Bt18 bn more for rice farmers

[webfact]

Bt18 bn more for rice farmers
By PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI 
THE NATION

 

 

Today as farmers struggle with low prices

 

BANGKOK: -- THE CABINET will today consider a plan for Bt18 billion to be used to help subsidise the price of Pathum Thani and white rice paddy from the current main-crop harvest, after approving a Bt35.9-billion budget last week to help farmers growing Hom Mali rice. 

The move followed a special meeting by the National Rice Policy Committee, which that agreed to support farmers growing Pathum Thani and white rice in the main-crop season, which lasts until February 28. 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who chaired yesterday’s meeting, said the government would give maximum support to farmers who hit hard by the plunge in prices for rice. But he said the state subsidies were only a temporary measure as the government also needs to implement long-term measures to address the issue based on supply and demand, so that the country’s rice production is balanced.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/politics/30299414

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2016-11-08

[streetsweeper]

Who is wearing someone else's shoes now?

[noitom]

An even bigger much mo better rice pledge scheme. Makes Yingluck look very smart

[ikke]

555 LOL, amazing Thailand......

[Jimbo2014]

Big of air for the sinking dinghy.  Time to move past rice perhaps?

[worgeordie]

I am struggling to find cheaper Rice in the market place,

so somewhere between the farmers and retail,someone

is profiteering,and the Government needs to look into that.

regards worgeordie

[sujoop]

3 hours ago, noitom said:

An even bigger much mo better rice pledge scheme. Makes Yingluck look very smart

Not same-same and a much lower subsidy than YL/Thaksin's and no double-dipping like in theirs.

This is an unfortunately necessary emergency subsidy created in great part by Yingluck's (Thaksin's) program hangover with a glut of their un-sold rice still in storage (and recent rapid price drop 'helped' along by colluding pro-Shin millers)

Another difference - Here's just a sample amongst 853 Yingluck rice scheme corruption cases - this one involves:
Faked rice deal  links a red-shirt leader and a Yingluck Pheu Thai party MP and a Thaksin crony insider:
 
Dummy firm tied to govt figures
*Guangzhou-based GSSG Import and Export Corporation, was actually represented by a Thai man called Rathanit Sojirakul, who later authorised Phichit-based Nimon Rakdi to (sign) a contract to purchase 5 million tonnes of rice on the company’s behalf. ...Rathanit was a close aide to Pheu Thai MP Rapeephan Phongruangrong, who is the wife of red-shirt leader Arisman Phongruangrong. ...Rathanit, who claimed to be the authorised representative of the Chinese firm, only has Bt64.63 in his bank account...
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/politics/aec/30195106
 
Telling comment from Yingluck's (Thaksin's) Commerce minister:
“(After buying the rice) I won’t be investigating what buyers do with it,” he said.
 
Obviously Yingluck + Commerce Minister were not at all interested in investigating their own corruption laden program but some may ask, so what did happen to the rice in this supposedly 'innocent normal subsidy deal'?
 
*The G-to-G deal was a fake because no rice was exported to the Chinese firm. Instead, the huge amount of milled rice was sold locally at below market price by the Foreign Trade Department to a ghost buyer who then sold the rice at market price to the two Thai firms which have their own rice mills and later on the same amount of rice were pledged with the government at pledging prices which are about 40 percent above market price.
 
The gang, it was alleged, made double profits from the same amount of rice.
http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-yingluck-probed-connection-fake-rice-deal/
 
*Meanwhile, the poorest farmers weren't even part of the program. The program was a fraud from the outset.
 

Yet Shin-shills on here would forgive all because as Yingluck stated 'We came from election' (therefore can do whatever they wish apparently). However, once you have MASS CORRUPTION combined with MASS ABROGATION, SUBVERSION and MANIPULATION of  CHECKS and BALANCES which form the very underpinnings of democracy, then you have made the very intent of democracy VOID. Ergo: Democracy was ceased by the Shins actions (yet again, nevermind amnesty for 'the boss').
 

The past 2 coups became an unfortunate response to the above, all brought about by the avarice and self-serving over-reach of Thaksin. Simply stating 'but we came from election' is moot once they have all but destroyed the very intent and underpinnings of democracy. But these are the low woeful standards which Shin supporters seem to 'aspire to' for the Thai people... Others reluctantly agree a re-set was sadly needed or the road to an unhindered & autocratic dynasty similar to a Marcos or Suharto or Hun Sen was assured.
 

Ultimately in the rice scheme/fraud, unfortunately Yingluck chose to go along with 'Thaksin speaks / Yingluck does'. In fairness, she had no choice. The result is she willfully turned a blind eye to an 8+ billion USD plunder, therefore is guilty at the least of 'gross negligence of duty'  which is specifically NOT excused under the civil liability law to protect public servants - despite Shin-shills hard 'at work' spinning, deflecting and ultimately defending on behalf of a despot multi-billionaire task master.
 

Also, still to be un-done is the collusive network of pro-Thaksin rice millers who prey upon poor farmers like vultures.

 

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

the state subsidies were only a temporary measure as the governmen

Which is all this military government seems capable after having been in power for almost 2.5 years and likely to remain in power through 2017. Perhaps that's intentional.

 

The junta can gain kudos for its quick cash infusions to help farmers. Whereas on the other hand it can leave it to the next elected government to  implement long-term measures that will likely require unpopular changes, sacrifice and stress in the agricultural sector. Thus, making the elected government unpopular  and politically weak. Win-win for the military.

[Toknarok]

                 During Yinglucks rice pledging scheme hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rice appeared from nowhere to be sold to the Thai millers. I live on the Cambodian border ans saw the heavily laden trucks carrying Cambodian rice purchased cheaply there and then being re-sold at double the price guaranteed under the rice pledging scheme. Fortunes were made. I'm sure that poorly paid border officials looked the other way for a consideration.

              The border here is like a Swiss cheese. Any scheme giving a higher price for rice than can be got in Cambodia/Vietnam will result in a similar situation. The Junta will have to plug (or try to plug)  this loophole to avoid a recurrence.

[Eric Loh]

I think the amount of subsidies to-date is 145B Baht and rising. This don't include the generosity extended to the rubber farmers recently. The draft constitution was written with very tough rulings on populist policies. I am positively sure that they will twitch and refine the definition now that the junta is themselves high on populist policies too. Humble pie anyone?

[Grubster]

1 hour ago, worgeordie said:

I am struggling to find cheaper Rice in the market place,

so somewhere between the farmers and retail,someone

is profiteering,and the Government needs to look into that.

regards worgeordie

Yes and the farmers need to start their own organization to market their rice. Not sure that would be allowed.

[vaultdweller0013]

1 hour ago, sujoop said:

Not same-same and a much lower subsidy than YL/Thaksin's and no double-dipping like in theirs.

This is an unfortunately necessary emergency subsidy created in great part by Yingluck's (Thaksin's) program hangover with a glut of their un-sold rice still in storage (and recent rapid price drop 'helped' along by colluding pro-Shin millers)

Another difference - Here's just a sample amongst 853 Yingluck rice scheme corruption cases - this one involves:
Faked rice deal  links a red-shirt leader and a Yingluck Pheu Thai party MP and a Thaksin crony insider:
 
Dummy firm tied to govt figures
*Guangzhou-based GSSG Import and Export Corporation, was actually represented by a Thai man called Rathanit Sojirakul, who later authorised Phichit-based Nimon Rakdi to (sign) a contract to purchase 5 million tonnes of rice on the company’s behalf. ...Rathanit was a close aide to Pheu Thai MP Rapeephan Phongruangrong, who is the wife of red-shirt leader Arisman Phongruangrong. ...Rathanit, who claimed to be the authorised representative of the Chinese firm, only has Bt64.63 in his bank account...
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/politics/aec/30195106
 
Telling comment from Yingluck's (Thaksin's) Commerce minister:
“(After buying the rice) I won’t be investigating what buyers do with it,” he said.
 
Obviously Yingluck + Commerce Minister were not at all interested in investigating their own corruption laden program but some may ask, so what did happen to the rice in this supposedly 'innocent normal subsidy deal'?
 
*The G-to-G deal was a fake because no rice was exported to the Chinese firm. Instead, the huge amount of milled rice was sold locally at below market price by the Foreign Trade Department to a ghost buyer who then sold the rice at market price to the two Thai firms which have their own rice mills and later on the same amount of rice were pledged with the government at pledging prices which are about 40 percent above market price.
 
The gang, it was alleged, made double profits from the same amount of rice.
http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-yingluck-probed-connection-fake-rice-deal/
 
*Meanwhile, the poorest farmers weren't even part of the program. The program was a fraud from the outset.
 

Yet Shin-shills on here would forgive all because as Yingluck stated 'We came from election' (therefore can do whatever they wish apparently). However, once you have MASS CORRUPTION combined with MASS ABROGATION, SUBVERSION and MANIPULATION of  CHECKS and BALANCES which form the very underpinnings of democracy, then you have made the very intent of democracy VOID. Ergo: Democracy was ceased by the Shins actions (yet again, nevermind amnesty for 'the boss').
 

The past 2 coups became an unfortunate response to the above, all brought about by the avarice and self-serving over-reach of Thaksin. Simply stating 'but we came from election' is moot once they have all but destroyed the very intent and underpinnings of democracy. But these are the low woeful standards which Shin supporters seem to 'aspire to' for the Thai people... Others reluctantly agree a re-set was sadly needed or the road to an unhindered & autocratic dynasty similar to a Marcos or Suharto or Hun Sen was assured.
 

Ultimately in the rice scheme/fraud, unfortunately Yingluck chose to go along with 'Thaksin speaks / Yingluck does'. In fairness, she had no choice. The result is she willfully turned a blind eye to an 8+ billion USD plunder, therefore is guilty at the least of 'gross negligence of duty'  which is specifically NOT excused under the civil liability law to protect public servants - despite Shin-shills hard 'at work' spinning, deflecting and ultimately defending on behalf of a despot multi-billionaire task master.
 

Also, still to be un-done is the collusive network of pro-Thaksin rice millers who prey upon poor farmers like vultures.

 

 

You copy/paste the above verbatim into every topic about rice subsidies. You could maybe mix it up with another example of the fraud. After all, there are supposed to be over 800 of them.

[elgordo38]

2 hours ago, worgeordie said:

I am struggling to find cheaper Rice in the market place,

so somewhere between the farmers and retail,someone

is profiteering,and the Government needs to look into that.

regards worgeordie

Retail is no slouch at marking up prices. Profit first and foremost. 

[elgordo38]

What is the mushroom market like in Thailand. I see YL is a grower so there must be some profit in it. She is after all not just another pretty face. Maybe the government could hire her as a mushroom consultant to teach the rice farmers how to grow an alternate crop. 

[Brer Fox]

The way things are going in Thailand it seems only a matter of time before every grower of just about every product in the primary sector will be surviving on subsidies. What happens then when the money runs out is unthinkable.

The rice industry is certainly at the crossroads. Which one is next?

[williamgeorgeallen]

they are spending ying lucks 35 billion baht fine doing the same thing she did to get fined. actually another 18 billion mean they are spending 38 billion. where do they get the extra money from?

[Denim]

14 hours ago, streetsweeper said:

Who is wearing someone else's shoes now?

 

Yep...Yingluck was foolish. She should have at least have had it written into the then constitution that she would be immune from any future prosecution. Unfortunately it was not within her power to just rip up and discard the then constitution.

 

Just shows the superiority of the current government. Totally immune from responsibility and with article 44 to suppress any descent how can they go wrong.

 

Just imagine a Phua Thai government with their own article 44 to bash people over the head with.

[billd766]

20 hours ago, Denim said:

 

Yep...Yingluck was foolish. She should have at least have had it written into the then constitution that she would be immune from any future prosecution. Unfortunately it was not within her power to just rip up and discard the then constitution.

 

Just shows the superiority of the current government. Totally immune from responsibility and with article 44 to suppress any descent how can they go wrong.

 

Just imagine a Phua Thai government with their own article 44 to bash people over the head with.

 

That is exactly what the PTP tried to do back in November 2013. They changed the original proposal at 04.30 one morning after telling the Democrats that the vote would take place the following day. The law that they tried to ram though was an amnesty for Yingluck, Thaksin and 26,000 other cases of corruption going back to IIRC 2007 and offered the same amnesty to Abhisit and Suthep.

 

That was just one of the reasons the the PTP government was brought down.