PM says he will not bow to threats or intimidation

BANGKOK: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha reiterated today that he would not bow to threatened protest by southern rubber farmers if the government does not respond to their demand to fix price of rubber sheets at 60 baht/kg.

Talking to reporters at a New Year’s party held at the Government House on Friday, the prime minister however insisted that he has always had sympathy for all groups of farmers and understood the plight now facing rubber farmers.

He explained that using money from the state coffers alone could not resolve rubber problem in the long run. And he said that if he bows to the rubber farmers’ demand today, then other farmers would demand the same treatment from the government.

The prime minister disclosed that the government had already spent 250 billion baht to help farmers and he didn’t want market mechanism to be distorted by government’s intervention.

He pointed out that he used to warn rubber farmers to reduce their production or to replace their rubber plantations but to no avail as the farmers tend to listen to local politicians rather than heeding his suggestion.

The prime minister said that he loves every farmer but admitted that the government simply cannot afford to respond to the rubber farmers’ demand and to subsidise all farm products.

He said he would not bow to threat or intimidation. He warned rubber farmers they would be dealt with according to the law if they protest and violate the law.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-says-he-will-not-bow-to-threats-or-intimidation

-- Thai PBS 2016-01-08

He doesn't bow to them, he makes them, on a daily basis!

Guys a real piece of work aint he ?

Well......the rubber planters took the money and protested for Suthep. Now they are finding out that the falling price of rubber had nothing to do with Yingluks government.

Suckers.

supply and demand , it is pretty straight forward , , next it will be all the gold buyers wanting the PM to lift the gold price as it has fallen since they bought gold,

Why are the Saudi government looking for alternatives now as the oil demand is falling with the US and Canada fracking all over their respective countries, and more and more push on alternative energy electriciity being one, When no one wants the stuff then the value is not there, demanding the government pay subsidies for the rubber rate is demanding monies off the people of Thailand, we might as well demand mobile phone subsidies as my old Nokia is not wanted any more and no one wants to buy it,

Unrealistic to expect bail outs from lack of research or an understanding of supply and demand market.

WAKE UP !

Great news!!

These people were largely involved in the over throw of democracy .

Let them reap what they helped sow.

Their protests ( which are certain to occur) could drag some action into this whole equation.

Arresting and bash up a few dozen of these men will galavize hatreds in the south.

This is important in destabilising the government more.

Not so much for the trival content of crushing a market force and jailing people for complaining.

But seeding discord in the wider community and heading off polls that claim he is loved by 99% of Thais.

If the protesters are not arrested then more sections of the community will follow.

The streets and sheer people power are the only way.

If the soldiers refuse to shoot he is sunk

Looks like the old coke and banana party

"The prime minister disclosed that the government had already spent 250 billion baht to help farmers and he didn’t want market mechanism to be distorted by government’s intervention."

Looks like he got a press secretary to make what says sound reasonable.

This actually makes sense!

Good one Mr. P.

Great news!!

These people were largely involved in the over throw of democracy .

Let them reap what they helped sow.

Their protests ( which are certain to occur) could drag some action into this whole equation.

Arresting and bash up a few dozen of these men will galavize hatreds in the south.

This is important in destabilising the government more.

Not so much for the trival content of crushing a market force and jailing people for complaining.

But seeding discord in the wider community and heading off polls that claim he is loved by 99% of Thais.

If the protesters are not arrested then more sections of the community will follow.

The streets and sheer people power are the only way.

If the soldiers refuse to shoot he is sunk

or they could shoot and someones son steps in tells them to sort it out with a televised prostrating and "bingo" the rebranding legend is reborn

ok but Thailand has to

Great news!!

These people were largely involved in the over throw of democracy .

Let them reap what they helped sow.

Their protests ( which are certain to occur) could drag some action into this whole equation.

Arresting and bash up a few dozen of these men will galavize hatreds in the south.

This is important in destabilising the government more.

Not so much for the trival content of crushing a market force and jailing people for complaining.

But seeding discord in the wider community and heading off polls that claim he is loved by 99% of Thais.

If the protesters are not arrested then more sections of the community will follow.

The streets and sheer people power are the only way.

If the soldiers refuse to shoot he is sunk

or they could shoot and someones son steps in tells them to sort it out with a televised prostrating and "bingo" the rebranding legend is reborn

Deja Vu

What a piece of work Mr. P is.

Rather than express his sorrow and sympathy for them he makes these kinds of statements. What a pathetically sad leader he is.

Great news!!

These people were largely involved in the over throw of democracy .

Let them reap what they helped sow.

Their protests ( which are certain to occur) could drag some action into this whole equation.

Arresting and bash up a few dozen of these men will galavize hatreds in the south.

This is important in destabilising the government more.

Not so much for the trival content of crushing a market force and jailing people for complaining.

But seeding discord in the wider community and heading off polls that claim he is loved by 99% of Thais.

If the protesters are not arrested then more sections of the community will follow.

The streets and sheer people power are the only way.

If the soldiers refuse to shoot he is sunk

or they could shoot and someones son steps in tells them to sort it out with a televised prostrating and "bingo" the rebranding legend is reborn

Gone beyond that... The power base has shifted.

Edited January 9, 201610 yr by JAG

"using money from the state coffers alone could not resolve rubber problem in the long run."

But for the short run while Prayut is PM, it's not a problem. There is no check and balance as to how he uses Thai taxpayer funds.

It will be a problem for the next government that will actually help the military in the long run. The next government will be elected, and with the constitutional constraints and high debts imposed on the nation by Prayut's government, that elected government will be unable to keep farmers happy. Thus, Prayut's government will be remembered with a kind heart.

Exactly, the threats and intimidation is his department!

What a piece of work Mr. P is.

Rather than express his sorrow and sympathy for them he makes these kinds of statements. What a pathetically sad leader he is.

Yep. Even if he can't really do much to solve the situation he could be WAY more diplomatic about it.

I guess that they have served their purpose for help getting him into power. He needs to be careful though as he will end up alienating the army's traditional support base.

He won't bow but he expects others to do exactly that... That aint gonna work in this day and age. The groups of people becoming actively aggrieved with this junta seems to be growing by the week. People simply won't stand for it forever. Something will have to give at some point in the future is my guess

PM says he will not bow to threats or intimidation

....and then adds, "But, I will use them constantly without trepidation or hesitation!"

Why not shoot them and be a recruiter for the red shirts in the previously anti-Thaksin South?

If that picture is of the government house party then austerity has sure kicked in.

Interesting to notice, how the wind has turned here on Thaivisa..............

A year ago if I wrote posts considered anti Prayut/junta (similar to most posts on this thread), I was immediately called for a Thaksin-lover/Red Shirt by many posters, who now are repeating, what I said back then...................

But more importantly, there is no doubt the attitude among average Thais towards the junta has changed dramatically over the last year.

So maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel?

clear statement. No subsidies to any farmer. Rice, rubber, fruits, fish. Good so far.

May one wonder what may follow after "spontaneous" protests against this government?

Return of the Thaksin government?

Division of the country?

Civil war?

We, from the West, tend to think our ideas of democracy are good for all countries in the world.

Bar the fact our democracies have become quite undemocratic lately, degraded to a voting circus without any power, one should consider the possibilities for Thailand during the time of the latest coup.

And for the weak of heart, the Suharto democracy in Indonesia and the Marcos democracy in the Phillipines might be the future for Thailand.

Very democratic indeed.

What a piece of work Mr. P is.

Rather than express his sorrow and sympathy for them he makes these kinds of statements. What a pathetically sad leader he is.

Leader? How so? Leaders don't overthrow elected governments.

No surprise there, military men prefer direct action.

Interesting to notice, how the wind has turned here on Thaivisa..............

A year ago if I wrote posts considered anti Prayut/junta (similar to most posts on this thread), I was immediately called for a Thaksin-lover/Red Shirt by many posters, who now are repeating, what I said back then...................

But more importantly, there is no doubt the attitude among average Thais towards the junta has changed dramatically over the last year.

So maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel?

".....light at the end of the tunnel?" Can also mean a train is coming! Beware!

The global rubber market went through a boom and bust over the past 5 years. Whatever the farmers were dreaming about in 2011 is gone now. Most likely, some finance guys made a heap of money and everybody else got screwed.

Great news!!

These people were largely involved in the over throw of democracy .

Let them reap what they helped sow.

Their protests ( which are certain to occur) could drag some action into this whole equation.

Arresting and bash up a few dozen of these men will galavize hatreds in the south.

This is important in destabilising the government more.

Not so much for the trival content of crushing a market force and jailing people for complaining.

But seeding discord in the wider community and heading off polls that claim he is loved by 99% of Thais.

If the protesters are not arrested then more sections of the community will follow.

The streets and sheer people power are the only way.

If the soldiers refuse to shoot he is sunk

Ol' cha cha may think "his" solders are loyal to him, but in a country where family comes first, I believe his "loyal" solders may turn their guns on him, now that could force a big, needed, change in Thailand's political structure.

Very easy to demand to be called a leader when you have a gun.

We, from the West, tend to think our ideas of democracy are good for all countries in the world.

So you would prefer a military ruled government who assumed power against the will of the people and refused to give it up? All the while suppressing basic human rights?

Edited January 9, 201610 yr by jcsmith