Thai farmer leaders now vow to overthrow caretaker government

[webfact]

Farmer leaders now vow to overthrow caretaker government

BANGKOK: -- Farmer leaders last night vowed to overthrow the government of caretaker prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra with the mobilization of up to 50,000 troubled farmers to the capital to act.

Announcing the tough move by farmers, Thai Rice Association president Prasit Boonchoey said as many as 50,000 farmers will be mobilized from all parts of the country to march into the capital to oust the caretaker prime minister and her cabinet

He said relatives of farmers who had committed suicides will also be invited to Bangkok with their official death certificates and each will be compensated with 50,000 baht in cash as a primary relief aid to their families.

Prasit declared on the protest stage of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) at Pathumwan last night that he and other farmer leaders from the western, lower northern, and upper central regions have met yesterday and all agreed to escalate their protest after being fed up with repeated promises and lies by the caretaker cabinet ministers of caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

He said farmer leaders in each region will return to mobilize farmers from respective provinces and then travel to Bangkok, now not to demand for money, but to oust the government.

“This will be the first time that farmers will join together to overthrow the caretaker government,” he declared.

The farmer who earlier appeared on Channel 3 to debate the rice-pledging scheme with the deputy commerce minister Yanyong Puangrat said farmers now considered none minister in this caretaker government was sincere with farmers

He said when farmers who are in real trouble came to Bangkok, and wanted to see their prime minister, she refused to meet them.

All relevant ministers who they met during the talk also refused to allow them to meet the prime minister saying she has other important matter to do, Pradit said.

He said if she could not assure farmers when they would be paid, she should not linger on her PM seat and step down to allow other person who could resolve the problem of farmers to work.

The farmer leader said that the mobilization of up to 50,000 farmers to Bangkok would be to overthrow the government by farmers.

He did not elaborate the time for the action but said it would not be long from now.

This morning another group of farmers staying overnight at Chaengwattana protest site led by Luang Poo Buddhaisara will be escorted by lawyers from the Lawyers Association of Thailand to file legal charges against the caretaker prime minister and her cabinet minister on fraud charge.

All of them have evidence of rice vouchers which showed they have pledged their rice under the rice-pledging scheme but until now are not paid.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/farmer-leaders-now-vow-overthrow-caretaker-government/


-- Thai PBS 2014-02-13

[Costas2008]

"All relevant ministers who they met during the talk also refused to allow them to meet the prime minister saying she has other important matter to do, Pradit said."

Gone to Tesco to buy tissues for the tears.

[terryp]

Finally they wake up

[Just1Voice]

You know you have a problem when your main supporters have turned against you.

[geriatrickid]

Finally they wake up

The southern farmers have not been particularly supportive of the legally elected government of Thailand. Why would you now think they are "waking" up.?

[NongKhaiKid]

Aah, more targets for Tarit and Chalerm.

[Costas2008]

geriatrickid, on 13 Feb 2014 - 10:48, said:

terryp, on 13 Feb 2014 - 10:44, said:

Finally they wake up

The southern farmers have not been particularly supportive of the legally elected government of Thailand. Why would you now think they are "waking" up.?

Prasit declared on the protest stage of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) at Pathumwan last night that he and other farmer leaders from the western, lower northern, and upper central regions have met yesterday and all agreed to escalate their protest after being fed up with repeated promises and lies by the caretaker cabinet ministers of caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Are they also from the south?

[JesseFrank]

Hold on mate, you will all get your money. If everything is as displayed by the liar government, which of course we all have doubts about, you should all have your money in the next 18 months for the harvest you tendered 6 to 12 months ago . Of course at the same time they will not be able to pay for the future harvest you submit during that period.

Mr Surasak said the Commerce Ministry has so far submitted Bt170-180 billion from rice auctions to the Finance Ministry, adding that at least Bt15 billion was sent to the Finance Ministry in the last two months.

Caretaker Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Phuangrach said the government should earn nearly Bt10 billion from the latest auction of 460,000 tonnes of rice.

[crobe]

It is interesting that this does not include farmers from the North and North East regions, possibly because of their loyalty to the PTP, but also possibly becuase they have been paid more than in the other regions.

It would be interesting to have clear figures on which farmers have been paid and which have not.

It is the duty of a government (rather than a single party or coalition) to govern fairly and equally for all of the countries constituents, whether they voted for a political party or not.

if there is evidence that the ruling party has favoured their supporters, then this is a clear case of dereliction of duty and would be a justification for the protesters in their fight against the current administration and its replacement.

A partisan ruling party is not a democracy.

For the PTP apologists - yes, this has been a feature of Thai politics and similar charges could be levelled against previous government, but that is NOT an excuse.

[mightyatom]

Well I can see that the farmers when angered will be formidable folks to come a knocking.

I can see these people will have a lot more potential for violence than any student.

Waiting for the first to be shot at or smacked on the head with a baton, and it will go off big time.

The best thing for the government now is to step down or run.

Edited February 13, 2014 by mightyatom

[Siripon]

It is interesting that this does not include farmers from the North and North East regions, possibly because of their loyalty to the PTP, but also possibly becuase they have been paid more than in the other regions.

It would be interesting to have clear figures on which farmers have been paid and which have not.

It is the duty of a government (rather than a single party or coalition) to govern fairly and equally for all of the countries constituents, whether they voted for a political party or not.

if there is evidence that the ruling party has favoured their supporters, then this is a clear case of dereliction of duty and would be a justification for the protesters in their fight against the current administration and its replacement.

A partisan ruling party is not a democracy.

For the PTP apologists - yes, this has been a feature of Thai politics and similar charges could be levelled against previous government, but that is NOT an excuse.

Farmers in Issan usually only have 1 crop a year, farms are generally small, hence they haven't pledged so much with the mills. It's the central region with its flat vast fields and 3 crops a year that have heavily invested in this scheme.

[pmugghc]

It is the duty of a government (rather than a single party or coalition) to govern fairly and equally for all of the countries constituents, whether they voted for a political party or not.

A partisan ruling party is not a democracy.

You hit the nail on the head. They have even said "if you don't vote for us don't expect any extra budgets." Wasn't there supposed to be 2 new convention centers? The one in Phuket was scrapped but the one in CM was given funding.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[mightyatom]

It is interesting that this does not include farmers from the North and North East regions, possibly because of their loyalty to the PTP, but also possibly becuase they have been paid more than in the other regions.

It would be interesting to have clear figures on which farmers have been paid and which have not.

It is the duty of a government (rather than a single party or coalition) to govern fairly and equally for all of the countries constituents, whether they voted for a political party or not.

if there is evidence that the ruling party has favoured their supporters, then this is a clear case of dereliction of duty and would be a justification for the protesters in their fight against the current administration and its replacement.

A partisan ruling party is not a democracy.

For the PTP apologists - yes, this has been a feature of Thai politics and similar charges could be levelled against previous government, but that is NOT an excuse.

There are a lot from Korat and Buriram that have not been paid and have been closing roads.

Eventually, most of the farmers will make the trip (I hope).... 1.4 million families and all their workers and friends and neighbours too.... Wow... this could get very interesting.

I hope they storm the places where they think these ministers are hiding and pluck them out 1 by 1.

[Bluespunk]

I'm hoping this is just a bluff to chivvy the govt up on meeting their debts. If not, this could get very messy.

[Suriya4]

Good, so Bangkok tax-payers do not have to subsidize those up-country poor farmers anymore. What a relief.

[gemini81]

Pro -red commie expats sure are silent about this one!

Lets see who can spin a twist to it and create a conspiracy.

Can't fool all the people all the time.

[Soutpeel]

Pro -red commie expats sure are silent about this one!

Lets see who can spin a twist to it and create a conspiracy.

Can't fool all the people all the time.

its all Sutheps faults, he's to blame, he's the one...he's a fascist you know....

[worgeordie]

The twin prong attack,just like the Zulus,

The farmers on one flank,people looking

for change on the other,will the Government

still hang on when even their avid supporters ,

the farmers have had enough.

regards Worgeordie

[phutoie2]

Well I can see that the farmers when angered will be formidable folks to come a knocking.

I can see these people will have a lot more potential for violence than any student.

Waiting for the first to be shot at or smacked on the head with a baton, and it will go off big time.

The best thing for the government now is to step down or run.

Drama Queen, 50,000 hardly all the farmers, is it? , and what they going to do in Bangkok? mow everyone down with their Kubota's.

Dream on, and most farmers in the central region have been paid. No ones mobilizing anywhere in this province.

[JeremyBowskill]

Pro -red commie expats sure are silent about this one!

Lets see who can spin a twist to it and create a conspiracy.

Can't fool all the people all the time.

Why would any expat spend any time arguing either side? I do love watching expats take whatever side and get hot and bothered over something they can do nothing about, other than to at best influence their better halves decision on voting day. Our opinions are pretty much unwanted by either side (unless its the side you are supporting and then they may be tolerated) so why bother? I know the standard reply is, "because we want what's best for Thailand", however bitching on here either way is pretty unlikely to have an effect on that.

[binjalin]

Pro -red commie expats

Pathetic

[Thaddeus]

Pro -red commie expats

Pathetic

Is that the best you have?

I suspect it is.

[JRSoul]

Drama Queen, 50,000 hardly all the farmers, is it? , and what they going to do in Bangkok? mow everyone down with their Kubota's.

Dream on, and most farmers in the central region have been paid. No ones mobilizing anywhere in this province.

Excellent choice of avatar! A character who lost sight of the big picture to the extent of supporting the enemy; most apt.

[Crushdepth]

It is interesting that this does not include farmers from the North and North East regions, possibly because of their loyalty to the PTP, but also possibly becuase they have been paid more than in the other regions.

It would be interesting to have clear figures on which farmers have been paid and which have not.

It is the duty of a government (rather than a single party or coalition) to govern fairly and equally for all of the countries constituents, whether they voted for a political party or not.

if there is evidence that the ruling party has favoured their supporters, then this is a clear case of dereliction of duty and would be a justification for the protesters in their fight against the current administration and its replacement.

A partisan ruling party is not a democracy.

For the PTP apologists - yes, this has been a feature of Thai politics and similar charges could be levelled against previous government, but that is NOT an excuse.

Most of the outstanding payments are owed in the central and coastal/eastern provinces, ie. not in the north or northeast. Which somehow makes it seem even more cynical.

[Time Traveller]

Good, so Bangkok tax-payers do not have to subsidize those up-country poor farmers anymore. What a relief.

Great idea, no subsidies and less money for those ungrateful protesting farmers!

Edited February 13, 2014 by Time Traveller

[fish fingers]

If 50,000 farmers do end up going to Bangkok, its game over.

Well, unless Suthep manages to find another way of screwing up a sure thing

[Scamper]

" All relevant ministers who they met during the talk also refused to allow them to meet the prime minister saying she has other important matter to do, Pradit said. "

I think we are all captivated at this point - exactly what is it that is occupying Yingluck's attention ? To put it rather bluntly - what is she doing ? If it's to reassure farmers and show her solidarity with them through her facebook page, I think we can safely say that hasn't worked. If it's to make public statements that her administration is clean, and all things will be taken care of for the people, and everybody is happy, so just give happy a chance - I think we can safely say that hasn't worked either. In the ecstatic run-up to the 2011 election, Pheu Thai proudly distributed Yingluck cardboard life-sized cut-outs. Perhaps we should have read something into that.

[aimbc]

Wow sounds like these farmers are serious. Luckily the government has SOE enacted, so they can stop these farmers. Ok Chalerm, here is your chance to be in the limelight. Stop these farmers

[casindonet]

Maybe a good time to have another election & this time around I have a feeling that PTP get their butts kicked.

Sent from my GT-I9200 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Showbags]

Will all the farmers daughters be coming also ?