First 50 rice farmers file court cases against government

[Lite Beer]

First 50 rice farmers file court cases against government

BANGKOK: A group of 50 farmers has launched the first civil court lawsuit against the caretaker government to demand a total of 19 million baht in compensation for the rice they submitted to the pledging scheme.

The defendants were named as caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na Ranong, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsonphaisan, caretaker Agriculture Minister Yukol Limlaemthong, caretaker deputy commerce ministers Nattawut Saikuea and Yanyong Phuangrach, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, the Commerce Ministry and the Public Warehouse Organisation (PWO).

Rawee Ruangruang, acting chair of the Network of Thai Farmers for Reclaiming Money under the Rice Pledging Scheme, said farm representatives and lawyers had supplied the court with pledging tickets (bai prathuan) issued by the PWO when the rice was delivered to warehouses.

He said there are more than 100 farmers under the network that been affected by the overdue payment, but 50 had already completed the necessary documentation to file their cases. The highest claim for the group was 300,000 baht. More farmers will file lawsuits later.

Mr Rawee said the network also considered filing criminal lawsuits against the caretaker government for fraud. But they will stage a protest at the Office of the Permanent Secretary of Defence on Monday to ask for details of the progress of the overdue payments.

Kriengkrai Chaimongkol, a leader of a farmers' group in Phayao’s Dok Kham Tai district, said his group had also gathered documentation to file civil court cases for compensation plus 7.5% annual interest. They will also file for a criminal case on fraud charges as well.

“The farmers' problem is about living, not politics. Villagers used to admire the policies of Thaksin Shinawatra and even now they still like them. However, we have to separate the problem and the policy,” he said.

In Phichit, the Provincial Lawyers Council has been instructed by the Law Council of Thailand to assist farmers who had not yet received payment for the grain they pledged with the government.

The council will help more than 100 farmers to file court cases against a miller in the province alleging fraud.

The caretaker government owes a total of seven to eight billion baht to farmers in the province.

For the whole country, the government owes around 130 billion baht to over one million farmers. The government has said that it has tried several means to get the money, including borrowing from financial institutions, but no commercial bank wants to get involved in lending money for fear of a crisis of confidence and damage to their reputation. State-run banks have been subjected to criticism by protesters for wanting to lend financial support to the government.

The situation has prompted rice growers to threaten to withdraw their deposits from the state-run Krungthai Bank (KTB) if it fails to offer loans to the rice scheme to meet overdue payments, reports said.

Wichian Puanglamjiag, chairman of the Thai Farmers Association, said farmers are suffering because the caretaker government has no money to make payments for rice they pledged several months ago.

The farmers have no money for daily expenses and cannot make overdue debt payments, he said.

“Farmers understand well that the government has been trying hard to find money to make the rice payments, but no commercial banks or other financial institutions have offered the needed loans.

“This is because they are afraid of the PDRC protest leader, Suthep Thaugsuban, who has threatened that banks that offer loans to the government will face a problem.

“It’s the rice farmers who are facing the negative consequences as a result,” Mr Wichian said.

The caretaker government has also tried to release its stockpiles, after sitting on them for a long time.

The latest move is to offer to sell around 687,000 tonnes of different grades of rice directly to local buyers via auction and through the Agricultural Futures Exchange of Thailand (Afet).

The government expects to generate more than 10 billion baht from the sales.

Another 100,000 tonnes would be offered again via Afet on Feb 26.


-- Phuket News 2014-02-14

[winstonc]

a pre-written script handed to him ..by

[ggold]

This is because they are afraid of the PDRC protest leader, Suthep Thaugsuban, who has threatened that banks that offer loans to the government will face a problem.

“It’s the rice farmers who are facing the negative consequences as a result,” Mr Wichian said.

Yet Suthep has said the banks can lend money, OK he flip flopped! BUT. They are trying so hard at blaming others, then where it lays with the government.

The situation has prompted rice growers to threaten to withdraw their deposits from the state-run Krungthai Bank (KTB) if it fails to offer loans to the rice scheme to meet overdue payments, reports said.

So on the other hand< if Suthep doesn't cause a run on the banks,We will!!!!

Edited February 14, 2014 by ggold

[mightyatom]

This is because they are afraid of the PDRC protest leader, Suthep Thaugsuban, who has threatened that banks that offer loans to the government will face a problem.

“It’s the rice farmers who are facing the negative consequences as a result,” Mr Wichian said.

Yet Suthep has said the banks can lend money, OK he flip flopped! BUT. They are trying so hard at blaming others, then where it lays with the government.

The situation has prompted rice growers to threaten to withdraw their deposits from the state-run Krungthai Bank (KTB) if it fails to offer loans to the rice scheme to meet overdue payments, reports said.

So on the other hand< if Suthep doesn't cause a run on the banks,We will!!!!

Suthep knows fine well that the banks won't lend the gov the money because they know it will create massive problems from many directions.

Strange how the skint farmers are revealing they have money deposited in KTB, so why extend your loans if you are solvent?

Depositors with a much more damaging clout will withdraw their money if they DO expend loans to the government.

Not a good time to be a bank in Thailand is it? But the bank's bosses have an easy choice. Lose deposits from rice farmers or lose deposits from everyone else.

[ikurauni]

<Farmers understand well that the government has been trying hard to find money to make the rice payments, but no commercial banks or other financial institutions have offered the needed loans.>

The government has not tied hard to find the criminals who stole the money.

<This is because they are afraid of the PDRC protest leader, Suthep Thaugsuban, who has threatened that banks that offer loans to the government will face a problem.>

The government is always blaming someone. It is their fault that the farmers have not been paid. They don't want to admit it.

Suthep changed his position about the bank loan. Now he is saying that he wants banks to help.

However, the banks are not sure about the loans to the government. The banks' decision has nothing to do with Suthep now.

[Blackmirage2013]

I gotta tell you.... all this talk about rice is making me hungry... I can just see and smell the delicious, fragrant jasmine rice right now... Mmmm.... I can taste it, mixed with delicious Thai food.... just think, living in Thailand I can eat this every day..... it is NOT a delicacy, I can have it every day!!

And now, thanks to the incumbent government, I can eat rice every meal every snack, every time my stomach grumbles for food! It is plentiful, inexpensive and all over the place!

[ggold]

This is because they are afraid of the PDRC protest leader, Suthep Thaugsuban, who has threatened that banks that offer loans to the government will face a problem.

“It’s the rice farmers who are facing the negative consequences as a result,” Mr Wichian said.

Yet Suthep has said the banks can lend money, OK he flip flopped! BUT. They are trying so hard at blaming others, then where it lays with the government.

The situation has prompted rice growers to threaten to withdraw their deposits from the state-run Krungthai Bank (KTB) if it fails to offer loans to the rice scheme to meet overdue payments, reports said.

So on the other hand< if Suthep doesn't cause a run on the banks,We will!!!!

Suthep knows fine well that the banks won't lend the gov the money because they know it will create massive problems from many directions.

Strange how the skint farmers are revealing they have money deposited in KTB, so why extend your loans if you are solvent?

Depositors with a much more damaging clout will withdraw their money if they DO expend loans to the government.

Not a good time to be a bank in Thailand is it? But the bank's bosses have an easy choice. Lose deposits from rice farmers or lose deposits from everyone else.

These two farmers leader must be in a tricky situation, I wonder if they get a bonus from the government for bringing their members votes when needed, but now are facing their members anger at not being paid, maybe they lose their bonus or their job bepending on how it turns out!

I would be interested to know how as one has said they need to "separate the problem and the policy"

the policy is the problem is it not? maybe the answer lies in these words!

Villagers used to admire the policies of Thaksin Shinawatra and even now they still like them.

problem is they don't work, or we have to separate the problem and the policy

Thaksin!

[Blackmirage2013]

Okay, now this is serious!

Most of the protesters in Bangkok have jobs and some version of a BMW or aspirations of such... they are not suffering... their biggest decision is whether to upgrade to the new Samsung Galaxy 5 or Note or iPhone...

The poor rice farmer got backstabbed badly... they don't have money to eat, let alone buy a handheld communication device! They have lost face with their family and they are on the ropes.

I feel sorry for them, yes.... and you know, if they riot and blockade the government buildings, then good for them... they got SCREWED and they are not going to sit around and take it.

Now they realize that all the benefits and money that was suppose to go to them to help their lives actually went into some rich, corrupt politicians pockets!!!

I feel for them.... talk about BREAKING TRUST!!!!!

Edited February 14, 2014 by Blackmirage2013

[bubblegum]

I bet YL now does NOT wish it could be Valentines Day every day

[ramrod711]

The defendants were named as caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na Ranong, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsonphaisan, caretaker Agriculture Minister Yukol Limlaemthong, caretaker deputy commerce ministers Nattawut Saikuea and Yanyong Phuangrach, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, the Commerce Ministry and the Public Warehouse Organisation (PWO).

I suppose Tarit is about to seize all their assets until the the charges are verified, NOT. These are the good guys as far as he is concerned. But, all those whistle blowers are in big trouble.

[Scamper]

" Farmers understand well that the government has been trying hard to find money to make the rice payments, but no commercial banks or other financial institutions have offered the needed loans. This is because they are afraid of the PDRC protest leader, Suthep Thaugsuban, who has threatened that banks that offer loans to the government will face a problem. "

Actually, Suthep has completely reversed himself on this ( which was an incredulous flip ), but to be sure, Pheu Thai will not correct this man. But the misinformation that the administration is putting out - that they are doing everything they can, but it's the banks that are getting in the way - is taking hold among some, while being viewed with justified skepticism by others. Natawutt likely never anticipated in his wildest dreams being a defendant in such a case. One thing will be different, however. He won't be able to count on swaying farmer sympathy by donning his stock-in-trade UDD red shirt.

[icommunity]

I am sure the complaining farmers will get what they deserved.

[SamMunich]

Why should the banks lend money to the Caretakers? They are in business, not in politics.

And if a deal is too bad, then there is no way you can get a bank to participate. Ying-un-lucky not and neither the Kamnan.

Anybody who thinks the banks can be pushed this or that way doesn't know about what this economic system is about. Go back to school!

Without a 1,000% surety, that the Caretakers will also be the next government, no state-owned (in fact only partially) bank will risk lending money which the bank can as well kiss goodbye. Not KTB, not BAAC, not GHB or GSB (sp?)...

Good riddance, Caretakers

[mikemac]

Why would the banks trust PTP anyway, they have a long and dirty rap sheet made up of moving the goalposts, corruption and lying.

And why do these PTP supporting clowns keep trying to blame Suthep for all the governments' problems ? Seriously, even if Suthep was never born these problems would still exist. Would have someone else leading the protesters, that's all.