Kittiratt to explain Thai political scene through World Bank-IMF meeting

[webfact]

Kittiratt to explain Thai political scene through World Bank-IMF meeting



BANGKOK, 8 April 2014 (NNT) - Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na Ranong revealed that he would use this year’s World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings during April 9th - 12th in Washington DC, U.S., to explain the international community about the current political situation in Thailand.

Mr. Kittiratt stated, despite the fact that the domestic political instability is posting threat to the nation’s economic growth, the minister is confident that Thailand’s economic fundamentals would remain strong, as the country still has sufficient international reserves, the ability to control its budget, and manageable public debts. He believed he would be able to convince the international community to understand that Thai economy is relatively safe.

The Finance Minister said that although the ongoing political rift may persist, the local economy should have enough strength to carry itself unlike some other nations which faced economic collapse after political factors had aggravated the domestic situation.


-- NNT 2014-04-08

[dcutman]

Did not both of thee organizations warn this government about it reckless spending and urge this government to modify its populous policy.

[Thaddeus]

The Finance Minister said that although the ongoing political rift may persist, the local economy should have enough strength to carry itself unlike some other nations which faced economic collapse after political factors had aggravated the domestic situation.

Look ......... over there!

[MaxLee]

This must be a late black and white lying April fools joke. And if so this isn't a funny one for the suffering people in Thailand.

[Nickymaster]

What a coincidence. He has to report to the NACC this Friday to testify in the rice scam.

[Skywalker69]

Mr. White Lies, in action.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Tatsujin]

I think most countries and organizations are quite grown up and worldly-wise and don't need this lying thief telling them what's what.

[Scamper]

Kittiratt - who manages to remain wet in more ways than one - even outside of Songkran - is managing to do a number of effective things this week. He manages to continue the Pheu Thai fiction that the debt is manageable ( ! ), that the budget is under control ( ! ), that he's an acting cabinet minister ( ! ), and he gets to dodge being a witness at the NACC hearings this week - testimony that Pheu Thai had absolutely insisted that the NACC just had to hear. And last but not least, by so doing manages to successfully enact Pheu Thai's ongoing strategy of keeping the NACC investigation in a state of permanent limbo. A busy boy indeed.

[Bluespunk]

"He had just about enough intelligence to open his mouth when he wanted to eat, but certainly no more."

P.G. Wodehouse

[rametindallas]

I sure hope Khun Kittiratt's speech is nothing like PM Yingluck's Mongolia speech. The world community is going to think Thailand is ruled by a bunch of whiners and crybabies. I'll bet the other ministers will be avoiding him like the plague.

[NongKhaiKid]

I wonder who is going to write his speech for him, the ' white and not so white lies ' aspect he'll manage himself quite easily.

[worgeordie]

So this will be a pretty much one sided account of the

current goings on,and he has such an honest face.

regards Worgeordie

[webfact]

Kittiratt attending World Bank meetings despite NACC summons on rice case
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, April 8 – Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister/Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong leaves for Washington, DC today to attend the annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF).

He is scheduled to meet with economic executives of the World Bank and IMF to explain the status of Thailand’s economy including the national reserves, measures to reduce the controllable budget deficit and maintaining a low-level public debt.

Thailand’s Bt5.4 trillion debt burden, when compared with its Bt12 trillion gross domestic product (GDP), is at 47 per cent of GDP while the debt ceiling is at 60 per cent.

Mr Kittiratt said he would explain to the meeting that Thailand’s economic fundamentals remain positive despite the political conflicts and the economic strength will keep Thailand moving.

He will represent ASEAN member countries in giving a speech, explain the political situation in Thailand and discuss the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), due to be enforced by the US in July.

The meeting opens tomorrow and is scheduled to end on Saturday.

However, Mr Kittiratt is required to appear before the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on Friday as a witness in the case against caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who has been charged with dereliction of duty in the rice pledging scheme.

Mr Kittiratt said he has yet to receive an official letter of summons from the NACC and that he could not miss the the April 9-12 World Bank group meeting in Washington. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-04-08

[smedly]

maybe he'd be better to stay on topic and present what he is supposed to present at this meeting

What happened to almost 1 trillion baht of tax payers money and the whereabouts of millions of tonnes of missing rice and why they have run out of money for the first car tax rebate and why Thaksin has claimed he received over 1 billion dollars from Thailand in the last 12 months

[MaxLee]

"Kittiratt attending World Bank meetings despite NACC summons on rice case"

Trip sponsored by Thaksin, "no need to bother, leave the rest of white lies to me, and enjoy your time..."

[Just1Voice]

Use the Suthep excuse to the courts - "Sorry, I'm to busy to appear."

[Bluespunk]

"Mr Kittiratt said he has yet to receive an official letter of summons from the NACC and that he could not miss the the April 9-12 World Bank group meeting in Washington. "

Liar

[WoopyDoo]

He says he has not received an official letter of summons.... Rubbish, they would not have been so stupid as not to send his summons.

But they can issue it again anyway and set the date for next week.

He can't stall the Constitutional Court ruling, and that is what will sink him and YL and a lot more besides.

[dutchisaan]

If he can , or will show up on friday, than just take him of the witness list. This is the only way that they can not play for time.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[djjamie]

This man is going to tell the IMF and the world bank that everything is OK. Kittirat, hand picked by yingluck, who admitted that he lied when giving "over-optimistic export growth targets" with a defense of "to bolster business confidence" is going to tell the world bank and IMF that all is OK. So this time he isn't saying this to bolster business confidence? Who knows. yingluck didn't hold him accountable last time so why start now. Say what you want Kittarat. Lying is officially acceptable by the PTP apparently.

Now back to the World Bank and IMF.

On the 8th of October - The World Bank said that the rice pledging scheme had proven to be the most costly and would ring up a bill of 115 billion to 150 billion baht per harvest. The reply - Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan categorically dismissed the World Bank’s estimate that the Thai government will incur up to 400 billion baht in losses from the rice pledging scheme for two harvests. He went on to say the Finance Ministry should help secure more funding to meet the 270 billion baht target already approved by the cabinet to be used for the 2013-14 harvests. They said they had the money. They lied. So this is a commerce minster that is lying now too. Remember they can lie with impunity because apparently it is acceptable and encouraged by the PTP. Anyway, the Wordl Bank turned out to be right.

12th November 2013 - IMF called on Thailand to ditch rice support scheme. They asked Thailand to scrap its pricy scheme to support rice farmers and scale back some other fiscal stimulus measures in order to balance the budget and contain rising public debt. The PTP categorically dismissed the IMF's recommendations. They said the IMF don't know what they are talking about. Turns out the IMF were right.

So now we have a liar whose govt have lied about the rice scheme and have demonized the world bank and IMF going back to those entities after their predictions came true and telling them that everything is still OK when it quite simply is not.

That is PTP logic right there.

[Ricardo]

Hope the caretaker-DPM/Finance-Minister remembers to apologise, for not showing-up to defend his 'boss' caretaker-PM Yingluck, at the NACC as she had wanted/needed !

[than]

One prime minister witness flee country, He understand that the endgame coming !

[marcusd]

Kittyrat, you can run but you cannot hide. These overseas institutions are not bought off as easily as your rice farmers.

They are here assessing thailands future prospects

Marcusd. Via tapatalk

[rubl]

Interesting that a caretaker Minister of Finance still represent ASEAN member countries in giving a speech, explain the political situation in Thailand and discuss the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), due to be enforced by the US in July.

BTW he'll be in the right company to tell small white lies, the World Bank and IMF people really know how to appreciate such behavior

[bigbamboo]

My advice to Kittirat would be don't bother.

Nobody believes a word you say anyway.

[Robby nz]

The NACC should notify Yingluck by every means possible, including facebook if that is the only means of communication she recognizes, that if her witnesses don't turn up at the appointed time they will no longer be eligible to give evidence on her behalf.

With copies to Kittiratt and all media as proof the message has been sent.

[antimedia]

Now, now Mr Kittaratt you no what you were told about all those pork pies, going to get you into trouble one day. Besides think about all those TVF members who keep sticking up for you and your cohorts, wouldn't want to them to loose face now would we.

[jcb2001]

Why doesn't the NACC just accept the fact that Khun Kitterat is too busy to testify on Yingluck's behalf. Justice could best be served by the NACC ruling on Yingluck's case without Kitterat's deposition. Who really needs his statements except CPM Yingluck?

[dcutman]

"Mr Kittiratt said he has yet to receive an official letter of summons from the NACC and that he could not miss the the April 9-12 World Bank group meeting in Washington. "

Liar

This could be one of those very rare moments that he is not lying.

It is most likely the NACC did not issue a summons, or would be required to. Why would they?

His presents is for the purpose to defend Yingluck, the NACC could care less if he shows or not.

[chainarong]

The problem is , will Kittiratt tell them the full history of this political impasse or will he, like most in the PTP, try and re-write history and gloss over the nasty bits, he will be in for a rude shock if he tries the bulls!!t line , those silver suited flunkies at the IMF, know just a little more than Kittiratt.