Yingluck urges fair treatment from NLA

[Lite Beer]

Yingluck urges fair treatment from NLA
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Maintaining her innocence against allegations of corruption and dereliction of duty in the rice-pledging scheme, former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra urged the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) yesterday to be fair for the sake of national reconciliation, saying she had already been impeached three times and that she no longer held any political position.

Yingluck spent an hour defending herself to the NLA after National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) member Wicha Mahakhun accused her of dereliction of duty. Wicha said her actions had inflicted a Bt229-billion "loss" on the government. He said rice millers had exploited the scheme for their own benefits while more than 10 rice farmers had committed suicide because of delayed payments under the programme.

In urging the NLA to be fair to her, the former prime minister said "the country can only move forward if there's justice", adding that the unelected assembly should not be a political tool of anyone.

Yingluck said she had lost her position three times: first, when she dissolved the House of Representatives at the end of 2013, second when the Constitution Court impeached her, and third through the coup last May.

"How can you impeach someone who does not have any [political] position?" Yingluck asked the NLA yesterday, adding that the 2007 charter was also no longer in existence.

Wicha insisted that the NLA had the authority and legitimacy to conduct the impeachment proceedings. Impeachment could lead to Yingluck being banned from politics for five years.

At the beginning of his hour-long speech, Wicha said the junta-sponsored provisional constitution empowered the NLA to serve as both the upper and lower houses of Parliament, so its members could vote on the matter.

Although Wicha acknowledged in his speech that there existed no evidence of Yingluck's involvement in any corruption related to the rice-pledging scheme, he said than as prime minister and chairwoman of the National Rice Policy Committee she should be impeached because she had allowed the severe losses and corruption to continue.

He said more than 10 farmers had committed suicide because of the failed rice-pledging scheme. He said the NACC had also warned the administration twice to stop the project but the government refused because it had been a major policy pledge to voters by the Pheu Thai Party.

Yingluck insisted she was clean and that the claims of damage incurred by the rice-subsidy programme was distorted and overblown. The former PM added that it was the government's duty to assist poor farmers and this was not the first such scheme in the Kingdom, and Thailand is not the only country to subsidise farmers.

She said that in appraising the programme, profit or loss should not take precedence over benefits to farmers who are the backbone of the country. She said the trickle-down effect on the economy, including the resultant increase in the spending power of farmers and tax collected, should also be considered.

The former prime minister added that her government had made attempts to tackle corruption, citing the ban on 12 rice mills from the programme on top of 276 legal cases filed against those who had allegedly committed irregularities.

In his remarks to the assembly, Wicha stressed that the NACC had sought Yingluck's impeachment fairly and honestly, adding that the ex-PM was given all opportunities to defend herself.

However, Yingluck described the NACC-led procedure as rushed compared with other impeachment cases, which had taken years. She said no NACC subcommittee was set up and some defence witnesses were denied a chance to be heard.

Wicha said the Yingluck administration's mismanagement of the subsidy programme had led to Thailand's rice exports falling by 35 per cent, bringing the country down from the world's top rice exporter to No 3. Yingluck argued that this had happened because of massive dumping of rice by one major rice-producing nation and not the pledging scheme.

Yingluck predicted that Thailand would this year regain its position as the world's top rice exporter, adding that this would be due to the rice stocks stored under the pledging programme.

After her defence arguments, Yingluck told the media that she had done her best and felt relieved. Wicha later told the media that no one could make up for the loss of farmers' lives who had committed suicide because they were not paid by the government in time.

The NLA's inquiry panel is scheduled to question the NACC and Yingluck next Friday. Later, both sides will be given a chance to make their closing arguments, either in person or in writing. The assembly tentatively is scheduled to vote on the matter on January 23. Police and some military officers were present in front of the Parliament Building yesterday, although only a few people showed up to offer their support to Yingluck. A Pheu Thai source who asked not to be named said the party had dissuaded Yingluck's supporters from gathering to show the public that one woman had the guts to confront a group of men.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Yingluck-urges-fair-treatment-from-NLA-30251633.html

-- The Nation 2015-01-10

[BSJ]

It just seems to go on and on and on..........

[Robby nz]

If I remember rightly there were a considerable number of farmers asking for fair treatment from you to Yingluck all they got was promises and lies and all they have now is increased debt.

She failed to mention that it was only the rich farmers who benefited while the poor (smaller farmers) were mostly left out.

She also failed to mention that it is only the rich farmers who pay tax and that the trickle down effect came mainly from the (rich) landlords raising rents, the chemical companies raising prices, the warehouse owners who received and are still receiving rents and the millers, so they could all get their share.

[tullynagardy]

It just seems to go on and on and on..........

Indeed, same **** different day.

From Thaksins recent calls to not oppose the junta it is clear the real decision making is being played out behind the scene anyway. A deal is being cut as we speak.

The most corrupt elected PM Thailand ever had doing shady deals with the most repressive unelected PM Thailand ever had.

Lovely country, I recommend Koh Tao for a short break.

[smedly]

don't know where to start

she did it for the farmers - who ended up not being paid from as early as Sept 2013 because there was no money left

all the PTP hard work has put Thailand back as No1 rice exporter

the inspections of the rice in storage is a lie

it has not cost The Thai people over 700billion baht

blah blah blah <deleted>

is this woman seriously trying to defend this, anyone with grey matter would be pleading guilty and hoping it just goes away as fast as possible, again her brother is using her to showcase and manipulate those stupid enough to follow - including YL

watch and look how this develops into a calling for the reds to rise up and I am 100% certain that is the aim as Thaksin will lead the lemmings to the edge of that cliff. but I think people are smarter than that now and nobody will jump

and TBH it does nobody any good for the press to keep mentioning the fact that it could happen - all that does is plant the idea that it might be ok and justified - which it isn't

[NongKhaiKid]

It just seems to go on and on and on..........

Unfortunately we ain't seen nothing yet.

[NongKhaiKid]

The BBC reported that in her address Yl stated that as PM she had always done her best and since she was not involved in the day to day running of the scheme she was not at fault.

i suppose she discreetly forget to mention she chaired the rice committee but never bothered to attend any meetings or when the scheme unraveled she admitted that at one point she thought there was ' something wrong '. There never was any suggestion she bothered to do anything about her suspicions.

Edited January 9, 2015 by NongKhaiKid

[WhizBang]

<snip>

watch and look how this develops into a calling for the reds to rise up and I am 100% certain that is the aim as Thaksin will lead the lemmings to the edge of that cliff. but I think people are smarter than that now and nobody will jump

and TBH it does nobody any good for the press to keep mentioning the fact that it could happen - all that does is plant the idea that it might be ok and justified - which it isn't

Thaksin will lead from the rear, as usual, and he will command the lemming to jump when he thinks it will suit his needs, and they will jump.

I had high hopes that this junta would be different and actually work for the betterment of the country. But since the Koh Tao debacle, it has been obvious this coup is only about protecting vested interests, and other things we cannot talk about. With the general stuck firmly in the 80s and his desire to roll back the clock across the land, I fear for the future of Thailand, as I see no end to the massive endemic corruption here and it's closed minded attitude.

RIP Thailand, you deserve the government you voted for, or in this case, didn't vote for.

[binjalin]

Salem witch trials 1692 all over again 'Thai style'

[JOC]

If I remember rightly there were a considerable number of farmers asking for fair treatment from you to Yingluck all they got was promises and lies and all they have now is increased debt.

She failed to mention that it was only the rich farmers who benefited while the poor (smaller farmers) were mostly left out.

She also failed to mention that it is only the rich farmers who pay tax and that the trickle down effect came mainly from the (rich) landlords raising rents, the chemical companies raising prices, the warehouse owners who received and are still receiving rents and the millers, so they could all get their share.

She also failed to mention that it is only the rich farmers who pay tax and that the trickle down effect came mainly from the (rich) landlords raising rents, the chemical companies raising prices, the warehouse owners who received and are still receiving rents and the millers, so they could all get their share.

You failed to mention, that most of the people you mention in your post are probably "yellows", who now are playing holier than thou whilst counting their money!!

[SOTIRIOS]

.... " .....do not pass GO...." ......do not collect any more of other peoples money........

[bkk75]

Oh the cease pool of denials. I think she's only good at two things.. Being told what to do and shopping overseas.

[Baerboxer]

Salem witch trials 1692 all over again 'Thai style'

No - the people convicted in Salem were innocent and accused by false witnesses.

[bkk75]

Salem witch trials 1692 all over again 'Thai style'

No - the people convicted in Salem were innocent and accused by false witnesses.

So true so true couldn't be more further than the truth.

[rubl]

"She said that in appraising the programme, profit or loss should not take precedence over benefits to farmers who are the backbone of the country. She said the trickle-down effect on the economy, including the resultant increase in the spending power of farmers and tax collected, should also be considered."

She seems to have forgotten that she positioned the scheme as 'self-financing' and the 'no profit or loss' became 700 billion Baht Debt. All for 1.8 million farmers as she alleged. Surely the other 65.2 million Thai will feel somewhat slighted now plus of course the poor farmers who didn't get any.

[Doc46]

Urges fair treatment ,,,My ass,,,Give to her what she has coming to her,,,no mercy,,She would do same.

[wabothai]

Besides she failed to address the crimes of her brother's corrupt friends police generals who have looted the country. One in particular.

No merci!!!!

[mikemac]

I have noticed that some of the TVF members who love to criticize Thai people for possessing certain unsavory "attributes", like never admitting they are wrong and blaming someone else, are now defending Yingluck for displaying the very same traits. What hypocrites they are.

And I hope she receives the same fair treatment she gave the rice farmers..................none at all.

[seajae]

Salem witch trials 1692 all over again 'Thai style'

you definitely got the witch part right, describes yl perfectly

[seajae]

If I remember rightly there were a considerable number of farmers asking for fair treatment from you to Yingluck all they got was promises and lies and all they have now is increased debt.

She failed to mention that it was only the rich farmers who benefited while the poor (smaller farmers) were mostly left out.

She also failed to mention that it is only the rich farmers who pay tax and that the trickle down effect came mainly from the (rich) landlords raising rents, the chemical companies raising prices, the warehouse owners who received and are still receiving rents and the millers, so they could all get their share.

She also failed to mention that it is only the rich farmers who pay tax and that the trickle down effect came mainly from the (rich) landlords raising rents, the chemical companies raising prices, the warehouse owners who received and are still receiving rents and the millers, so they could all get their share.

You failed to mention, that most of the people you mention in your post are probably "yellows", who now are playing holier than thou whilst counting their money!!

if it was yellows in the north we wouldnt have this problem, it was all her ptp/red mates that made a killing instead of the poor, they were just consigned to the s**t heap by yl and her brother

[EnglishJohn]

The reason Yingluck never went to the rice-scheme (and many other) meetings was so that she could deny she was guilty of the corruption involved. Just as she was never in Parliament when the dirty decisions were forced through.

It really is pathetic that a countries PM was willing to act in such a manner and allow the cronies free reign to pass things like the amnesty bill. She is absolutely guilty of dereliction of duty. What was the oath she took as PM ?.

[Inepto Cracy]

Fair treatment, just as you and your brother gave the masses while in power. No sorry we are all out of fair treatment for you. You will stand trail and you may not get justice in Thailand, but the rest of the thinking western world will know of the un-fair treatment you gave your own people. Now you ask for it? Suffer YS suffer.

Edited January 10, 2015 by Inepto Cracy

[Baerboxer]

The reason Yingluck never went to the rice-scheme (and many other) meetings was so that she could deny she was guilty of the corruption involved. Just as she was never in Parliament when the dirty decisions were forced through.

It really is pathetic that a countries PM was willing to act in such a manner and allow the cronies free reign to pass things like the amnesty bill. She is absolutely guilty of dereliction of duty. What was the oath she took as PM ?.

You are so right. Thaksin carefully engineered things so YL was never present. All designed so she could claim to be unaware or involved in anything if/when it went pear shaped.

What's worse is the Shin PR machine expect everyone to fall for it and accept it all.

[Lite Beer]

NLA to vote on impeachment cases against Yingluck, Somsak, Nikhom on Jan 23

BANGKOK: -- The National Legislative Assembly will vote on the two impeachment cases on January 23, NLA Vice President Surachai Liangboonlertchai said.

He said the NLA will vote on the case against former Parliament president Somsak Kiartsuranon and former vice president Nikhom Wairatpanich in the morning and it will vote in the case against former prime minister Yingluck Shianwatra in the afternoon.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/NLA-to-vote-on-impeachment-cases-against-Yingluck--30251679.html

-- The Nation 2014-01-11

[A1Str8]

She didn't urge fair treatment for the nation and people when billions of baht accidentally disappeared while she was pm.

[Jackson86]

the 1st point is already sufficient to deter the rest of the proceedings - indeed you cannot impeach someone who has no political position.

[Baerboxer]

the 1st point is already sufficient to deter the rest of the proceedings - indeed you cannot impeach someone who has no political position.

Under whose law - yours?

The word impeached may not translate perfectly from the Thai meaning to the English meaning. Thai law provides that those who commit offences in office can be investigated and if found to have acted inappropriately banned from office for 5 years.

[Valentine]

the 1st point is already sufficient to deter the rest of the proceedings - indeed you cannot impeach someone who has no political position.

Under whose law - yours?

The word impeached may not translate perfectly from the Thai meaning to the English meaning. Thai law provides that those who commit offences in office can be investigated and if found to have acted inappropriately banned from office for 5 years.

Well put, there are far too many twisting the facts to suit certain agendas. You cannot forgive/forget everyone who committed crimes just because they no longer hold the position when the offences occurred otherwise hordes of public officials can get away with blue murder by resigning their post & stating I cannot be charged because I don't work there anymore.