TELL IT AS IT IS
Crime and punishment: they apply to govt as much as to individuals
Pornpimol Kanchanalak
Special to The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Left in its natural state, human life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short", claimed English political thinker Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679). Philosophers before and after theorised about the social contract to explain how "wild" man surrenders some of his freedoms and submits to the authority of a ruler, or government, in exchange for the protection of rights. Such a social or political contract leads to the notion of legitimacy of government.

In the generally accepted modern definition of democracy, that legitimacy is derived from the popular perception that the elected government will abide by democratic principles in governing, and thus, through public trust, be legally accountable to its people.

In Thailand, that trust has now been desecrated. Evidence of blatant and repeated illegal and illegitimate acts on the part of government call into question its legitimacy in continuing to govern us.

The purpose of taxation, as part of the political contract, is to fund government machinery that will improve citizens' lives and security both in the short and long terms. While citizens have a duty under the law to pay taxes, the government has a duty, also by law, to spend taxpayers' money judicially, impartially and lawfully, and to avoid negative consequences or unintended bad results in the process.

Over the years, our tax money has been wasted and rendered unproductive due to an ever-increasing breadth and depth of corruption. But never in recent memory has it been squandered so systematically and with such profligacy as it has been under the rice-pledging scheme of the current government.

The Bt800 billion the government has wasted on this populist policy dwarfs the total amount pilfered by politicians who at various times and in various ways dipped their filthy hands into the coffers of our hard-earned money. Worst of all, it has not helped the intended beneficiaries - farmers. Most of them say their debts are higher since the rice scheme began.

Instead of inanely buying every grain of rice - not necessarily all produced by Thai farmers, and certainly not by the poorest Thai farmers - the government should have adopted a partial pledge (30 per cent of total production), similar to the programme first initiated by prime minister Prem Tinsulanonda in the 1980s. At that time, when good governance still retained some value, the price the government set for its purchase was 80 per cent of the market price (intended to serve as a cushion during a time of falling prices) - not the 40-45 per cent over the market price at which this government has been buying. Under the Prem administration, farmers were required to withdraw their pledged rice once the market price rose.

According to the latest report by the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), the richest 20 per cent of rice farmers produce 42 per cent of the total rice supply in the market. Meanwhile, the 2.59 million poorest rice-growing households do not produce enough grain to join the programme.

Granted all that, if the government's real intention was to help our farmers, it should have spent our tax money on things that would assist the sector towards sustainability, such as research and development, irrigation, transportation, financial management, cooperatives and agriculture education. These efforts have multiplier effects that have the power to eventually lift poor farmers out of poverty. Funding for these longer-term measures should have been accompanied by several sensible short-term measures to alleviate the farmers' debt burden.

Well-intended and honest warnings on the catastrophic effects of this programme on the nation's economy fell on deaf ears. If this does not represent a dereliction of the government's constitutional duty, then nothing is, no matter how flagrant.

As a result, our public debt per GDP has jumped from 40.3 per cent in 2011 to 44.7 per cent in 2012, and rising. Our current account was in the black at 1.20 per cent of GDP in 2011, but has then dipped to a deficit of 0.40 per cent in 2012 - projected to plunge further to 2.46 per cent in 2013.

The rice scheme is a crime against the entire country, and all the citizens who in good faith place their livelihood and their tax money in the hands of the government.

But instead of accepting culpability, the government has launched "McCarthy-style" accusations against those who woke up to the cruel reality of the vaporisation of their and the nation's wealth, and to a darkening future, and came out onto the streets. The government's practice of applying the law only when and where it suits its purpose is egregious. Naming the financial backers of political dissent and threatening them with prosecution recalls the Salem witch trials depicted in Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible". In the US, McCarthyism - the practice of bringing accusations of disloyalty and subversion against dissenters - was aided by the FBI under J Edgar Hoover. The Thai government's witch-hunt is being aided by our own would-be Hoovers in the DSI (Department of Special Investigation).

Back in 2005, a court ordered the former Bank of Thailand governor, Rerngchai Marakanond, to pay back Bt180 billion plus 7.5 interest, or face the seizure of his personal assets for negligence that plunged the country into its worst financial crisis. Regardless of where one stands on the issue, credit must be given to Rerngchai for braving humiliation, going through the judicial process and accepting his punishment as an honourable man. He didn't try to pin the blame on anyone else. He knew that as the man at the top, the responsibility was his.

Leaving aside strong feelings on both sides of the political divide, the government has lost the public's trust, and hence its legitimacy. Maintaining its bad-faith efforts, it is clinging to power for as long as it can, perhaps in order to finish the job of cleaning up the dirty linen in its closet, but leaving in its trail one constitutional crisis after another. This is not to mention the social, political and financial upheavals that now will face the country for a long time to come.

If this is not a crime that warrants punishment, then what is?


-- The Nation 2014-02-13

The facts and stats about this massive theft of taxpayers' money are quite horrifying

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

So crime and punishment applies to the government too, well try telling that to the current lot.

For good measure add in the elite, hi-so, well connected and those who can buy their way out of trouble.

anyone entrusted to run a nation found guilty of corruption should face the death penalty, these people are destroying lives without remorse

How about Thai law showing an example and hauling off the Thai hit and run cop killer with three arrest warrants noted by this newspaper? If law and order doesn't apply to everyone, how can Thais expect that reform will result in any change? This was a major killing of a police officer and hit and run. It was reported in this newspaper for days that the alleged killer was under the influenced and that his servants attempted to collude with a senior police office to obstruct justice and take the fall for the driver. How about some law and order as it applies to everyone?

This is quite interesting

According to the latest report by the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), the richest 20 per cent of rice farmers produce 42 per cent of the total rice supply in the market. Meanwhile, the 2.59 million poorest rice-growing households do not produce enough grain to join the programme.

Granted all that, if the government's real intention was to help our farmers, it should have spent our tax money on things that would assist the sector towards sustainability, such as research and development, irrigation, transportation, financial management, cooperatives and agriculture education. These efforts have multiplier effects that have the power to eventually lift poor farmers out of poverty. Funding for these longer-term measures should have been accompanied by several sensible short-term measures to alleviate the farmers' debt burden.

Sure. The rice scheme is now, but the energy and transport sectors are next. The diesel prices are set to rise by 30%+ next month. Let's see how the people react to that doozy.

"Leaving aside strong feelings on both sides of the political divide, the government has lost the public's trust, and hence its legitimacy."

You amarts keep telling yourselves that...funny that meanwhile the government that has lost the trust of the public keeps winning every fair and democratic election.

It applies to some governments as well as some individuals.

Of course governments can be sued, but even better can be fired, by the people, en masse every 5 or so years.

The government made a huge massive mistake indeed...On the other hand I didn't hear any complain of the farmers when they were offered a price that was far above the realistic market price. They didn't think about "tomorrow" when the rice could never be sold. Meanwhile surrounding countries sell the same rice-quality at 50% of the so called market price. Thai have to realise that hey are not the only country in the world...in a few months, when ASEAN becomes real, it will be clear.

High time to change.

Governments the World over never take responsibility for anything,

they treat their citizens like they are children,thinking they know better

than everyone,thats why there are so many protests around the World,

people are fed up to the teeth .

regards Worgeordie

How about Thai law showing an example and hauling off the Thai hit and run cop killer with three arrest warrants noted by this newspaper? If law and order doesn't apply to everyone, how can Thais expect that reform will result in any change? This was a major killing of a police officer and hit and run. It was reported in this newspaper for days that the alleged killer was under the influenced and that his servants attempted to collude with a senior police office to obstruct justice and take the fall for the driver. How about some law and order as it applies to everyone?

Sorry you are making no sense to me.

If law and order doesn't apply to everyone, how can Thais expect that reform will result in any change

Doing nothing will retain the same situation where that happens.

Reform is about changing not maintaining.

Why be against reform because it would change the results of one Item. There are far to many of those things happening in Thailand to continue to allow them to happen.

Thailand needs reform and it is not going to get it with the current people in power. In two and a half years they have showed no interest in reform. The corruption has increased. Well I guess that is a reform of a kind are you advocating that they stick to that course.

Not that it matters but if that Red Bull heir steps foot in Thailand he will be arrested.

"Leaving aside strong feelings on both sides of the political divide, the government has lost the public's trust, and hence its legitimacy."

You amarts keep telling yourselves that...funny that meanwhile the government that has lost the trust of the public keeps winning every fair and democratic election.

Since when have I become an amarat?

If I am what do you you want me to do to change the country or are you happy with the money going down a rabbit hole? Are Thai Visa posters who don't agree with you an amarat?

At last I know who the amarats are. Thank you Thank you Thank you I have asked so many times and you are the only one to answer me.

The government made a huge massive mistake indeed...On the other hand I didn't hear any complain of the farmers when they were offered a price that was far above the realistic market price. They didn't think about "tomorrow" when the rice could never be sold. Meanwhile surrounding countries sell the same rice-quality at 50% of the so called market price. Thai have to realise that hey are not the only country in the world...in a few months, when ASEAN becomes real, it will be clear.

High time to change.

Kinda like the tax rebate on cars to further crowd the nations roads. No complaints from new car sellers now they are wondering where the business has gone.

Posts denigrating the news sources rather than discussing the topic have been removed as well as the replies.

Now that headline made me laugh out loud

Crime and punishment: they apply to Thai govt as much as to individuals

REALLY? Somebody should tell Tarit.

Sure. The rice scheme is now, but the energy and transport sectors are next. The diesel prices are set to rise by 30%+ next month. Let's see how the people react to that doozy.

Not sure but I think I saw a spot that said they are going to put that off.

They will eventually have to raise it.

Right now they are very busy looking under every government rock they can find to get the money to pay the rice farmers.

They are not going to look in the closets of the politicians. They do not want to open up that can of worms.

More propaganda garbage from the usual suspect, the nation.

Why don't you and jollyman try to answer the points instead of posting nonsense?

They can't defend the indefensible.

"Leaving aside strong feelings on both sides of the political divide, the government has lost the public's trust, and hence its legitimacy."

You amarts keep telling yourselves that...funny that meanwhile the government that has lost the trust of the public keeps winning every fair and democratic election.

Since when have I become an amarat?

If I am what do you you want me to do to change the country or are you happy with the money going down a rabbit hole? Are Thai Visa posters who don't agree with you an amarat?

At last I know who the amarats are. Thank you Thank you Thank you I have asked so many times and you are the only one to answer me.

Is your name Pornpimol Kanchanalak?

As for your question, try formulating a political position and convincing a majority of Thais that is the best course of action at an election. If they disagree with you...accept their choice instead if calling them "stupid buffaloes."

"Leaving aside strong feelings on both sides of the political divide, the government has lost the public's trust, and hence its legitimacy."

You amarts keep telling yourselves that...funny that meanwhile the government that has lost the trust of the public keeps winning every fair and democratic election.

Since when have I become an amarat?

If I am what do you you want me to do to change the country or are you happy with the money going down a rabbit hole? Are Thai Visa posters who don't agree with you an amarat?

At last I know who the amarats are. Thank you Thank you Thank you I have asked so many times and you are the only one to answer me.

Is your name Polymorphic Kanchanalak?

As for your question, try formulating a political position and convincing a majority of Thais that is the best course of action at an election. If they disagree with you...accept their choice instead if calling them "stupid buffaloes."

No Polymorphic Kanchanalak is not my name.

For the rest of your post what has it got to do with my post?

I called no one a stupid buffalo. It is not my fault if they feel that way.

Don't know if this has any thing to do with what you are talking about but are you saying that 52%

of the population are stupid buffalo's because they disagreed with the 48% of the population at the elections for who would set the political agenda?

"Leaving aside strong feelings on both sides of the political divide, the government has lost the public's trust, and hence its legitimacy."

You amarts keep telling yourselves that...funny that meanwhile the government that has lost the trust of the public keeps winning every fair and democratic election.

And you keep telling yourself and the rest of your sheeple friends that. The rest of us can see the truth....'Fair and democratic' ? Not in this universe !

"Crime and punishment: they apply to Thai govt as much as to individuals" in plain speak, they don't.

800 Billions Baht sitting in bank can last for 50 years but to buy stock piles of rice will rotten in 5 years, now already 3 years, 2 more year left?

Sure. The rice scheme is now, but the energy and transport sectors are next. The diesel prices are set to rise by 30%+ next month. Let's see how the people react to that doozy.

Not sure but I think I saw a spot that said they are going to put that off.

They will eventually have to raise it.

Right now they are very busy looking under every government rock they can find to get the money to pay the rice farmers.

They are not going to look in the closets of the politicians. They do not want to open up that can of worms.

The baht weakened.

Everyone got what they wanted. Now eat the inflation.

How about Thai law showing an example and hauling off the Thai hit and run cop killer with three arrest warrants noted by this newspaper? If law and order doesn't apply to everyone, how can Thais expect that reform will result in any change? This was a major killing of a police officer and hit and run. It was reported in this newspaper for days that the alleged killer was under the influenced and that his servants attempted to collude with a senior police office to obstruct justice and take the fall for the driver. How about some law and order as it applies to everyone?

That boy's prospects were getting grimmer and grimmer until his billionaire father put out some feelers to yer man Chalerm 'the enforcer', who made sure that the judges saw sense . . . for the right price, no doubt.

The rice-scheme together with the first-car subsidy were clearly strategic policies dreamed up by Thaksin, to cement his influence over a larger part of the population.

The fact that neither policy were designed to benefit the poor, suggests that he felt confident that his original supporters had been bought off successfully enough, to be able to ignore them for the time being. The rice-scheme in particular was designed to gain support in areas that previously were less solidly 'red', Central, Upper South and Lower Isaan. These are coincidentally the areas that have been most hit by the non-payment of rice pledges.

The first-car subsidy, not yet investigated but fully open to corruption and as equally damaging to the car industry as the rice-scheme to the rice industry, was aimed at people with a high enough income to afford the average 20,000 baht a month in payments. It simply gave a subsidy making the initial deposit easier to finance. I doubt very much that the poor in Thailand have had any benefit at all from either of these policies, yet the fact that the Shinawatras are still defended by their supporters, suggests that they think that the poor should be satisfied with the few crumbs they have been given, while the more wealthy have profited from the billions thrown at rice farmers and the comparatively wealthy.

The facts and stats about this massive theft of taxpayers' money are quite horrifying

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Come on - The US government steals, but just a little bit from the American people. It's the price they pay for freedom.

The rice-scheme together with the first-car subsidy were clearly strategic policies dreamed up by Thaksin, to cement his influence over a larger part of the population.

The fact that neither policy were designed to benefit the poor, suggests that he felt confident that his original supporters had been bought off successfully enough, to be able to ignore them for the time being. The rice-scheme in particular was designed to gain support in areas that previously were less solidly 'red', Central, Upper South and Lower Isaan. These are coincidentally the areas that have been most hit by the non-payment of rice pledges.

The first-car subsidy, not yet investigated but fully open to corruption and as equally damaging to the car industry as the rice-scheme to the rice industry, was aimed at people with a high enough income to afford the average 20,000 baht a month in payments. It simply gave a subsidy making the initial deposit easier to finance. I doubt very much that the poor in Thailand have had any benefit at all from either of these policies, yet the fact that the Shinawatras are still defended by their supporters, suggests that they think that the poor should be satisfied with the few crumbs they have been given, while the more wealthy have profited from the billions thrown at rice farmers and the comparatively wealthy.

The rice "scheme" as you put it, was a government approved price support system; a subsidy, so to speak, just like in the United States, where billions are spent each year for agricultural supports (including rice). The reason the payments are being delayed is because certain elements in the Thai power structure are stopping Thai banks from honoring previously agreed to payments. A Trojan Horse move to weaken voter support and bring down a duly elected government.

Well oh well... look everyone! ShannonT and Pipkins conveniently nowhere to be seen in this thread with their convenient half-facts and lonely guesthouse corner insults