Farmer's protest expanded; government is scrambling

Could it be true or is it another empty promise? Secretary of State Yanyong Phuangrach (Trade) says rice millers are willing to help farmers who have been waiting for money for months. They advance half of the amount to which they are entitled and the government pays the interest. They would pay out within two weeks.

The farmers, on the other hand, doubt whether the millers are able to do so, given the amount involved. They still have 120 billion baht credit from the government. If the millers offer help, they will have to borrow the money. But banks might refuse to do so, just as they refuse to grant the government a loan because it is outgoing and cannot take on new obligations.

The farmers make a counterproposal. When they are allowed to use the surrendered rice as collateral, they want to find their own money sources (Source: BP website, February 8). Wichean Puanghlamchiak, president of the Thai Farmers Association, believes that the government should borrow the money to pay the farmers (Source: newspaper, February 9).

That is what the government is trying to do; she wants to borrow 130 billion baht in weekly installments of 20 billion baht. The first two auctions have already failed. The banks are hesitant to provide money because the government would violate the constitution with the loan. The Council of State, on the other hand, believes that this is not the case.

The Thai Farmers Association is urging the government to sell the rice in stock so that farmers can be paid quickly. "Take out those 18 million tons, separate the good from the rotten rice and sell the rice," said President Prasit Boonchuey. [Does that two association have two presidents?] According to him, this operation should be able to generate 100 billion baht.

Secretary of State Yanyong said yesterday in Ayutthaya during a meeting with farmers' representatives from XNUMX provinces that the government is already selling rice from its stock. The newspaper now writes that farmers will be paid in full for the surrendered rice: half of the money will come from the millers, the other half from the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives.

Protest expands

This weekend, the demonstrating farmers in front of the Ministry of Commerce in Nonthaburi will receive reinforcements from farmers from different provinces. Today they are there for the fourth day. Government representatives have not yet shown up. Tomorrow the farmers will demonstrate in front of a Defense office, which temporarily serves as a workspace for Prime Minister Yingluck and a few ministers.

Rawee Ruangruang, leader of a network of rice growers from six western provinces, says they will remain with the Commerce Ministry indefinitely. If the government fails to meet the rice growers' demands, it should resign and allow others to solve the problem.

The farmers will go to court tomorrow with a complaint about fraud in the mortgage system. In Pak Tho district (Ratchaburi), farmers have already filed a police complaint against Prime Minister Yingluck for fraud. [Or is the newspaper referring to the same complaint?] Pak Tho police say they will investigate the matter and submit it to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

The farmers who blocked the Rama II road, the main route to the South, from February 1 to 6 will not be prosecuted. Earlier, the police had summoned some representatives for questioning, but they got away with the excuse that the blockade was the last straw to be heard.

Nail in the government's coffin

Protest leader Witthaya Kaewparadai (of the anti-government movement) said on the rally stage in Lumpini yesterday that the government's inability to meet its commitments is the final nail in its coffin. He thinks the government will be forced to resign within seven days. "Rice farmers will paralyze the whole country."

Witthaya denies that the protest movement is using farmers to fend for themselves. That is what the government says, but he points out that the protest movement is not politicizing the farmers' movement. "Our fight is to send the government home and get rid of the Thaksin regime so that we can work on political reform."

Action leader Suthep Thaugsuban also gave Prime Minister Yingluck cotton yesterday. Yingluck has said that the farmers' protest was initiated by the protest movement. But Suthep denies that. On Friday, a march in Sathon and Bang Rak (Bangkok) raised 9.209.440 baht for farmers, PDRC spokesman Akanat Promphan said. The plan is to set up a fund to help the farmers. The PDRC also offers to help the farmers with a team of lawyers. Monday will be collected again.

Explanation

I have tried as best as I can to outline the situation, but the newspaper once again makes a mess of it with contradictory information. I sighed earlier: journalism is a profession.

(Source: bangkok mail, February 9 and website February 8)