Thaksin: Extend rice policy

Published: 24 Sep 2012 at 15.40
Online news: News

The government's rice purchase programme should be extended for several more years, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Monday, rejecting criticism that it has increased public debt and encouraged corruption.

A farmer uses rice harvesting machine to harvest rice. (Photo by Chinawat Singha)

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin's younger sister, implemented the price- support policy with the stated aim of boosting incomes of farming families, whose support helped her Pheu Thai Party win the general election last year.

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meme
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Discussion 24 : 24 Sep 2012 at 21.2924
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"Please sympathise with them," the fugitive said of the farmers. "They are poor and uneducated. Let's keep them that way, pay them 500 baht now and then so our dictatorship can remain and prosper".
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brilliant
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Discussion 23 : 24 Sep 2012 at 20.5623
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I guess it was decisions like this that caused Thaskin to have multiple failed businesses before he got a no bid, no competition contract from his police buddies and started what became AIS. He was a miserable failure when he tried to run companies that actually had to compete in the market place and it is reflected here.
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bonzo
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Discussion 22 : 24 Sep 2012 at 20.3122
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Did he actually use the word ‘manipulate’ in serious statement?
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howell
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Discussion 21 : 24 Sep 2012 at 20.1521
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Thaksin :'If we manipulate the mechanism....' Does he really believe that making Thai rice more expensive is manipulating supply and demand and therefore the price ? Rice enjoyed a boost a few years ago thanks to a massive wheat crop failure in India. Is he hoping for more of the same ?

Why is there secrecy about how much it sold for in gov to gov deals. Could it be the huge lose incurred.

Surely it is better to invest in teaching and technology to improve yields, Thailand is ranked 22nd in the world with no sign it is going to improve.
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backo
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Discussion 20 : 24 Sep 2012 at 19.5620
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When are the people of the north east going to wake up to the faxed that T.S. IS DOING TO THEM AS POL POT; keeping them broke, no payment for rice for last year,with this programme; sorry he is still the boss of thailand, sister still little sister and do as i say?
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fundeena
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Discussion 19 : 24 Sep 2012 at 19.5019
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Why he talk for the PM?
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aussie
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Discussion 18 : 24 Sep 2012 at 19.4818
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khunbj Dis #12 "Generally I am against all kind of price support in the market, but the alternative to this program would be to give the farmers money for nothing and how much would that then cost" ?.

That`s totaly Red`iculous generally ?
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aussie
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Discussion 17 : 24 Sep 2012 at 19.4317
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"We do not just throw away the money," Thaksin said.

Of course not , he`s obviously "Ample Rich" because of it right ?
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jacksprat
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Discussion 16 : 24 Sep 2012 at 19.3516
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So Thaksin is admitting now that he really does control the government.
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khunbj
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Discussion 15 : 24 Sep 2012 at 19.0715
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Englishbob : Why don't you explain to me why british farmers receive money from EU to support the agriculture/farming there instead of letting it go bankrupt or the french farmers or the italian or the spanish or ......explain that and then I know you understand. I trust you will be able to do just that.
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