Thai-China rice deals: PCAD protests at Chinese embassy in Bangkok

[webfact]

Thai-China Rice Deals: PCAD Protests At Embassy
By Khaosod English



BANGKOK: -- Anti-government protesters have rallied in front of the Chinese embassy in Bangkok to protest the recently-agreed rice deal between Thailand and China.

The Thai government announced yesterday that the kingdom has secured an agreement to sell 1 million tonnes of rice under the rice mortgage scheme to a state enterprise agency in China called COFCO Corporation.

The agreement reportedly details that the first batch of rice - 400,000 tonnes - will be shipped between March and July.

The government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been facing immense criticism over its rice-pledging program. The Thai government has been desperately seeking buyer for millions of tonnes of rice stored in numerous silos across the country.

It is unclear whether the deal would survive scrutiny of the state anti-corruption agencies. A previous announcement by Ms. Yingluck's government that Thailand would sell rice under "government-to-government" scheme (G2G) to a Chinese state agency last year has been recently labelled as a bogus claim by the National Anti-Corruption Commisssion (NACC).

Today, supporters of the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) also marched to the Embassy of People's Republic of China in Bangkok to voice their displeasure with the news that China will buy rice from Ms. Yingluck's controversial program.

The protesters also claimed that they want to inform the Chinese government of a separatist movement in Thailand which aims to secede pro-government provinces, and to urge the Chinese not to support such movements.

PCAD protesters later dispersed from the Embassy without any violent incident.

Nevertheless, their rally was criticised by Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, who also serves as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"I don't want them to organise a protest like that, because the Chinese want to buy Thai rice out of their desire to help Thai farmers," Mr. Surapong said.

He also expressed his belief that the Chinese authorities have been aware of PCAD's previous attempts to disrupt the payment to farmers under the scheme by blocking a number of banks which were slated to provide loans for the government's rice payment funds.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1394083492&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2014-03-06

[toybits]

It becomes clearer which group is obstructing the resolution of the Thai Rice Farmers Ordeal. And then, this very same group is surprised when they are not elected into office. If they truly want to help the Thai Rice Farmers, they should be cheering the Chinese Government for helping save these poor and suffering rice farmers. But they aren't.

Perhaps it is because these protesters are only USING the Thai Rice Farmers problem as a means to their end.

Machiavellian indeed.

[Costas2008]

"I don't want them to organise a protest like that, because the Chinese want to buy Thai rice out of their desire to help Thai farmers," Mr. Surapong said."

No, Khun Surapong, the Chinese are not buying the rice to help the farmers.

They are buying it because of the dirt cheap price you are selling to them.

And I don't want any clever questions as to how I know the price.

Use your common sense.

Edited March 6, 2014 by Costas2008

[h90]

"I don't want them to organise a protest like that, because the Chinese want to buy Thai rice out of their desire to help Thai farmers," Mr. Surapong said."

No, Khun Surapong, the Chinese are not buying the rice to help the farmers.

They are buying it because of the dirt cheap price you are selling to them.

And I don't want any clever questions as to how I know the price.

Use your common sense.

So you can't imagine the Chinese government discussing how to help Thai rice farmer and spontaneous decided to buy some rice for humanitarian reasons? Well I guess no one can imagine that.....

[Thai at Heart]

I think protesting this is to say the least, not the best way to unify the country.

Let the farmers get some wonga for gods sake.

[Prbkk]

To the extent that these people ever had a plot, they have now completely lost it. Insane....

[patjem]

"I don't want them to organise a protest like that, because the Chinese want to buy Thai rice out of their desire to help Thai farmers," Mr. Surapong said."

No, Khun Surapong, the Chinese are not buying the rice to help the farmers.

They are buying it because of the dirt cheap price you are selling to them.

And I don't want any clever questions as to how I know the price.

Use your common sense.

Quite correct, Costas.

I live in China now these days, and outside from cities is mainly farming communities, a lot of rice, similar to Thailand. China would only be interested in buying rice from Thailand if the price makes sense to them.... else it would be sought domestically.

My hunch is that no or few actual purchases will result from the MOU.

[patjem]

To the extent that these people ever had a plot, they have now completely lost it. Insane....

I agree. Why the hell would China want to buy rice from Thailand unless it is sold to them cheaper than their own domestic supply? Smoke & mirrors, and they actually think people believe their claim. Insane.

[Thai at Heart]

"I don't want them to organise a protest like that, because the Chinese want to buy Thai rice out of their desire to help Thai farmers," Mr. Surapong said."

No, Khun Surapong, the Chinese are not buying the rice to help the farmers.

They are buying it because of the dirt cheap price you are selling to them.

And I don't want any clever questions as to how I know the price.

Use your common sense.

Quite correct, Costas.

I live in China now these days, and outside from cities is mainly farming communities, a lot of rice, similar to Thailand. China would only be interested in buying rice from Thailand if the price makes sense to them.... else it would be sought domestically.

My hunch is that no or few actual purchases will result from the MOU.

There are some rice varieties that are highly sort after. They aren't buying thai rice to feed every man in china. Making statements like "they grow rice in china, why do they want"? Is a bit silly.

They make cars there too and phones, I can't think why they buy iPhone or BMW.

[patjem]

"I don't want them to organise a protest like that, because the Chinese want to buy Thai rice out of their desire to help Thai farmers," Mr. Surapong said."

No, Khun Surapong, the Chinese are not buying the rice to help the farmers.

They are buying it because of the dirt cheap price you are selling to them.

And I don't want any clever questions as to how I know the price.

Use your common sense.

Quite correct, Costas.

I live in China now these days, and outside from cities is mainly farming communities, a lot of rice, similar to Thailand. China would only be interested in buying rice from Thailand if the price makes sense to them.... else it would be sought domestically.

My hunch is that no or few actual purchases will result from the MOU.

There are some rice varieties that are highly sort after. They aren't buying thai rice to feed every man in china. Making statements like "they grow rice in china, why do they want"? Is a bit silly.

They make cars there too and phones, I can't think why they buy iPhone or BMW.

Before we get off-topic, perhaps you should check who makes iPhones for Apple, and where they're all made, and also what varieties of rice are also grown in the S provinces of China... then you'll understand.

[Snig27]

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"I don't want them to organise a protest like that, because the Chinese want to buy Thai rice out of their desire to help Thai farmers," Mr. Surapong said."

No, Khun Surapong, the Chinese are not buying the rice to help the farmers.

They are buying it because of the dirt cheap price you are selling to them.

And I don't want any clever questions as to how I know the price.

Use your common sense.

I'm always incredibly impressed with your deep inside knowledge of the discussions and private interactions between people that the rest of us are not privy to. Have you thought about sharing these sources with the media?

Or do you just make this stuff up?

[Nickymaster]

It becomes clearer which group is obstructing the resolution of the Thai Rice Farmers Ordeal. And then, this very same group is surprised when they are not elected into office. If they truly want to help the Thai Rice Farmers, they should be cheering the Chinese Government for helping save these poor and suffering rice farmers. But they aren't.

Perhaps it is because these protesters are only USING the Thai Rice Farmers problem as a means to their end.

Machiavellian indeed.

or they know that PT government is dumping rice through their own foreign trading companies to make a "small" profit abroad.

[Snig27]

To the extent that these people ever had a plot, they have now completely lost it. Insane....

I agree. Why the hell would China want to buy rice from Thailand unless it is sold to them cheaper than their own domestic supply? Smoke & mirrors, and they actually think people believe their claim. Insane.

Yep, because they don't have the same deep understanding of economics and supply and demand that the connected (to a bar in Pattaya) commenters on Thai Visa have.

[Fat Haggis]

Of course they're having to sell it cheaper, otherwise the market will be flooded driving the price even lower, it's called "dumping"

I just don't get it, the protestors seem to want to destroy anything that's remotely connected with the Government, and don't care who suffers through their actions. I wonder how they planned to shift the thousands of tonnes of rotting rice without having to sell is it a lower market value??

[Nickymaster]

"I don't want them to organise a protest like that, because the Chinese want to buy Thai rice out of their desire to help Thai farmers," Mr. Surapong said.

Liar. They buy rice because it is dead cheap. As if the Chinese want to help Thailand........

[SamMunich]

it is so easy to say "we have a mutual understanding", but nothing will come out of it. If they had sold the rice some 3 or 4 months ago, they could have the money now, maybe!

About this "deal" no additional information has been given as to exact dates and amounts of shipment, prices, payment terms etc. What if the Chinese reallt buy the rice but pay only 90 or 180 days AFTER the last shipment.

So lets wait for actually signed contracts and for the exact conditions.

I would hope the farmers get at least some of their money, so they can survive, but I guess it will be good farmers get money, non-UDD folks have to wait eternally. Just like Taksin used to say: Those for us will get a better treatment than those against us.

[PatOngo]

There's two reasons the Chinese are buying the rice.......there's a profit to be made and Chinese like to eat rice!

[Scamper]

The " deal " with China is a Memorandum of Understanding only. Surapong - who has been a private citizen now for two days according to Article 127, but still wants to pretend he has the ears of the nation and the world - spreads the Thaksin talking talks with as much zeal as he ever did. But no one is listening. Maybe he should try singing.

[jaidam]

The Chinese government will be surprised at these protests, mainly because it will be the first they have heard about their rice purchasing plans. Apart from that it shouldn't be a problem, the Chinese government are famous for their tolerance and acceptance of protests against them.

[ShannonT]

Idiot move by the PDRC. I wonder what the few farmers they have sitting on the streets among them will think about this.

[Seastallion]

It becomes clearer which group is obstructing the resolution of the Thai Rice Farmers Ordeal. And then, this very same group is surprised when they are not elected into office. If they truly want to help the Thai Rice Farmers, they should be cheering the Chinese Government for helping save these poor and suffering rice farmers. But they aren't.

Perhaps it is because these protesters are only USING the Thai Rice Farmers problem as a means to their end.

Machiavellian indeed.

Ok.

So, if I was to be a part of a political party and we got elected, your advice to me (and my party) would be to make myself or my cronies rich by ripping off the country, then when people protest at my and my party's actions, I fabricate a scenario that appears to the great unwashed electorate to ease the burden I and my party have foisted upon them. The, when some protesters seek justice and in so doing appear to place obstacles in front of the supposed solution, the protesters will be roundly condemned for hindering the easing of the agrieved people's lives.

Wouldn't it have been better to have just NOT created the problem in the first place, especially if it involved pre-meditated fraud and theft knowingly hurting those electorate ignorant masses?

[Fat Haggis]

The " deal " with China is a Memorandum of Understanding only. Surapong - who has been a private citizen now for two days according to Article 127, but still wants to pretend he has the ears of the nation and the world - spreads the Thaksin talking talks with as much zeal as he ever did. But no one is listening. Maybe he should try singing.

Get yourself up the courts fella, you have it all sewn up, you've been spouting on about articles this that and the next thing for a few days now, and it galls you to see that despite everything you've posted here in relation to the constitution with totally pointless articles,as nothing has changed, NOBODY has made any decision as to whether the caretaker government is still in effect, here's a news flash, until they've been told they're no longer in power my man, suck it up!!

I'm no lover of corruption, but until everyone is informed through a legal process that Yingluck is no longer the caretaker PM, you need to accept that as FACT!!!

As I said yesterday, so many legal experts and 2 days after whatever article they believed ended the caretaker role, hasn't manifested itself by the Highest Judicial Group in the land... Instead of wasting the time and effort, which is appreciated by me by the way, as in all the articles about the constitution, why don't you yourself petition the Courts as to the legality of Yinglucks position?

A lot of you need to take a step back and let whatever happens take its course, let the REAL legal Eagles deal with the constitution, I'm sure there's many a Thai Lawyer thinking the same as many of you... she ain't going anywhere soon, and even if she did, I don't really care, she will just be replaced by another Politician who's potentially corrupt too.. be careful what you wish for

[Spartakos]

I'm sure the honest officials will publish the details of this wonderful deal so we can all see how much did the tax payers of thailand paid for the rice sold to China.

[toybits]

No! I would not advice you to enrich yourself. THAT is completely you idea. Perhaps, that is what you would want to do if you were in power... I really cannot answer that and will not even attempt to do so.

The protesters have gotten confused. So have you. That is probably because Mr. Suthep has gotten his ideas mixed up and is making things as he goes along - lashing out at anything and anyone who he feels is not dancing to his tune.

The problem of the rice farmers would probably not have been prolonged if Mr. Suthep and his backers did not force the government to dissolve parliament. But since it has - Mr. Suthep is trying to deflect blame to the government - when Mr. Suthep should be the one to take responsibility for that delay.

I also wonder why you and your party have to disparage other people as the great unwashed? Even if mentioned in jest, it just shows your elitist leaning...

It becomes clearer which group is obstructing the resolution of the Thai Rice Farmers Ordeal. And then, this very same group is surprised when they are not elected into office. If they truly want to help the Thai Rice Farmers, they should be cheering the Chinese Government for helping save these poor and suffering rice farmers. But they aren't.

Perhaps it is because these protesters are only USING the Thai Rice Farmers problem as a means to their end.

Machiavellian indeed.

Ok.

So, if I was to be a part of a political party and we got elected, your advice to me (and my party) would be to make myself or my cronies rich by ripping off the country, then when people protest at my and my party's actions, I fabricate a scenario that appears to the great unwashed electorate to ease the burden I and my party have foisted upon them. The, when some protesters seek justice and in so doing appear to place obstacles in front of the supposed solution, the protesters will be roundly condemned for hindering the easing of the agrieved people's lives.

Wouldn't it have been better to have just NOT created the problem in the first place, especially if it involved pre-meditated fraud and theft knowingly hurting those electorate ignorant masses?

[Estrada]

First there is the news that the High Speed Rail link projects that the Chinese want to Construct are still up for grabs and at the same time there is the news that the Chinese have signed an M.O.U. to buy Thai Rice. The two have got to be linked.

[Thai at Heart]

"I don't want them to organise a protest like that, because the Chinese want to buy Thai rice out of their desire to help Thai farmers," Mr. Surapong said."

No, Khun Surapong, the Chinese are not buying the rice to help the farmers.

They are buying it because of the dirt cheap price you are selling to them.

And I don't want any clever questions as to how I know the price.

Use your common sense.

Quite correct, Costas.

I live in China now these days, and outside from cities is mainly farming communities, a lot of rice, similar to Thailand. China would only be interested in buying rice from Thailand if the price makes sense to them.... else it would be sought domestically.

My hunch is that no or few actual purchases will result from the MOU.

There are some rice varieties that are highly sort after. They aren't buying thai rice to feed every man in china. Making statements like "they grow rice in china, why do they want"? Is a bit silly.

They make cars there too and phones, I can't think why they buy iPhone or BMW.

Before we get off-topic, perhaps you should check who makes iPhones for Apple, and where they're all made, and also what varieties of rice are also grown in the S provinces of China... then you'll understand.

Duh. The point is, all rice is not the same. There are 1000s of varieties of rice, and certain types of Thai ones are used for reasons. China produces infinitely more rice than Thailand, but people still import if for some specialist uses and high quality blending. Yes China produces a lot of rice. That has little or nothing to do with why they may or may not buy Thai rice. They aren't buying this to just throwing it into the their massive stockpile.

If they could produce rice exactly to the same quality as Thailand, no they wouldn't need to buy it. Have you ever eaten rice in China in an average restaurant? Yes indeed, it is closer to semolina with the odd bit of gravel in it. I am not sure which quality of "broken" it equates to, but to find a piece that is longer than 4mm is quite rare. China as a rule exports no rice whatsoever, it is a net importer. So, coming up with generic statements like "China grows a lot of rice, I don' t know why they need it", when you are trying to feed a population of 1.4bn is a bit of a basic analysis don't you think. If they were short of volume to feed 100mn people, which is more than the entire population of Thailand, that would constitute a bit of a national crisis wouldn't it. I am not sure however if you were living in Shanghai you might now quite how many rai of land, and total tons that might constitute.

[rickirs]

So this is how it goes. Suthep would rather give 10 billion baht collected from the public to attorneys (excluding any kickback) to sue the government for not paying the rice farmers than supporting Thailand government rice sales to China that will generate direct proceeds for the rice farmers. Does anybody see a problem with the PDRC being hypocrites?

[mojorison]

To the extent that these people ever had a plot, they have now completely lost it. Insane....

I agree. Why the hell would China want to buy rice from Thailand unless it is sold to them cheaper than their own domestic supply? Smoke & mirrors, and they actually think people believe their claim. Insane.

It's not that simple. There could be many different enticements. Trade/business opportunities etc..

[agent69]

"I don't want them to organise a protest like that, because the Chinese want to buy Thai rice out of their desire to help Thai farmers," Mr. Surapong said."

No, Khun Surapong, the Chinese are not buying the rice to help the farmers.

They are buying it because of the dirt cheap price you are selling to them.

And I don't want any clever questions as to how I know the price.

Use your common sense.

So you can't imagine the Chinese government discussing how to help Thai rice farmer and spontaneous decided to buy some rice for humanitarian reasons? Well I guess no one can imagine that.....

I can't imagine Chinese government buying rice out of the goodness of their hearts. Chinese government has always made their international relationship strictly business. They will not interfere with any internal conflicts. So if the deal is good, they would take it.

[briankie]

It becomes clearer which group is obstructing the resolution of the Thai Rice Farmers Ordeal. And then, this very same group is surprised when they are not elected into office. If they truly want to help the Thai Rice Farmers, they should be cheering the Chinese Government for helping save these poor and suffering rice farmers. But they aren't.

Perhaps it is because these protesters are only USING the Thai Rice Farmers problem as a means to their end.

Machiavellian indeed.

yes mate

i have said for a long time anti govt ? protesters helping themselves there it is written