Suthep urges rice farmers to sue govt

[Lite Beer]

Suthep urges rice farmers to sue govt
The Sunday Nation

A newly erected billboard next to an expressway asks who helped the rich by allowing a loss of Bt800 billion through the Financial Sector Restructuring Authority, set up after the 1997 financial crisis, while preventing poor farmers from getting paid for

BANGKOK: -- PDRC chief plans fundraising drive tomorrow to pay for their legal expenses

Farmers should sue the prime minister and other relevant Cabinet members for defaulting on payments due to them under the rice-pledging scheme, anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said yesterday.

Suthep, secretary-general of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), suggested that farmers use their receipts for the pledged rice as evidence to file suits against the PM, her deputy, the Commerce Minister and his deputy.

He said the receipts the farmers were given for rice pledged by them indicated when the payment would be made to them and if the government failed to honour its commitment, it could be sued for breach of contract.

"Whoever is involved in irregularities that have inflicted this woeful plight on farmers would definitely face lawsuits. The whole Yingluck Cabinet may finally be sued. If that is the case, the Cabinet members would be banned from leaving the country and their assets may be frozen, he said.

Suthep said that PDRC protesters on Friday had marched for nine hours to seek public donations and believed they had received about Bt6 million, which would be given to farmers to help them pay for their food and travelling expenses during their protest in Bangkok.

He expressed confidence that when he solicits more donations tomorrow, he would be able to meet the target of Bt10 million, which would be given to farmers to pay for their legal expenses in suing the government for the default.

PDRC leader Phra Buddha Issara has offered legal assistance to farmers in lodging complaints against the government in order to get the money owed to them under the rice-pledging scheme. He urged farmers from every province to submit their receipts to him. He said tomorrow he would seek legal advice from the Office of the Attorney-General and the Justice Ministry permanent secretary on the issue of the farmers' dues.

He also called on farmers to withdraw their protest at the Commerce Ministry and gather at the PDRC rally base on Chaeng Wattana Road instead, saying their protest at the ministry would be fruitless, as the ministry has no money.

The monk said he would also ask Department of Special Investigation chief Tarit Pengdith to accept the farmers' complaint as a special case. He said if Tarit accepts his request, DSI officials could resume work at Government Complex on Chaeng Wattana Road.

Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit has accused the PDRC of using farmers as its political tool without sincerity to help alleviate their plight. "The PDRC has been pressuring state and private banks against giving the government loans to pay farmers. Our party will never abandon farmers,'' he said.

Democrat Party spokesperson Chavanond Intarakomalyasut raised questions over how the money in the rice-pledging scheme had dried up despite claims that the government had been able to continuously sell rice. Why did the government not seek loans to pay farmers before dissolving the House? he asked.

He also asked why the government does not give the rice back to the farmers if it can't sell the rice. He suspected good quality rice was sold to people with close ties to the government.

He also questioned why the government cancelled the government-to-government sale with China. He said if the deal had been carried out in a straightforward manner, the government would not have had to fear investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

-- The Nation 2014-02-09

[TVGerry]

They should do that. If anyone else owes you money and doesn't pay you, you either send debt collectors or you send lawyers. So the farmers should send in the lawyers and let the courts do their jobs. Too bad these scumbag Shinwatras cannot be held personally liable for the money they have lost on this scheme. They should pay the farmers out of their own pockets.

[wprime]

It's like suing a motorbike driver for scratching your BMW, they haven't got the money.

[Suriya4]

Not a good idea; Yingluck stealing rice from the poor farmers, and refuse to pay them.

[JeremyBowskill]

Sue with what Suthep? you plank! Being as they for the most part don't even have enough cash to live, wasting money on a useless lawyer seems pretty stupid at best.

[Davidhere]

Sue with what Suthep? you plank! Being as they for the most part don't even have enough cash to live, wasting money on a useless lawyer seems pretty stupid at best.

Team up with the Law Society of Thailand and get pro-bono lawyers.

Problem solved.

Next?

[Mosha]

Sue with what Suthep? you plank! Being as they for the most part don't even have enough cash to live, wasting money on a useless lawyer seems pretty stupid at best.

Thaksin introduced a 2 and 3 number lottery to combat the mafia one. (For mafia read police}, Now this made the local television news. A motorcy taxi driver had all 3 numbers. Off he goes to the office, and lo and behold, there is no stuns handed in. A local lawyer heard about it, and sought the victim out. He offered to work on results. He sued the government and won far more than the prize money. It also was one of the reasons why that lottery failed. It lost trust. The mafia one always pays out.

So I think it's quite likely a lawyer can be found

[ikurauni]

I can agree that Yingluck should be sued for negligence of her duty as PM.

Her government should also be prosecuted for stealing the rice money if it can be proved.

Both sides are trying to destroy each other. This is a good move by Suthep.

I am not surprised if Yingluck tries to counter with nasty tactics to stop Suthep.

However, she does not have a lot of options left other than capturing the protest leaders.

We will see the development. It is getting twisted.

I feel sorry for the farmers.

They are the real victims and the government should take care of the issue ASAP.

[englishoak]

I urge the farmers to tell Suthep to P**s off hes made their plight even worse.

[Mosha]

I urge the farmers to tell Suthep to P**s off hes made their plight even worse.

How? Please don't say he stopped the government from paying them.

[englishoak]

I urge the farmers to tell Suthep to P**s off hes made their plight even worse.

How? Please don't say he stopped the government from paying them.

Whilst there is no serving government the funds are not as easy to arrange, now you tell me whos blocked the election from being completed or threatened any banks that lend for the farmers to be paid ?

The original F up is the govs and all the govs F up the exasperation of it however is all Sutheps. Not really hard to work out, Suthep couldnt give a rats about the farmers only that it will further his own agenda to have them out and upset.

[chainarong]

They should do that. If anyone else owes you money and doesn't pay you, you either send debt collectors or you send lawyers. So the farmers should send in the lawyers and let the courts do their jobs. Too bad these scumbag Shinwatras cannot be held personally liable for the money they have lost on this scheme. They should pay the farmers out of their own pockets.

Good call unfortunately Governments are hard ball smucks that have provisions in contracts that make them untouchable , good call none the less , your view of the Shinawatra's sums it up

[JeremyBowskill]

Sue with what Suthep? you plank! Being as they for the most part don't even have enough cash to live, wasting money on a useless lawyer seems pretty stupid at best.

Team up with the Law Society of Thailand and get pro-bono lawyers.

Problem solved.

Next?

You aint been here long David, I'm guessing........

[Scamper]

Reasonable questions directed towards this administration regarding this scandal is anathema to Pheu Thai, because every light focused on it shows just how endemic the corruption and mismanagement was.

[Thait Spot]

Sue with what Suthep? you plank! Being as they for the most part don't even have enough cash to live, wasting money on a useless lawyer seems pretty stupid at best.

Can't you read?

Suthep has already raised 6m for them and us raising more

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[JeremyBowskill]

Sue with what Suthep? you plank! Being as they for the most part don't even have enough cash to live, wasting money on a useless lawyer seems pretty stupid at best.

Can't you read?

Suthep has already raised 6m for them and us raising more

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

He's finished buying land with donations then? Time will tell, if I believed everything I read then they would have been paid and wouldn't be in this predicament in the first place. clearly you believe everything printed by politicians.

Edited February 9, 2014 by JeremyBowskill

[bigbamboo]

They should do that. If anyone else owes you money and doesn't pay you, you either send debt collectors or you send lawyers. So the farmers should send in the lawyers and let the courts do their jobs. Too bad these scumbag Shinwatras cannot be held personally liable for the money they have lost on this scheme. They should pay the farmers out of their own pockets.

He may have a point there. Thai politicians seem to spend more time in the courts than in parliament and the government is always prepared to sue anyone at the drop of a hat so that may be the only way for the farmers to go.

[Davidhere]

Sue with what Suthep? you plank! Being as they for the most part don't even have enough cash to live, wasting money on a useless lawyer seems pretty stupid at best.

Team up with the Law Society of Thailand and get pro-bono lawyers.

Problem solved.

Next?

You aint been here long David, I'm guessing........

Long enough to know the Law Society of Thailand is no friend of Thaksin

From over 5 years ago:

Law Society of Thailand condemns Thaksin's phone-in

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/11/07/politics/politics_30087887.php

Or did you have some other point in your non-sensical non-reply?

[Local Drunk]

Not a good idea; Yingluck stealing rice from the poor farmers, and refuse to pay them.

She didn't steal their rice, she stole their futures.

Edited February 9, 2014 by Local Drunk

[Davidhere]

I can agree that Yingluck should be sued for negligence of her duty as PM.

Her government should also be prosecuted for stealing the rice money if it can be proved.

This is a good move by Suthep.

I am not surprised if Yingluck tries to counter with nasty tactics to stop Suthep.

I feel sorry for the farmers.

They are the real victims and the government should take care of the issue ASAP.

Instead of real money, they are just being continually fed manure by a convicted liar:

Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit

"Our party will never abandon farmers,'' he said.

Too late, Prompong, you already have for months and months... And farmers recognize manure when they see it.

.

Edited February 9, 2014 by Davidhere

[BillyBobThai]

In all this rice/money/scandal, somebody needs to go to prison for a very long time.

[ourmanflint]

In all this rice/money/scandal, somebody needs to go to prison for a very long time.

Yup no doubt it will be the poor farmers that end up in jail, somehow it will all be their fault. Just watch the red spin machine go...

[pipkins]

How many propagandist rice articles a day are the Suthep media pumping out?

No news here, even the farmers' buffaloes are smart enough to have seen the mob closing down the offices and banks that could have helped them.

Was the Chinese who cancelled when Suthep got his courts into start meddling. They are more than prepared to let the farmers go to the wall if they believe they can make some political capital out of it or tempt some int joining them... Hence the blitzkreig of propagana on the subject from his media cronies.

All this news on a day that Sutheps mob probably shrank to under 100 on one of the busiest mob days of the week. Don't suppose it's news though really if you own all the media and are heavily invested in this goon and his coup.

Thais have good memories and even Suthep was lamenting that BKK people ignored him over the Phuket land scam for many years.. Until now actually when he started the coup rolling again for them. They know a bad un...

Everybody else has seen the shrinking crowds and the latte break and evening rush hour protesters.

[rickirs]

All the farmers want is their pay. They don't care why the government defaulted, whether its due to over expectations of rice sales and/or market prices, government corruption, or government inability to borrow the funds. Those causes don't pay for next year's rice seed, food, rent, etc. And since Yingluck is only an interim PM (thanks to Suthep), she is limited to what solutions can be found to pay for the farmer debt. So law suit accomplishes nothing for the farmers; it would help Suthep though in applying even more political stress to the government which plays to HIS needs. For the farmers there are two viable solutions. Take back their rice already suggested by the government as have a nice day, or continue to hold until after February when voting is complete and parliament can convene to address the problem, ie., sell treasury bills to cover the debt. Some might argue that the latter will take too long but the government could not have foresaw the prolonged disruption by Suthep of normal administrative operations; so the farmers will be the ones to "pay" for Suthep's insurrection.

[ShannonT]

Suthep's own words this evening:

Suthep: Pay these farmers their money even if it means the country is in deficit.

But a few days ago he said that he would block any bank that gives loans to the government to pay farmers, in order to prevent Thailand from borrowing money?

[Davidhere]

How many propagandist rice articles a day are the Suthep media pumping out?

Not nearly as many as the pro-Yingluck government press and media produced lies.

[Baerboxer]

How many propagandist rice articles a day are the Suthep media pumping out?

No news here, even the farmers' buffaloes are smart enough to have seen the mob closing down the offices and banks that could have helped them.

Was the Chinese who cancelled when Suthep got his courts into start meddling. They are more than prepared to let the farmers go to the wall if they believe they can make some political capital out of it or tempt some int joining them... Hence the blitzkreig of propagana on the subject from his media cronies.

All this news on a day that Sutheps mob probably shrank to under 100 on one of the busiest mob days of the week. Don't suppose it's news though really if you own all the media and are heavily invested in this goon and his coup.

Thais have good memories and even Suthep was lamenting that BKK people ignored him over the Phuket land scam for many years.. Until now actually when he started the coup rolling again for them. They know a bad un...

Everybody else has seen the shrinking crowds and the latte break and evening rush hour protesters.

Sure - if left alone PTP could have pushed the amnesty bill through and the 2.2 trillion loan, released the 350 bullion water management budget and hey presto! Everyone happy.

Oh dear, you mean someone would have to pay all that money back? Not the Shins though.

[Nickymaster]

I can agree that Yingluck should be sued for negligence of her duty as PM.

Her government should also be prosecuted for stealing the rice money if it can be proved.

Both sides are trying to destroy each other. This is a good move by Suthep.

I am not surprised if Yingluck tries to counter with nasty tactics to stop Suthep.

However, she does not have a lot of options left other than capturing the protest leaders.

We will see the development. It is getting twisted.

I feel sorry for the farmers.

They are the real victims and the government should take care of the issue ASAP.

Yingluck's strategy is to create a culture of fear. Hun Sen will be proud of her.

[Nickymaster]

How many propagandist rice articles a day are the Suthep media pumping out?

No news here, even the farmers' buffaloes are smart enough to have seen the mob closing down the offices and banks that could have helped them.

Was the Chinese who cancelled when Suthep got his courts into start meddling. They are more than prepared to let the farmers go to the wall if they believe they can make some political capital out of it or tempt some int joining them... Hence the blitzkreig of propagana on the subject from his media cronies.

All this news on a day that Sutheps mob probably shrank to under 100 on one of the busiest mob days of the week. Don't suppose it's news though really if you own all the media and are heavily invested in this goon and his coup.

Thais have good memories and even Suthep was lamenting that BKK people ignored him over the Phuket land scam for many years.. Until now actually when he started the coup rolling again for them. They know a bad un...

Everybody else has seen the shrinking crowds and the latte break and evening rush hour protesters.

Sure - if left alone PTP could have pushed the amnesty bill through and the 2.2 trillion loan, released the 350 bullion water management budget and hey presto! Everyone happy.

Oh dear, you mean someone would have to pay all that money back? Not the Shins though.

Correct. That is what Yingluck was banging on. Just keep on borrowing and use the money as they wish. Just keep spending to stay alive. Paying back all that money is for the next next generation. The Shin will not get poorer out of this I can assure you.