Desperate Thai farmers seek help from King to get rice-scheme payments

[mogo51]

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The suggestion is everywhere that corruption has taken care of much of the money plus the suggestion of a mass payment to Thaksin from money previously confiscated by him - would that possibly be where the money has gone?

To suggest that the Thai government would admit failure only shows that you do not understand the Thai psyche.

[slipperylobster]

Just pay them...

[Suriya4]

I can't help have a feeling that you people is naive enough to expect Yingluck govt to make money out of this scheme, but instead, the government loose money (which make you mad).

I think we might as well go back to Dems scheme, where by Govt just keep signing cheques to who so ever care file for the rice money, without even seeing the physical rice.

[lucjoker]

first the farmers borrowed money (received a mini tractor ) but had to give up on their chanout.After 1 year they could not give back the money and lost their land on mister T .From then the were "allowed" to work on the land if they voted for mister T.

But there is no end to the stupidity of those farmers ,next they gave their rice and were not paid for it .Still they support mister T ??????

And "we" discuss this ?5555

[brianP]

They need to open a casino to generate cash to pay the farmers.

Tax real estate in Thailand - it's a sitting duck goldmine and revenue source.

Not when the powerful land owning giants that call the shots and own these vast tracts of Ag land are still here.

If they can't exploit the poor masses.

[slapout]

The best potential source of monies to pay the debt owed to the farmers, is a no brainer, retrive it from those who stole it to start with. The massive corruption has been pointed out by several different people, groups and finally the opposition group (who have also been alleged to be involved in various capacities)

It would not take a real unbaised accounting firm long to go thru the paperwork, accounts paid, accounts receivable, storeage cost, storage verafication, losses in milling, transport, shipment, etc to ask some very pointed questions, that would come back to haunt those involved. This would depend on the gophers doing their job at DSI, Money laundering, reports of massive fund transfers, payments made to oversee the rice program, and then freezing assets/bank accounts, etc.

[Anon999]

The banks are refusing to provide loans to pay the farmers.

The courts are holding 40 + billion stolen from TS that could go to the farmers.

But where are the farmers protesting? At the banks or courts? No, somewhere out in no man's land that nobody cares about.

It seems if you want your protests to get people's attention, you need to take them to the appropriate places in Bangkok.

The courts are holding 40 + billion stolen from TS that could go to the farmers.

Not according to Thaksin, in Forbes magazine he claims that the government returned 30 billion of his money. As for paying the farmers, seems like no farmers are complaining in Issan. Thaksin once said that you should vote for him if you expect to get anything from his government, i guess he wasn't lying....that time.

I read 1 billion USD was returned to Tax-in. 1.3 billion is still stolen of the total 2.3 billion.

Nothing was stolen from Thaksin unless you think that recovering stolen money from a thief is stealing. It happens in many countries.

[hawker9000]

Well, gee. I guess Bank Shin is unwilling to step in here. Oh, pardon me, the rest of you pipe down now so I can hear.... What was that again about Thaksin and his PTP cult being the shining light, the last best hope, the best friend, the champion, the Messiah and his loyal disciples... of the poor up-country folk? Don't whisper, speak up. Wouldn't NOW be a good time for him to come charging to the rescue with his billions?

You know, if that's what they've voted for AGAIN...

[JesseFrank]

Oh dear, it seems I was right. I hope we see more of this.

The Thai rural population are largely uneducated it is true, but one does not need a PhD to recognise when one has been well and truly shafted by the Govt. of the day. An agreement has been entered into in good faith by the farmers and they have the not unreasonable expectation that it will be honoured. Seems the Govt. has other ideas and has had for quite some time.

You make it sound like the govt is making the deliberate choice not to pay the farmers when they've been trying to unsuccesfully borrow money to pay them since December. Of course, the govt is stupid and incompetent for not sorting out the payment before house was dissolved, but to say it 'seems' like the govt has 'other ideas' about paying them is just not true.

Seeing 'more of this' would mean more farmers are struggling as they haven't been paid. Is that honestly what you want to see? What do you think it will achieve? If the govt could pay them, it would. The only way they're going to be paid - unless the EC says otherwise - is when parliamentary quorum is achieved and a government can be seated. So those who actually care about the farmers getting paid should surely wish for successful and swift resolution of the political crisis instead of hoping for more disruption.

Sure, it hurts the government, but it also hurts the farmers themselves. I don't blame them for protesting against the govt, yet it will have no effect as the problem is currently insoluble. In fact, if they wanted the money faster, they should protest against the EC - because they could make a decision to allow the govt to borrow the money. And if the PDRC went home today, the farmers have a good chance of getting paid within a few weeks, if the protests continue, it could be months...

Of course, the govt is stupid and incompetent for not sorting out the payment before house was dissolved,

Nothing much to sort out in an empty state coffer i would say.

[kikoman]

I think that is a great way for the farmers to get some type of action!

PTP needs to meet with the farmers and listen to their concerns and to inform the farmers that the elite that controls the banks, are the ones "now" holding up their payments for the rice!

Cheers

[hawker9000]

I think that is a great way for the farmers to get some type of action!

PTP needs to meet with the farmers and listen to their concerns and to inform the farmers that the elite that controls the banks, are the ones "now" holding up their payments for the rice!

Cheers

Ah yes, JUST what Thailand needs. Another cynical attempt to provoke class warfare. WHERE in the rice-pledging scheme legislation did it say that the BANKS would be responsible for making these payments, eh?

[ratcatcher]

They need to open a casino to generate cash to pay the farmers.

Tax real estate in Thailand - it's a sitting duck goldmine and revenue source.

Not when the powerful land owning giants that call the shots and own these vast tracts of Ag land are still here.

If they can't exploit the poor masses.

And, of course, you wouldn't be surprised to learn that one of the biggest owners of these vast tracts of land resides comfortably in a middle eastern sheikdom running his operations by mobile phone and Skype.

Actually I read somewhere that this whole debacle was conceived by the same person.

[wjhall]

The banks are refusing to provide loans to pay the farmers.

The courts are holding 40 + billion stolen from TS that could go to the farmers.

But where are the farmers protesting? At the banks or courts? No, somewhere out in no man's land that nobody cares about.

It seems if you want your protests to get people's attention, you need to take them to the appropriate places in Bangkok.

The courts are holding 40 + billion stolen from TS that could go to the farmers.

Not according to Thaksin, in Forbes magazine he claims that the government returned 30 billion of his money. As for paying the farmers, seems like no farmers are complaining in Issan. Thaksin once said that you should vote for him if you expect to get anything from his government, i guess he wasn't lying....that time.

No way was it stolen from him!!!!!!

[JesseFrank]

I think that is a great way for the farmers to get some type of action!

PTP needs to meet with the farmers and listen to their concerns and to inform the farmers that the elite that controls the banks, are the ones "now" holding up their payments for the rice!

Cheers

Have you seen the reports that there are farmers who are sill waiting on the money for their 2012 harvest ?

I didn't know the protests were already going on in 2012

[ttthailand]

Basically Thailand is a failed state as it can not pay its debt. It is almost same as the US or UK saying sorry we can not pay your retirement now but we pay on 15th only to again say sorry and again same same over and over.... No government should ever be that irresponsible with so many people's lives. This should just not happen !!!

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[ratcatcher]

I think that is a great way for the farmers to get some type of action!

PTP needs to meet with the farmers and listen to their concerns and to inform the farmers that the elite that controls the banks, are the ones "now" holding up their payments for the rice!

Cheers

Ah yes, JUST what Thailand needs. Another cynical attempt to provoke class warfare. WHERE in the rice-pledging scheme legislation did it say that the BANKS would be responsible for making these payments, eh?

hawker9000, kikoman doesn't seem to understand that banks are in business to make money for their shareholders and customers.

The PTP asking the Thai commercial banks to lend them money is akin to an alcoholic,drug addicted person with a large mortgage asking his bank to lend him money to buy a Ferrari.

The PTP, right now, has a shocking credit rating and needs to be forensically audited.

They aren't going to get a loan from the banks. Rightfully so.

cheers

[ttthailand]

Basically Thailand is a failed state as it can not pay its debt. It is almost same as the US or UK saying sorry we can not pay your retirement now but we pay on 15th only to again say sorry and again same same over and over.... No government should ever be that irresponsible with so many people's lives. This should just not happen !!!

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[Pib]

They need to open a casino to generate cash to pay the farmers.

No need--the govt already has a much bigger cash generator in the govt run lottery.

Sent from my Samsung S4 (GT-I9500)

[bigbamboo]

The banks are refusing to provide loans to pay the farmers.

The courts are holding 40 + billion stolen from TS that could go to the farmers.

But where are the farmers protesting? At the banks or courts? No, somewhere out in no man's land that nobody cares about.

It seems if you want your protests to get people's attention, you need to take them to the appropriate places in Bangkok.

The courts are holding 40 + billion stolen from TS that could go to the farmers.

Not according to Thaksin, in Forbes magazine he claims that the government returned 30 billion of his money. As for paying the farmers, seems like no farmers are complaining in Issan. Thaksin once said that you should vote for him if you expect to get anything from his government, i guess he wasn't lying....that time.

I read 1 billion USD was returned to Tax-in. 1.3 billion is still stolen of the total 2.3 billion.

The original amount was 47 billion baht but that apparently has now increased (presumably with interest) to 75 billion. I wish the government could have frozen my assets at that interest rate for the past seven years!

[Artisi]

The banks are refusing to provide loans to pay the farmers.

The courts are holding 40 + billion stolen from TS that could go to the farmers.

But where are the farmers protesting? At the banks or courts? No, somewhere out in no man's land that nobody cares about.

It seems if you want your protests to get people's attention, you need to take them to the appropriate places in Bangkok.

The courts are holding 40 + billion stolen from TS that could go to the farmers.

Not according to Thaksin, in Forbes magazine he claims that the government returned 30 billion of his money. As for paying the farmers, seems like no farmers are complaining in Issan. Thaksin once said that you should vote for him if you expect to get anything from his government, i guess he wasn't lying....that time.

I read 1 billion USD was returned to Tax-in. 1.3 billion is still stolen of the total 2.3 billion.

1.3 billion is still money stolen from the people of Thailand which probably totals well in excess of 2.3 billion.

[Artisi]

Oh dear, it seems I was right. I hope we see more of this.

The Thai rural population are largely uneducated it is true, but one does not need a PhD to recognise when one has been well and truly shafted by the Govt. of the day. An agreement has been entered into in good faith by the farmers and they have the not unreasonable expectation that it will be honoured. Seems the Govt. has other ideas and has had for quite some time.

You make it sound like the govt is making the deliberate choice not to pay the farmers when they've been trying to unsuccesfully borrow money to pay them since December. Of course, the govt is stupid and incompetent for not sorting out the payment before house was dissolved, but to say it 'seems' like the govt has 'other ideas' about paying them is just not true.

Seeing 'more of this' would mean more farmers are struggling as they haven't been paid. Is that honestly what you want to see? What do you think it will achieve? If the govt could pay them, it would. The only way they're going to be paid - unless the EC says otherwise - is when parliamentary quorum is achieved and a government can be seated. So those who actually care about the farmers getting paid should surely wish for successful and swift resolution of the political crisis instead of hoping for more disruption.

Sure, it hurts the government, but it also hurts the farmers themselves. I don't blame them for protesting against the govt, yet it will have no effect as the problem is currently insoluble. In fact, if they wanted the money faster, they should protest against the EC - because they could make a decision to allow the govt to borrow the money. And if the PDRC went home today, the farmers have a good chance of getting paid within a few weeks, if the protests continue, it could be months...

You fail to address that the caretaker government has no RIGHT to borrow more money to prop up a failed policy which has wasted huge amounts of taxpayer's funds. That they are attempting to do so is more to raise their electorate status than any concern for farmer's plight IMHO.

The Government apologists also refuse to understand that the government should not even NEED to get loans for this scheme. It was designed to be self financing (yet. Right) The government should have the funds to pay. They don't! (Or do they as some people keep stating)

If they have the money. Pay the farmers. If they don't, come clean about what a failure this scheme is!

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

and where the money has been syphoned off to - ----

[Artisi]

I think that is a great way for the farmers to get some type of action!

PTP needs to meet with the farmers and listen to their concerns and to inform the farmers that the elite that controls the banks, are the ones "now" holding up their payments for the rice!

Cheers

Seems like a fairly, to be polite as possible, a stupid statement.

[Bluespunk]

I think that is a great way for the farmers to get some type of action!

PTP needs to meet with the farmers and listen to their concerns and to inform the farmers that the elite that controls the banks, are the ones "now" holding up their payments for the rice!

Cheers

Nothing to do with elites or banks. There is no money because the scheme has failed and was always going to fail. The farmers have constantly met with PT or their representatives and been fed lie after lie and broken promise after broken promise. This govt has betrayed it's core support and wrecked their export industry. For all this PT alone is to blame.

[thesetat2013]

Speechless

Edited February 4, 2014 by thesetat2013

[Suradit69]

They need to open a casino to generate cash to pay the farmers.

Tax real estate in Thailand - it's a sitting duck goldmine and revenue source.

Ah yes, Classic Enlightened Western Econ 101. If the government and the banks & grossly over-paid CEO's screw up the economy and create a situation that puts the financial system at risk, the obvious thing to do is to punish those who are already the victims ... the tax payers. That will add another burden to the weakened economy, but at the least those who are to blame for the mess won't lose. If it costs them anything, they'll just raise prices and rents.

[tingtongteesood]

Oh dear, it seems I was right. I hope we see more of this.

The Thai rural population are largely uneducated it is true, but one does not need a PhD to recognise when one has been well and truly shafted by the Govt. of the day. An agreement has been entered into in good faith by the farmers and they have the not unreasonable expectation that it will be honoured. Seems the Govt. has other ideas and has had for quite some time.

You make it sound like the govt is making the deliberate choice not to pay the farmers when they've been trying to unsuccesfully borrow money to pay them since December. Of course, the govt is stupid and incompetent for not sorting out the payment before house was dissolved, but to say it 'seems' like the govt has 'other ideas' about paying them is just not true.

Seeing 'more of this' would mean more farmers are struggling as they haven't been paid. Is that honestly what you want to see? What do you think it will achieve? If the govt could pay them, it would. The only way they're going to be paid - unless the EC says otherwise - is when parliamentary quorum is achieved and a government can be seated. So those who actually care about the farmers getting paid should surely wish for successful and swift resolution of the political crisis instead of hoping for more disruption.

Sure, it hurts the government, but it also hurts the farmers themselves. I don't blame them for protesting against the govt, yet it will have no effect as the problem is currently insoluble. In fact, if they wanted the money faster, they should protest against the EC - because they could make a decision to allow the govt to borrow the money. And if the PDRC went home today, the farmers have a good chance of getting paid within a few weeks, if the protests continue, it could be months...

The point is that the farmers should have been paid 6 months ago at the time they handed over the rice. The government should not have delays like this and should not have to borrow the money. If they had a real scheme really aiming to help the country in general rather than this scam to steal the tax payers money to pay for votes and to enrich themselves and really did their job properly then the farmers would all have been paid months ago.

[kamahele]

Oh dear, it seems I was right. I hope we see more of this.

The Thai rural population are largely uneducated it is true, but one does not need a PhD to recognise when one has been well and truly shafted by the Govt. of the day. An agreement has been entered into in good faith by the farmers and they have the not unreasonable expectation that it will be honoured. Seems the Govt. has other ideas and has had for quite some time.

You make it sound like the govt is making the deliberate choice not to pay the farmers when they've been trying to unsuccesfully borrow money to pay them since December. Of course, the govt is stupid and incompetent for not sorting out the payment before house was dissolved, but to say it 'seems' like the govt has 'other ideas' about paying them is just not true.

Seeing 'more of this' would mean more farmers are struggling as they haven't been paid. Is that honestly what you want to see? What do you think it will achieve? If the govt could pay them, it would. The only way they're going to be paid - unless the EC says otherwise - is when parliamentary quorum is achieved and a government can be seated. So those who actually care about the farmers getting paid should surely wish for successful and swift resolution of the political crisis instead of hoping for more disruption.

Sure, it hurts the government, but it also hurts the farmers themselves. I don't blame them for protesting against the govt, yet it will have no effect as the problem is currently insoluble. In fact, if they wanted the money faster, they should protest against the EC - because they could make a decision to allow the govt to borrow the money. And if the PDRC went home today, the farmers have a good chance of getting paid within a few weeks, if the protests continue, it could be months...

You fail to address that the caretaker government has no RIGHT to borrow more money to prop up a failed policy which has wasted huge amounts of taxpayer's funds. That they are attempting to do so is more to raise their electorate status than any concern for farmer's plight IMHO.

The Government apologists also refuse to understand that the government should not even NEED to get loans for this scheme. It was designed to be self financing (yet. Right) The government should have the funds to pay. They don't! (Or do they as some people keep stating)

If they have the money. Pay the farmers. If they don't, come clean about what a failure this scheme is!

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

But it isn't self financing even if that was the intent. They have to take a loan to pay the farmers and legally can't. I'm not an apologist, I'm a realist.

[Sparkles]

Promise something... Get the votes... Don't deliver! Sounds like most governments around the world!!

True but in most countries the Government would be voted out, but not this one.

The rice pledging scheme has the potential to bankrupt the country and that is no exaggeration. Of course the

plug should be pulled on it but that would be a massive loss of face.

Mountains of slowly rotting rice stocks which no one wants,may as well give it away.

Throw in the tablet for every child scheme ,the 100,000 b rebate for new car buyers, has there ever been a Thai government which is more irresponsible

and all for one spineless indiviual who lives in Dubai....sick.

[almafudd]

Could the rice farmers sue the Thai Government? The rice scheme must have been legislated or at least documented somewhere, then again maybe not... Anyway the rice scheme, as such, is not under question.

The farmers have proof that they have deposited the rice into the Governments storage facilities.

There are public records of ministers (now caretaker ministers) promising payments to the farmers.

Not much to prove in a court of law - and if the farmers win the Government must pay. I would assume (always dangerous to assume) the Government then can legally pay the farmers. It's a court order ordering payment to the farmers.

Just putting this out there...

[Thait Spot]

I think that is a great way for the farmers to get some type of action!

PTP needs to meet with the farmers and listen to their concerns and to inform the farmers that the elite that controls the banks, are the ones "now" holding up their payments for the rice!

Cheers

You seem to be tuned in to a radio station from outer space.

The government can pay these farmers the money

But because it backed itself into a corner through mismanagement it can no longer do so without breaking the law

The PTP has listened to the farmers, it made promises to them, many many promises and broke each and every one of them in succession

That is why the desperate farmers are now looking at every avenue available to them - and have withdrawn their support of the PTP