Farmers cancel Suvarnabhumi Airport protest plan

[Mudcrab]

the government would be very wise to get rid of this problem as it will obscure the real battle with the elites attempt to 'hang on' to power

Agreed the Shinawatra elites are having a battle to hang on to power.

Wouldn't it be a treat if the Thai people in Bangkok who have been protesting in their tens of thousands for months and the Thai rural people actually came together and made Thailand the place it could be without the the corruption of the Shins?

I like the way you say "get rid of this problem" - very Mao/Stalinish...well done your true colours are showing. Get rid of the peasant problem.

[Now or Never]

Thank you 3 times

[NoshowJones]

Why the Airport?

Because it has the precedent of closing down the country and causing a past government to fall.

in fairness, they were planning to park up in the long-stay field and had promised not to disrupt flights.

I wonder if they were given petrol money for the return trip home ?

No, they are going to buy buffaloes, the ones back at the farm are sick.

[NoshowJones]

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Well looks like they just got lied to again, right into their faces. And they still believe they're going to get paid by this government. I guess you can't blame the desperate for having hope. It's the same as buying a lottery ticket and hoping to strike it rich.

Nope. They were given a face saving way out of being used by Suthep.

The farmers have a legitimate gripe, but they realize that the government has done its utmost to get them their money. It doesn't take a genius to realize that Suthep has done everything he can to block their payment.

The rice farmers may not have much love for the government, but they are not about to help a group of thugs who ridicule them and that has the potential to hurt them more.

They came on their own accord. Like you said, they have a legitimate gripe.

Suthep never blocked their payment. The government lied to the farmers and their Hail Mary loan from GSB was called off because of the bank run to the tune of 100 billion baht and counting. That's almost as much as the amount they were going to lend the Shins in the first place. You going to blame Suthep for that too?

They may not want to help hurt the government but it seems the lying Shinawatras don't seem to want to return the favor. In 6 weeks, when they're not paid again, they'll be back and this time they'll shut the airport for sure. Even the nicest people aren't going to allow themselves to be screwed that many times.

Oh you,d be surprised as to how STUPID these people really are!

All the protesters are STUPID, they think they are hurting the government, but all they are doing is inconveniencing and damaging the livelihood of their own kind, the working class. Are they that STUPID they think that by blowing their wee whistles, they are bothering the government?

[SICHONSTEVE]

Certainly all credit is due to the farmers for taking their current action. However what sort of reaction can be expected if payment is not made as promised ?

Talk is cheap, however if those promises are not kept remember that ''revenge is a dish best eaten cold.''

The Shinwatra clique needs to tread very carefully, now they are putting themselves and their political cronies into a very dangerous corner if those promises are not fulfilled.

One is led to wonder just how long it may be before the Shinwatra family flee into the wide blue yonder and the desert sands this time and with how much money too.

Even if they are paid (highly unlikely) I think there will be questions asked as to the source of this money, so its a no-win situation.

[TVGerry]

All the protesters are STUPID, they think they are hurting the government, but all they are doing is inconveniencing and damaging the livelihood of their own kind, the working class. Are they that STUPID they think that by blowing their wee whistles, they are bothering the government?

SOE, PM having to run around changing offices, PM dissolving parliament becoming caretaker, Chalerm getting all hot and bothered. You're right, they're not bothering the government!

[Mr Yim]

I am surprised the Government is still there to make these promises, as I am sure Suthep was going to remove them once and for all on Wednesday or maybe he got distracted trying to organise a fist fight with Chalerm.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Even the nicest people aren't going to allow themselves to be screwed that many times.

Not so sure about that... Thus far, as a group, they've showed themselves capable of getting lied to and screwed over almost endlessly.

It makes me wonder if the average farmer still really believes that Thaksin and PT are their saviors, or just that their leadership (the guy who's a PT coalition partner) was either bought off or otherwise swayed.

Either the government's going to end up lying again...or... they're going to pretty quickly have to pull a 160 billion baht rabbit out of a hat somewhere, somehow.

[NoshowJones]

All the protesters are STUPID, they think they are hurting the government, but all they are doing is inconveniencing and damaging the livelihood of their own kind, the working class. Are they that STUPID they think that by blowing their wee whistles, they are bothering the government?

SOE, PM having to run around changing offices, PM dissolving parliament becoming caretaker, Chalerm getting all hot and bothered. You're right, they're not bothering the government!

I'm really just making the point that the protesters are hurting their own kind by "shutting down Bangkok"

[NHT]

Wonder if they've heard that before? - go, asks them, then you know.

I bet some money changed hands - how much do you want to bet, USD100K?

The Thaksin Control Group preys on the gullible and desperate. - prove it?

It's the same as buying a lottery ticket and hoping to strike it rich. - same? lottery ticket cost money, promise is free!

Why the Airport? - go, asks them, then you know.

Amazing

[pkspeaker]

why is everyone blaming the Yingluck administration for the governments inability to pay?

The rice farmers were not in financial straits before the protesters and democrats forced Yingluck into caretaker status, limiting them governments ability to fund the program, and then the PAD/PDRC staff and pro PAD/PDRC boycotters are sabotaging the lending of funds.. then they use it to blame the govt.

BTW the rice subsidy is less than 8% of the national budget so spare me the she's bankrupting us bit.

[TVGerry]

why is everyone blaming the Yingluck administration for the governments inability to pay?

The rice farmers were not in financial straits before the protesters and democrats forced Yingluck into caretaker status, limiting them governments ability to fund the program, and then the PAD/PDRC staff and pro PAD/PDRC boycotters are sabotaging the lending of funds.. then they use it to blame the govt.

BTW the rice subsidy is less than 8% of the national budget so spare me the she's bankrupting us bit.

Get your fact rights.

She was the one who foolishly dissolved parliament and put it into caretaker status. As if that was going to solve the problem and send the protestors home. She got the GSB to lend the government some funds to pay off the farmers. However, the people didn't trust their money in a bank that would put their savings at risk lending money to a government that can't seem to cover their debts and obligations. So came the bank run up to a tune of 100 billion baht and counting. You going to blame the PAD/PRDC of that too?

Oh it's ONLY 8% of the national budget. A failed scam that ONLY cost 8% of the budget. Talk about spin doctoring.

ONLY!

[animatic]

The farmers are in a tough spot. The current government hasn't paid them yet, but if the government falls to Suthep or a military coup they won't ever get paid. Their best bet is to continually remind the government how pissed off they are without actually toppling it, which is what they appear to be doing.

Actually I bet Suthep's large council would move heaven and earth to pay the rice farmers

and move the ball into their court for the first time in a decade or more.

It would be by far their best move of any, it would consolidate power in one place

and make them a whole region of friends , be showing the farmers they are NOT forgotten by the opposition.

The rice pledging scheme for 2014 would be deader than a grave yard of ghosts,

but I doubt anyone will be missing it that much at grass roots level.

[outre99]

Well looks like they just got lied to again, right into their faces. And they still believe they're going to get paid by this government. I guess you can't blame the desperate for having hope. It's the same as buying a lottery ticket and hoping to strike it rich.

Nope. They were given a face saving way out of being used by Suthep.

The farmers have a legitimate gripe, but they realize that the government has done its utmost to get them their money. It doesn't take a genius to realize that Suthep has done everything he can to block their payment.

The rice farmers may not have much love for the government, but they are not about to help a group of thugs who ridicule them and that has the potential to hurt them more.

Would you be so kind and provide evidence of you assertion that "the government has done its utmost to get them their money... and that Suthep has done everything he can to block their payment."

The current fact is that the government stopped making payments months before Suthep's protests started due to the fact that the rice scheme could not sell enough rice and ran out of money. Which was predicted by Thai and Western economists who advised the Thai government not to continue with the scheme after its disastrous performance in the previous year.

Here are some more facts:

- As designed the scheme did not cover millions of small farmers because their volumes were too low. If the government really wanted to help the poor farmers why leave out the onese who need the most help?

- From day one the scheme controls were lacking which resulted in all sorts of abuse: double counting, foreign rice being pledged, poor storage conditions resulting in bug infestation and rot, etc. etc.

- The official who reported these abuses to PM was summarily dismissed and her reports discredited.

- A very small percentage of the funds actually ended up helpting the farmers. The millers and resellers took the lion's share, not to mention the skimmers.

- And don't forget the hubris and stupidity of trying to corner the global rice market by buying and holding vast quantities of rice at 40% premium over the market rates.

I do understand the uneducated and unformed red rank and file who keep drinking the coolaid and worship mr T thatnks to the worthwhile 30baht medical service that he institued years ago. But for a person like yourself with an opportunity to find detailed information and presumably an intellectual capacity to review and comprehend said information to keep spouting factually lacking red propaganda is trully bewildering.

[JesseFrank]

You all have to understand that the escape route has to stay open at any price .

There are no trains to Dubai.

[hellodolly]

Why the Airport?

Because it has the precedent of closing down the country and causing a past government to fall.

in fairness, they were planning to park up in the long-stay field and had promised not to disrupt flights.

I wonder if they were given petrol money for the return trip home ?

Yes I was wondering where they got the money for the trip down and the food. I guess they had lot's of rice. Seems like a long way to come to talk to the Prime Minister and if not that go to the airport and protest. They get here the Prime Minister has no time for them and they change their mind about protesting so they just turn around and drive home.

Say what you may but to me it speaks loud and clear that the education system here is not very good if they are a representative of it. I wonder how many of them had received the low cost loans from Thaksin to buy new scooters and cell phones pay of loan sharks with and still owe it..

[hellodolly]

Mr. Chada Thaiseth, a former MP of Chart Thai Pattana Party, said he has personally consulted with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday about the farmers′ distress, and he has been assured by Ms. Yingluck that the rice payment would arrive by next week.

If he had a meeting with her yesterday how come it took until 11.20 this morning for the news to break that they were calling off their protest?

It took them that long to understand it.

Yingluck said it so it must be so.

Let's go home fellas.

We have accomplished are mission.

[pkspeaker]

She was forced to disolved parliament after the democrats walked out in mass, she was elected to a 4 year term, why would she do it if it wasn't being forced on her, they are demanding she be removed from office so she immediatly provided them with a legal means to do it..

8% in the sense that certain propagandists are trying to turn the rice program into this 'economic crises' which it is not, there is no serious reason to think Thailand can't pay it's obligations. Does the staff revolt like that every time the bank makes a 'risky' loan?.. my impression is the revolting staffers are mostly anti-government.

in one bank(or2?)the staff revolted, another pulled out because of PAD/PDRC boycotters starting a run on the bank, Thaksins son and some other PT activists tried to deposit money into the accounts of the boycotted bank so the framers can get paid, so there the PAD/PDRC is intentionally preventing the poor farmers from getting paid and PT activists trying to block their sabotage..

then the PAD/PDRC villainize the government for neglecting to pay the farmers.

why is everyone blaming the Yingluck administration for the governments inability to pay?

The rice farmers were not in financial straits before the protesters and democrats forced Yingluck into caretaker status, limiting them governments ability to fund the program, and then the PAD/PDRC staff and pro PAD/PDRC boycotters are sabotaging the lending of funds.. then they use it to blame the govt.

BTW the rice subsidy is less than 8% of the national budget so spare me the she's bankrupting us bit.

Get your fact rights.

She was the one who foolishly dissolved parliament and put it into caretaker status. As if that was going to solve the problem and send the protestors home. She got the GSB to lend the government some funds to pay off the farmers. However, the people didn't trust their money in a bank that would put their savings at risk lending money to a government that can't seem to cover their debts and obligations. So came the bank run up to a tune of 100 billion baht and counting. You going to blame the PAD/PRDC of that too?

Oh it's ONLY 8% of the national budget. A failed scam that ONLY cost 8% of the budget. Talk about spin doctoring.

ONLY!

Edited February 21, 2014 by pkspeaker

[bushman1666]

Why the Airport?

AC is good and there is a good food court

Not that these poor folks could afford to eat in the Airport! Well, at least not until the government pay then for their rice.

[tezzainoz]

Suthep is not going to take this very well. He has now lost the farmers. He still has he family tho to support him.

Do you think from the area you sit on

1) where is the money going to come from

2) if they are not paid do you not think they will be back madder than ever

3) So there is the possibility Suthep has given Yingluck enough rope so she will hang her self again and again

4) Suthep has been at this for more than 3 months

1 more week is nothing to him

[hellodolly]

She was forced to disolved parliament after the democrats walked out in mass, she was elected to a 4 year term, why would she do it if it wasn't being forced on her, they are demanding she be removed from office so she immediatly provided them with a legal means to do it..

8% in the sense that certain propagandists are trying to turn the rice program into this 'economic crises' which it is not, there is no serious reason to think Thailand can't pay it's obligations. Does the staff revolt like that every time the bank makes a 'risky' loan?.. my impression is the revolting staffers are mostly anti-government.

in one bank(or2?)the staff revolted, another pulled out because of PAD/PDRC boycotters starting a run on the bank, Thaksins son and some other PT activists tried to deposit money into the accounts of the boycotted bank so the framers can get paid, so there the PAD/PDRC is intentionally preventing the poor farmers from getting paid and PT activists trying to block their sabotage..

then the PAD/PDRC villainize the government for neglecting to pay the farmers.

why is everyone blaming the Yingluck administration for the governments inability to pay?

The rice farmers were not in financial straits before the protesters and democrats forced Yingluck into caretaker status, limiting them governments ability to fund the program, and then the PAD/PDRC staff and pro PAD/PDRC boycotters are sabotaging the lending of funds.. then they use it to blame the govt.

BTW the rice subsidy is less than 8% of the national budget so spare me the she's bankrupting us bit.

Get your fact rights.

She was the one who foolishly dissolved parliament and put it into caretaker status. As if that was going to solve the problem and send the protestors home. She got the GSB to lend the government some funds to pay off the farmers. However, the people didn't trust their money in a bank that would put their savings at risk lending money to a government that can't seem to cover their debts and obligations. So came the bank run up to a tune of 100 billion baht and counting. You going to blame the PAD/PRDC of that too?

Oh it's ONLY 8% of the national budget. A failed scam that ONLY cost 8% of the budget. Talk about spin doctoring.

ONLY!

How was she forced to dissolve the house. Do you know nothing about politics.

She resigned because she could see her grip slipping away and knew that if she called elections real soon she could maintain it. She did not count on the opposition not agreeing to her plan. It back fired for her and now she is just digging the whole deeper and deeper every time she speaks.

Every time she speaks it just proves that Su8theps plan is the best. His plan does not say he will be the leader. In fact he doesn't say any names that would have to be decided. It would take time but for a Thai and an expat who love Thailand the result would be worth it.

[TVGerry]

She was forced to disolved parliament after the democrats walked out in mass, she was elected to a 4 year term, why would she do it if it wasn't being forced on her, they are demanding she be removed from office so she immediatly provided them with a legal means to do it..

8% in the sense that certain propagandists are trying to turn the rice program into this 'economic crises' which it is not, there is no serious reason to think Thailand can't pay it's obligations. Does the staff revolt like that every time the bank makes a 'risky' loan?.. my impression is the revolting staffers are mostly anti-government.

in one bank(or2?)the staff revolted, another pulled out because of PAD/PDRC boycotters starting a run on the bank, Thaksins son and some other PT activists tried to deposit money into the accounts of the boycotted bank so the framers can get paid, so there the PAD/PDRC is intentionally preventing the poor farmers from getting paid and PT activists trying to block their sabotage..

then the PAD/PDRC villainize the government for neglecting to pay the farmers.

She's the Prime Minister, she didn't have to dissolve her government. She did it anyway because she foolishly thought the protestors would disband, That's on her and her alone.

You talk about propaganda when you try to dismiss 8% of the country's as if it's nothing. It IS serious and only the reds and their apologists would say otherwise. This 8% has become NOTHING. There's no money anymore. Except stockpiles of rice that can't be sold and are turning rotten. Spin that.

GSB lost more then 100 billion baht through the bank run. Pray tell, do you have proof that the PRDC was behind it? No you don't. It's all speculation. Thaksin's son and PTP cronies tried to deposit money as a publicity stunt. How much did they put in? Enough to cover the 100 million baht? I think not.

You're the typical red. Your government screws up monumentally but instead of looking inwards, you blame others. You ignore the fact that the farmers were owed money even BEFORE the protests started while blaming the bank run on the PRDC. Unlike most reds, other people aren't dumb enough to leave their money in a bank that is stupid enough to lend money to a government who can't pay their debts to the farmers.

[metisdead]

A flame post has been removed.

[Nip]

Rice farmers planning to visit Suvarnabhumi Airport today are heading home after govt today vow to settle overdue rice subsidy payments next week /The Nation

According to Mr. Chada, Khun Chalerm gave his personal assurance that cheques would be faxed to the farmers early next week....

[steven100]

just heard from a close friend ... Yingluck maybe finished. Military moved at each site. Waiting for confirmed and further updates on Cheang Wattana and other locations, Asok etc ...

Wow !! is this it.

[lor]

Wow, Breaking News, You heard it first on Thai Visa!!

But maybe it is a good idea to get some facts before making any comments on what may or may not be happening.

[ThaiTrav]

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All the protesters are STUPID, they think they are hurting the government, but all they are doing is inconveniencing and damaging the livelihood of their own kind, the working class. Are they that STUPID they think that by blowing their wee whistles, they are bothering the government?

SOE, PM having to run around changing offices, PM dissolving parliament becoming caretaker, Chalerm getting all hot and bothered. You're right, they're not bothering the government!

Ahem... They are having fun and nightly entertainment free food too! Blowing whistles with joy .....nothing better to do People might start to think we are intelligent ....we don't want that !!!Anyway shins are bothered and that's a good thing!

[shrimpythailand]

oh yah the rule of thumb 30-40 % under the table money would mean like 3-6 Billion dollars was scooped up over the last 3 years and never made it into the farmers pockets..... damn...

[sirchai]

The red Kubota is mine. Had just changed the tires and painted the rims blue. The guy's name is "Somchai" and he works for us. -

Edited February 21, 2014 by sirchai

[metisdead]

If you're going to use derogatory nicknames of public figures, your posts will be removed.