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Discussion 1 : 10/10/2012 at 10:28 AM

Bula d.43, you are absolutely correct. The rice price scheme is not a hand-out, it's a scam, posing as a social/economic policy. How could it be regarded as a hand-out when those supposedly getting a hand out of it get peanuts?

Discussion 2 : 10/10/2012 at 08:26 AM

bkk-farang #34 - I am not a redshirt. You are confused between a policy that does not support handout and your obsessive fear and your hate on everything Thaksin. The rice price scheme is not a handout.

Discussion 3 : 09/10/2012 at 11:39 PM

onlyme D39 An attempt to answer your "relevant" questions: "Have I ever been a rice farmer desperate for money?" No. "Do I understand the concept of constant hope?" I'm not sure but I think I do, for example religious people have believe in the afterlife but have no actual proof of it's existence may be said to live in constant hope. "If I was down to my last euro and had to feed my family would I be different?" Different to what? I'm afraid I don't understand this question but if you rephrase it I'll be glad to have a go at answering.

Discussion 4 : 09/10/2012 at 09:25 PM

I'm curious about the reds here defending the rice "scheme", mostly dom, why don't you guys EVER post on the stories about people getting killed in the South? Another dozen, but what's it to reds? You defend corrupt schemes because poor farmers get a few baht while the bulk of it goes to corrupt millers and politicians, but when poor Southerns die, you could care less. The lot of you are hypocrites.

Discussion 5 : 09/10/2012 at 09:22 PM

dumm - "I noticed it too and I thought it was odd, it's usually the anti-Thaksin side that's stacked." Considering that there is not even 30 English speaking red shirts in Thailand, I'm quite surprised that there would be 30 votes against my comment. But then, reds HATE the truth.

Discussion 6 : 09/10/2012 at 09:13 PM

Dumdonn, although you have never answered me I would still like to ask some relevant questions. Have you ever been a rice farmer who is desperate for money? Do you understand the concept of constant hope? If you were down to your last Irish pound (Euro now) and had to feed your family would you be different? News flash, this is what they are being bombarded with in the short term. I am deeply sad of the UK education system if this is not apparent to you.

Discussion 7 : 09/10/2012 at 08:08 PM

englishbob D36 I am not defending the present rice scheme I too have doubts about it. I defend the policy of rice price subsidies they should continue, perhaps under a under a modified or different scheme. I don't agree with your perennial argument that everything the PT government does is motivated by self interest and nor do Thai people, the latest Suan Dusit poll shows that 55% want the present government to complete its term and only 15% want it to go now. Even allowing for a margin of error, you views are still that of a tiny minority, that doesn't make you wrong but it should make you pause for self reflection.

Discussion 8 : 09/10/2012 at 08:03 PM

As usual the poor farmer gets a few crumbs from his master's table.

Discussion 9 : 09/10/2012 at 06:33 PM

This policy is the best of all worlds... a graft-fest for PT loyalists and a great PR stunt. Keep telling farmers someone are getting something for nothing, and look like Santa. Share the money amongst cronies and buy loyalty from 'kamans' and 'pu yai'. Bula, Dom - Seriously. Stop defending it. It's an absolute travesty of a policy and you both know it. You're only defending it because it's a Peua Thai policy. If Dems had introduced it, you'd be howling with indignation.

Discussion 10 : 09/10/2012 at 05:54 PM

This program is simply, by design an all-you-can-eat buffet for corrupt officials and businessmen. But never mind, it sounds good to the farmers and gets their votes... The next election victory paid for by the taxpayers of Thailand!

Discussion 11 : 09/10/2012 at 05:10 PM

@bula #31: I am really concerned when I read your post #31. You don’t encourage handouts but you are an obsessive supporter of Thaksin, PT and the red-shirts. How does that fit together? And I would really like to see how this “international charity organization and NGO” works with you on the advisory boards – again keeping your red background in mind.

Discussion 12 : 09/10/2012 at 03:02 PM

brilliant D7 I noticed it too and I thought it was odd, it's usually the anti-Thaksin side that's stacked.

Discussion 13 : 09/10/2012 at 02:59 PM

brilliant D1 But if the money is not getting to the 'intended end user', how can it be buying their votes? Are you saying that the government cant even arrange vote buying properly or is spending all this money to buy the votes of a few millers? How do you account for the fact that the latest Suan Dusit poll shows 55% of respondents want the government to remain in power till the end of their term?

Discussion 14 : 09/10/2012 at 02:28 PM

bkk-farang #20 - I sit in advisory boards of an international charity organization and NGO. I don't encourage handout. I support initiatives that create and facilitate an environment for those who are willing to work hard to improve their lives. If you look at it as a handout, then all corporations and individuals who benefited through tax cuts, rebates and other incentives are receiving a handout.

Discussion 15 : 09/10/2012 at 02:08 PM

abbub D20: I made a simple statement. Tell me which part of it is wrong.

Discussion 16 : 09/10/2012 at 01:51 PM

"A committee investigating corruption in the rice pledging scheme says it has found 25 cases of fraud, with damages estimated at around 307 million baht." Would be interesting to know how many cases have been investigated in total. My guess is it is very close to 25/25. @bula, d22. "Those who are already caught as reported here should be charged." I try again. Where do you see that anyone have been caught? The article only states they have found cases of fraud, nothing about anyone getting caught! Anyway, who do you think owns the rice mills in Isaan? The poor farmers, or the rich "pu yai" who for the most part are either PTP officials or family members of PTP officials. Do you really expect them to arrest their own family members?

Discussion 17 : 09/10/2012 at 01:27 PM

It will be interesting to see if any one is prosecuted ,it should not stop at the millers.It would seem other people higher up the food chain are involved.No matter what the farmers and the tax payers are the losers.

Discussion 18 : 09/10/2012 at 01:22 PM

You can’t convince anybody that a couple of areas in Thailand have rice fraud and the rest of Thailand does not have this problem there is even rumours of rice being imported to be added to the rice scheme

Discussion 19 : 09/10/2012 at 12:14 PM

Interesting the two cities Buri Ram and Phetchabun who are bastion’s of UDD supporters are among the places taking advantage of ”their” poor farmers.

Discussion 20 : 09/10/2012 at 11:51 AM

Perhaps a little government show & tell? I recall Chalerm talking about ending the drug smuggling then ... bing botta boom they make a bunch of arrests of small fries with impressive sounding loads. But now the drug busts have gone silent. Their rice scheme gets blasted for corruption and ... bing botta boom, some small time corruption is immediately busted with impressive sounding millions of baht. How long before this also goes quiet?

Discussion 21 : 09/10/2012 at 10:49 AM

We know the millers are crooked ...Just look at the beautiful houses they build on site. Plus funny when harvest season starts how quickly the prices paid for crops goes down....because Mr. farmer has no where to go, and no money except what is due from his crops!

Discussion 22 : 09/10/2012 at 10:47 AM

Remember they said they had found 25 cases of fraud! They haven't written that anyone has been charged. And a promise from the miller to issuse the said notes etc., will save the police alot of paperwork and top up the tea money tin!

Discussion 23 : 09/10/2012 at 10:38 AM

onlyme #15 - I have no evidence on anyone. Do you have any? Those who are already caught as reported here should be charged.

Discussion 24 : 09/10/2012 at 10:21 AM

MITRAP D8: "May sound a bit simple, but: the Dems preached it all the time, the scheme is wide open to corruption" The rice scheme has nothing to do with this so yes, your comment is, as you yourself suggest, simplistic. The farmers have been cheated for the entire 80 years of modern day Thailand. trying to vilify the Pheu Thai and praise the democrats as extremely shallow and politically ridiculous.

Discussion 25 : 09/10/2012 at 10:05 AM

@bula #14: Does your self-esteem rise when you get handouts from others?

Discussion 26 : 09/10/2012 at 09:55 AM

Are we even still surprised? Even YS admitted last month there is corruption involved with the scheme. Yawn.

Discussion 27 : 09/10/2012 at 09:49 AM

Corruption on behalf of millers is only a drop in the ocean for what is wrong with this bent policy .

Discussion 28 : 09/10/2012 at 09:38 AM

@bula, d14. "It looks like the mechanisms arresting the law breakers of this scheme are working." I asked you yesterday reg. another article where you got all your information from reg. the good work of government officials, as you seemed to know alot more than whats written on BP. You did not reply, so I ask you again today. Referring to your statement above, how do you see that the mechanisms arresting the law breakers are working? I cannot see anything about anyone getting arrested?

Discussion 29 : 09/10/2012 at 09:29 AM

Now PThaksin can claim that after a big investigation they found all the fraud cases. And because PT is active against criminals and corruption they fixed this problem and now there is obviously no corruption in the rice scheme anymore and we can all live happily ever after.

Discussion 30 : 09/10/2012 at 09:12 AM

Bula I agree that EVERYBODY caught sabotaging the economy, using proxies and all guilty officials should be dismissed immediately. Any thougts on who you are condemning?

Discussion 31 : 09/10/2012 at 07:56 AM

It looks like the mechanisms arresting the law breakers of this scheme are working. The law enforcement agencies must now show their seriousness in punishing these people. There is no reason why the government should abandon the scheme designed to raise the quality of life of rice farmers and their self-esteem and the respect due to them.

Discussion 32 : 09/10/2012 at 07:35 AM

Dis.6 Renaissance "Maybe more and more farmers will start to realize that voting for someone with their hero's credentials cannot bring happy and lasting results for them." I don't think that it's about hero credentials but only about money. Yesterday, one of my employees came back from Sisaket where she was for the elections. I told her that I admire her for taking this long trip to put her vote down. She answered that she had to because otherwise she would not have gotten the 800 Baht + expenses for her vote. Btw she has a BA in economics, she is not poor or needy and I pay her a nice salary not the minimum wage.

Discussion 33 : 09/10/2012 at 07:30 AM

This whole scheme is like owning a pack of dogs and a neighbor asks you to take care of 15 pounds of steak for a cookout. You put it in a paper bag, place it on the seat of a chair and leave. Claims of doing all you could to prevent the inevitable would be as embarrassingly simple minded as this program. Once again, is the media going to follow up and provide names when charged? Will we hear updates when trials are ended? How about updates on other cases like the police officers on bail with murder convictions? Newspapers should do more than act as parrots.

Discussion 34 : 09/10/2012 at 07:24 AM

I totally agree with bula in D5 how ever I also agree with Renaissence in D6 so I won't hold my breath for any startling results as these are probably just small fry in the corruption chain.

Discussion 35 : 09/10/2012 at 07:19 AM

Each of those cases involved more than 10 million in fraud, which means about 50 tons of rice each, how many cheated farmers is that? And we're only talking two provinces....

Discussion 36 : 09/10/2012 at 07:06 AM

Inactive posts and suspended sentences on the way for those caught...

Discussion 37 : 09/10/2012 at 07:04 AM

May sound a bit simple, but: the Dems preached it all the time, the scheme is wide open to corruption and those who benefit are the millers, not the farmers. How much longer will it take until the message reaches those on the rice field?

Discussion 38 : 09/10/2012 at 07:02 AM

faceless - notice that also, did you? It's hilarious that someone would go to that length.

Discussion 39 : 09/10/2012 at 06:47 AM

I expect that the cheating rice millers will find that their problems will disappear off the police station desks with the help of politicians. Does anyone really expect them to be punished? I feel sorry for the farmers. Maybe more and more farmers will start to realize that voting for someone with their hero's credentials cannot bring happy and lasting results for them.

Discussion 40 : 09/10/2012 at 06:27 AM

Those caught breaking the law should be heavily punished with jail terms and fine for sabotaging the economy of the country. The licenses of millers should be revolted, and if they used proxy in the future, they should all be punished. Government officials found guilty should be dismissed immediately. Smugglers' passport withdrawn, jailed and fine.

Discussion 41 : 09/10/2012 at 06:06 AM

First of all congratulations for catching those people and I hope they will get heavily punished for fraught and taking advantage of the poor. However as discussion 2 already said, it is just the tip of the iceberg and I bet just a sacrifice to cover up all the other cases.

Discussion 42 : 09/10/2012 at 05:38 AM

Agreed brilliant d.2, Tip of a very big iceberg. Greed is rampant and the gates are open. By the way, it appears there has been an unusually large number of rice scheme supporters on line here this morning. Mass insomnia? Or maybe somebody just doesn't like you. Bit hard not to LOL at these infantile, obvious attempts to stack the likes/dislikes.

Discussion 43 : 09/10/2012 at 03:46 AM

The tip of the iceberg. When the inept Thai police find 25 cases this easily, you know there are 2500 cases not found. This is just further collaboration that the money is NOT getting to the intended end user as has been said all along. Sickening that PTP will go to any length to buy votes, including bilking the tax payers of hundreds of billions of baht.

Discussion 44 : 09/10/2012 at 03:43 AM

scrupulous Thai 2 Thai fraudster, increasingly worrisome trend in officials and even state officials involved. They cause havoc among not only the victims bit the whole industry, mistrust is rampant, how on earth can we build capacity in society when these fraudsters can continue to scam and demolish Thai families? In case BP audience doesn't know......a corrupted society is a blueprint for disaster!!!!