions were all too eager to lend them the money; so, no money from the rice scheme + the inability to repay loans = a spiral down into yet more debt.

Hopefully none used land titles to secure these loans...

[ttthailand]

Having lived up country I feel sorry for these farmers. I would bet that most got a loan from the local shark at 10% interest a month thinking they would be paid quickly and now have lost more then half of their rice payment just on interest. The government needs to crack down on these lowlife loan sharks....

Payment to the farmers is something the government needs to do no matter who's side your on... It's only fair !

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

Edited January 29, 2014 by ttthailand

[ChrisY1]

Thailand's ability to feed itself in the future is uncertain, as it was before the present controversy, with the rice farmers aging and retiring and their children turning their backs on the family farm due to the hard work and low profit, are going into other career fields.

The PTP must take responsibilities for their mistakes up to the point (2) months ago ehen they became a caretaker government and were no longer allowed to borrow money to pay the nations farmers.

The EC must approve any request for a loan to the government and for the last two months have rejected all the PTP loan request to pay the farmers, as the EC has actively championed the protest request to cancel the election. As voiced on this forum the opposition to the government, are actively backing the EC refusal to pay the farmers, that are being held as political hostages, in the hopes they will vote against the current government. The EC must bear the responsibilities for denying payment to a million and a half Thai farmers (only for political gain)!

Many of the nation farmers will leave the rice fields and look to more profitable crops or into other occupations to support themselves and their families!

Thailand will end up the loser in the long run with a vastly decreased national rice production, by the EC failure to approve the loan to pay the farmers!

Cheers

The EC are not refusing to pay the farmers, they are not allowed too by law

PTP are now going to break the law to pay the farmers

Just the farmers??

[tetleythedog]

The rice pledging was kind of like getting a new tattoo, seemed like a good idea at the time.

Yeah right ! And not long ago Yingluck was bragging about it on Aljazeera. Another interview needed now eh?