Yingluck must face rice scheme trial: Thai opinion

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Yingluck must face rice scheme trial
Tulsathit Taptim

BANGKOK: -- If I were Yingluck Shinawatra, I would come back to Thailand just to shut up those predicting I wouldn't. And risk spending considerable time in jail in the process?

Well, a dutiful return would establish some trust and credibility, and it's not like the rice scheme trial by the Supreme Court's political division would conclude three weeks from now or something like that.

Seriously, though, if I was innocent, I would fight to the death. In this era, the National Council for Peace and Order could still put Yingluck in jail if they wanted to, but if they were persecuting her, the whole world would know. It would be their words against her on the world stage. If they lied and she told the truth, activists, bloggers and international journalists would dissect the case to its microscopic elements.

Alleging that the rice-pledging scheme was plagued with corruption is one thing, saying she knowingly let it happen or even got involved in graft scams herself is quite another.

This is clearly a bigger deal than the share concealment scandal or the Ratchadaphisek land acquisition. The former took place before Thaksin Shinawatra became prime minister, and you could argue that the tactic of putting large amounts of stocks in nominees' accounts was not uncommon among Thai businesspeople. The land case, though, like the share case was in obvious violation of the law, but could simply be deemed a purchase of something that shouldn't have been bought.

Yingluck is accused of serious crimes that allegedly took place when she was in office.

This is a glaring distinction between her case and her big brother's. While the share concealment affected stock traders, the man on the street asked "So what?" The same went for the Ratchadaphisek land case. "That isn't a crime in our country," a former Western diplomat once told me, although he acknowledged that a Thai law was broken by the land purchase.

The rice scheme, according to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, spawned corruption "every step of the way". Yingluck backed the controversial programme to the hilt, dismissing vocal criticism and repeated warnings by respected economists that her government could collapse under the weight of rampant graft and massive fiscal losses.

The government failed to pay farmers who "sold" it their rice at highly inflated prices, and some farmers, who were not paid, killed themselves.

Suicides related to state policies are not new. But suicides related to state policies that should and could have been stopped a long time ago due to clear signs of corruption and fiscal dangers could be different. Yingluck's defence will be a highly delicate task.

First, it will have to defuse claims that corruption was widespread, and if it fails to do so, it will have to shield her from the crimes.

Yingluck chaired the all-powerful national rice committee and the rice-pledging scheme was her ruling party's main policy. All warnings were well documented, and so were her (and her brother's) repeated insistence that nothing was seriously wrong with the costly rice programme.

Either gross negligence or direct involvement in corruption, or both, could land her in jail. Her defence has previously tried to build an argument that there was no way she could backtrack on a policy that was something promised to the people in an election campaign and then formally declared to Parliament. That wouldn't be good enough. The prime ministerial duty of stopping or preventing corruption when he/she can overrides everything.

The trial, assuming that corruption in the rice scheme is a foregone conclusion, will feature a fight between a "She didn't know it" defence and "Of course, she did" prosecution. And what the Democrats tried to say during the last censure debate - allegations to which Yingluck and the Cabinet paid absolutely no attention - may come back to haunt her.

But the onus remains on the accusers. That's why Yingluck should come back if she believes she is innocent. If she was jailed for a little embezzlement here and there or a small fraudulent activity or two by those "downstream", Thailand's political strife would only intensify.

The NACC has accused her of allowing massive corruption to happen under her nose and being involved in some of the grafts herself, and now it will have to prove it. In short, the NACC must establish that corruption took place "upstream" and all the way down.

Here's hoping that, after ideological "values" nearly made Thais kill one another on a nasty scale, spawning hatred, hypocrisy and propagandas, legal evidence and facts will step in and speak up.

After all, what is politically and ideologically right or wrong is slippery. What is legally right or wrong is much less debatable.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Yingluck-must-face-rice-scheme-trial-30239757.html


-- The Nation 2014-07-30

[chooka]

I think the thought of spending time in a cockroach infested cell with a bucket for a toilet and 30 lice infested room mates will be enough to keep her overseas.

[Suriya4]

Yingluck is the cause that many farmers killed themselves. She will be charged for unintended man slaughters. Gen Prayuth is exactly opposite. He should be given another medal for returning happiness to the people.

[NongKhaiKid]

in Thailand, as with many other countries, what should happen and what actually happens can be worlds apart.

[jaidam]

Yingluck is the cause that many farmers killed themselves. She will be charged for unintended man slaughters. Gen Prayuth is exactly opposite. He should be given another medal for returning happiness to the people.

Sorry, but I read on this forum that PTP and Yingluck discovered the farmers that killed themselves in desperation were fake farmers. I took that to mean the 20 odd corpses belonged to general nutcases that killed themselves solely to discredit the Yingluck administration, and had nothing to do with a rice scheme designed and engineered to enrich the offshore amart and it's onshore arselickers at the cost of the hardworking farmer and general taxpaying populus.

[ramrod711]

The prime ministerial duty of stopping or preventing corruption when he/she can overrides everything.

Not in Thailand and not if your last name is Shinawatra.

[Bender]

Yingluck must face rice scheme trial: Thai opinion

in the happy thailand, does the thai people have the right to express their opinion..... freely

[Robby nz]

The prime ministerial duty of stopping or preventing corruption when he/she can overrides everything.

Not in Thailand and not if your last name is Shinawatra.

Well she did override a number of things including the constitution court, the NACC, the OAG and all the advice given by the world bank and others as to the eventual outcome of the pledging scheme.

[chainarong]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Yingluck is the cause that many farmers killed themselves. She will be charged for unintended man slaughters. Gen Prayuth is exactly opposite. He should be given another medal for returning happiness to the people.

Sorry, but I read on this forum that PTP and Yingluck discovered the farmers that killed themselves in desperation were fake farmers. I took that to mean the 20 odd corpses belonged to general nutcases that killed themselves solely to discredit the Yingluck administration, and had nothing to do with a rice scheme designed and engineered to enrich the offshore amart and it's onshore arselickers at the cost of the hardworking farmer and general taxpaying populus.

Perhaps your vocation should be fiction writing.

[chainarong]

We just might see History repeated, why let someone out of the country when they are to face charges or there are inquiries into a particular person's activities, this never ceases to amaze me, the inconfidence that sneaks into the everyday aspect of Thai thinking, at the end of the day I don't care if Ms Yingluck returns or stays away, as with Thaskin, I blame the Democrats for letting the influential egomaniac go, history might again bite Thailand on the back side and they deserve everything they get.

[NongKhaiKid]

I think the thought of spending time in a cockroach infested cell with a bucket for a toilet and 30 lice infested room mates will be enough to keep her overseas.

Surely someone as VIP as YL would get better treatment, not that she's likely to see the inside of any kind of prison.

When Joseph Estrada, ex- president of The Philippines, was imprisoned for corruption there was an outcry at the special consideration he was receiving.

The Governor of the prison duly informed the media that all the little ' extras ' in his cell were bought by Estrada himself and he even paid the electricity bill for the air cons he had installed !

[Pib]

Yingluck chaired the all-powerful national rice committee and the rice-pledging scheme was her ruling party's main policy. All warnings were well documented, and so were her (and her brother's) repeated insistence that nothing was seriously wrong with the costly rice programme.

Pretty much sums it up. It was a good ride while it lasted....now time to go visit my brother overseas.

[hidavey]

Most Thais already know that she will not return. This has been the format of all corrupted politicians in Thailand leaving the country before the hammer comes down on them. It's like a courtesy call to end it nicely as they put it in Thai. Hopefully this will be the last courtesy they give out, reform is a must. Next corrupt politician must go directly to jail, no if and or but's.

[rametindallas]

Bottom line: She isn't innocent so she won't be coming back. There's no getting around the fact that she was warned by many, many different groups and institutions. There's no getting around the fact that she was the ONLY person in Thailand with the power to stop the corruption. She can't pretend ignorance (willful ignorance does not excuse her crime against the Thai people) and she can't say it wasn't her responsibility (she was both PM and the chairman of the Rice Support Scheme). She knows her brother and the sister with the 'large presence' profited mightily so she won't be coming back. Soon her name will be Mudd to all Thais excepting the members of the Thaksin 'personality cult'.

[Oziex1]

They have unblocked the sewer, do the people really want it floating back.

[Gunna]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Yingluck is the cause that many farmers killed themselves. She will be charged for unintended man slaughters. Gen Prayuth is exactly opposite. He should be given another medal for returning happiness to the people.

Sorry, but I read on this forum that PTP and Yingluck discovered the farmers that killed themselves in desperation were fake farmers. I took that to mean the 20 odd corpses belonged to general nutcases that killed themselves solely to discredit the Yingluck administration, and had nothing to do with a rice scheme designed and engineered to enrich the offshore amart and it's onshore arselickers at the cost of the hardworking farmer and general taxpaying populus.

Perhaps your vocation should be fiction writing.

But there have been better writers of fiction here on TV, eg those handful of posters with very rose tinted glasses who seem to be very quiet for the last month or so. Thank God I don't have to read any more of their lies and propoganda.

[ratcatcher]

Yingluck must face rice scheme trial: Thai opinion

in the happy thailand, does the thai people have the right to express their opinion..... freely

If Yingluck is charged with dereliction of duty, malfeasance and other serious offences, it is up to the courts to decide her fate, not the Thai people, even though they are living in Happyland.

Her supporters may have opinions, as do her opposition, but ultimately it will be the legal system that makes a decision, not the polling booth (freely).

[Nickymaster]

A Shin will never take responsibility for their screw-ups. They rather spend a few million on lobbyists.

Edited July 30, 2014 by Nickymaster

[Just1Voice]

Look at the facts. How many rich, hi-so or politicians in Thailand have EVER gone to prison? If she's found guilty, she might be SENTENCED to prison, but then it will be suspended, and pay a fine. Maybe a large one, but nothing she can't easily afford. And that will be the end of it. Banned for life from politics? I don't think she ever wanted to be in politics in the first place, so that might actually be a relief to her. But a "cockroach infested cell"? Ain't gonna happen.

[Old Man River]

Bottom line: She isn't innocent so she won't be coming back. There's no getting around the fact that she was warned by many, many different groups and institutions. There's no getting around the fact that she was the ONLY person in Thailand with the power to stop the corruption. She can't pretend ignorance (willful ignorance does not excuse her crime against the Thai people) and she can't say it wasn't her responsibility (she was both PM and the chairman of the Rice Support Scheme). She knows her brother and the sister with the 'large presence' profited mightily so she won't be coming back. Soon her name will be Mudd to all Thais excepting the members of the Thaksin 'personality cult'.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of members in the Thaksin "personality cult," and it is why, if this really is the end game, as I believe it is, then it will take a lot more time than currently being discussed. Thaksin points to a street sign that says "wait." For this really to be the end game, the junta needs to be prepared to "out-wait" Thaksin.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[trainman34014]

The prime ministerial duty of stopping or preventing corruption when he/she can overrides everything.

Not in Thailand and not if your last name is Shinawatra.

Well she did override a number of things including the constitution court, the NACC, the OAG and all the advice given by the world bank and others as to the eventual outcome of the pledging scheme.

But....but; big brother always knows what's best !

[Eric Loh]

"The NACC has accused her of allowing massive corruption to happen under her nose and being involved in some of the grafts herself, and now it will have to prove it. In short, the NACC must establish that corruption took place "upstream" and all the way down".

Says it all. How will the NACC do a fair job when they already concluded there were corruption from the beginning. Almost like a mission from the start and they now have to prove it and fill up the blanks.

[rametindallas]

Bottom line: She isn't innocent so she won't be coming back. There's no getting around the fact that she was warned by many, many different groups and institutions. There's no getting around the fact that she was the ONLY person in Thailand with the power to stop the corruption. She can't pretend ignorance (willful ignorance does not excuse her crime against the Thai people) and she can't say it wasn't her responsibility (she was both PM and the chairman of the Rice Support Scheme). She knows her brother and the sister with the 'large presence' profited mightily so she won't be coming back. Soon her name will be Mudd to all Thais excepting the members of the Thaksin 'personality cult'.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of members in the Thaksin "personality cult," and it is why, if this really is the end game, as I believe it is, then it will take a lot more time than currently being discussed. Thaksin points to a street sign that says "wait." For this really to be the end game, the junta needs to be prepared to "out-wait" Thaksin.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

You are correct and that is why the NCPO needs to 'stack the deck' to prevent Thaksin's future power moves. Thaksin has so many potential 'co-conspirators' that will be impossible to root them all out out. He still has enough money to corrupt most anyone (including me). He is super 'butt hurt' and has a strong desire for revenge. A return to power is his only route to regain face, so I expect many more shenanigans from him in the future; possibly for another fifteen years. No one should kid themselves that Thaksin is a 'spent force'; he's playing the 'long game'.

[lovetotravel]

"The NACC has accused her of allowing massive corruption to happen under her nose and being involved in some of the grafts herself, and now it will have to prove it. In short, the NACC must establish that corruption took place "upstream" and all the way down".

Says it all. How will the NACC do a fair job when they already concluded there were corruption from the beginning. Almost like a mission from the start and they now have to prove it and fill up the blanks.

Warnings were issued about this from day 1. The NACC has been investigating this for quite some time. Their investigation didn't just start this year.

Plus, there's always been corruption in these programs. Where there's smoke, there's fire. As the saying goes.

[Thai at Heart]

Holding the Prime Minister personally responsible for corruption within a government policy would set a fantastic principal.

I would guess they would have to start building a lot of luxury cells to house all the subsequent PMs. By logic, if they take down Yingluck, they would have to take down everyone else in the chain also to the perpetrator so I hope they are ready with a few hundred cells.

I mean, they have a theft at a warehouse. T

That chain starts at the warehouse gate, on upwards. Dozens of people.

I see this as the most dangerous case that they will embark upon. If it fails they look ridiculous. If it succeeds, it ends up being a rod for every Prime minister in the future.

[Thai at Heart]

Holding the Prime Minister personally responsible for corruption within a government policy would set a fantastic principal.

I would guess they would have to start building a lot of luxury cells to house all the subsequent PMs. By logic, if they take down Yingluck, they would have to take down everyone else in the chain also to the perpetrator so I hope they are ready with a few hundred cells.

I mean, they have a theft at a warehouse. T

That chain starts at the warehouse gate, on upwards. Dozens of people.

I see this as the most dangerous case that they will embark upon. If it fails they look ridiculous. If it succeeds, it ends up being a rod for every Prime minister in the future.

[ratcatcher]

Bottom line: She isn't innocent so she won't be coming back. There's no getting around the fact that she was warned by many, many different groups and institutions. There's no getting around the fact that she was the ONLY person in Thailand with the power to stop the corruption. She can't pretend ignorance (willful ignorance does not excuse her crime against the Thai people) and she can't say it wasn't her responsibility (she was both PM and the chairman of the Rice Support Scheme). She knows her brother and the sister with the 'large presence' profited mightily so she won't be coming back. Soon her name will be Mudd to all Thais excepting the members of the Thaksin 'personality cult'.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of members in the Thaksin "personality cult," and it is why, if this really is the end game, as I believe it is, then it will take a lot more time than currently being discussed. Thaksin points to a street sign that says "wait." For this really to be the end game, the junta needs to be prepared to "out-wait" Thaksin.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

"Thaksin points to a street sign that says "wait."

And everyone knows what he's "waiting" for. The General knows this and will out wit Thaksin, yet again.

[Nickymaster]

"The NACC has accused her of allowing massive corruption to happen under her nose and being involved in some of the grafts herself, and now it will have to prove it. In short, the NACC must establish that corruption took place "upstream" and all the way down".

Says it all. How will the NACC do a fair job when they already concluded there were corruption from the beginning. Almost like a mission from the start and they now have to prove it and fill up the blanks.

In the same sentence:

In short, the NACC must establish that corruption took place "upstream" and all the way down".

There is a few billion dollar worth of rice missing so its clear that corruption took place. Now the big question is: Could Yingluck have done something to limit (prevent) this?

The scheme also ran out of money and again..: Could Yingluck have done something to limit (prevent) this?

etc etc

Don't forget that the charge is negligence !

Edited July 30, 2014 by Nickymaster

[Jonmarleesco]

Yingluck was Thaksin's clone, and the patsy for everything that happened under the PTP government's watch. And she's overseas. Not much chance of her returning to challenge the charges, or to face trial.

[spectrumisgreen]

A Shin will never take responsibility for their screw-ups. They rather spend a few million on lobbyists.

True enough, but then aren't you talking about any politician anywhere in the world???!!! (show me the evidence otherwise!!)...