Rice farmers rally against Nida group

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Rice farmers rally against Nida group

Academics blasted for opposition to pledging

Published: 3 Oct 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Rice farmers are threatening to step up protests against academics who they have blasted for opposing the government's rice pledging scheme.

The warning was issued by leaders of about 3,000 rice farmers who gathered at the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) yesterday to protest against a call by a group of its lecturers for the Constitution Court to scrap the programme.

The lecturers' group has petitioned the court to call a halt to the pledging, claiming that it violates the constitution which promotes free trade and prohibits the state from competing in businesses with the private sector.

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robins
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Discussion 20 : 03 Oct 2012 at 09.0320
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Mommy, I don't care what the Constitution says, give me what I want or I'll throw a tantrum and pout. Giving in to that indicates bad parenting and bad governce.
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robingrant
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Discussion 19 : 03 Oct 2012 at 08.5319
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This issue is attracting so much attention, and criticism, because it dares to divert money away from a small group of influential rice exporters and other connected parties and channel it instead direct to the producers. Anything which challenges the status quo in Thailand is sure to attract abuse from those who lose out.

As for only 5% of the proceeds going to the farmers, as claimed by some, well, how do you explain this demonstration by farmers against academics, none of whom have probably ever harvested a field of rice in their lives. Also, sections of the media, if you know where to look, report that farmers are happy with this scheme.
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sunshine51
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Discussion 18 : 03 Oct 2012 at 08.1418
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khunbj, what you forget is that those who blow the whistle are blown away never to be heard from ever again.
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mitrapaap
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Discussion 17 : 03 Oct 2012 at 08.0617
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Abbhisit used to be critizised because he was intelligent but disconnected from the people. The academics seem to make the same "mistake". As per other articles, their intent was not to 'scrap' the scheme but to have it adjusted, so more money goes to the poor farmers and less into pockets that will never be full. Somehow the academics missed to inform the farmers properly about their intent so now they end up having the farmers against them instead of supporting them.
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genii
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Discussion 16 : 03 Oct 2012 at 07.5416
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Somebody wants the farmers hard earned money. Somebody is suffering the loss of income since the rice pledgeing scheme started.
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genii
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Discussion 15 : 03 Oct 2012 at 07.5215
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Help the farmers or just give the rice away that is a good idea for helping the people and the economy.
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tabaluga
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Discussion 14 : 03 Oct 2012 at 07.4514
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"The farmers lambasted the academics for their move and accused them of being manipulated as a political tool against the government."

Have the farmers ever thought about who is using them as a political tool against any oposition?
Wake up please.
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khunbj
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Discussion 13 : 03 Oct 2012 at 07.3613
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Spiceman : suggest you follow the US debate, a lot of critics as it only benefits big farmers....and is contrary to the belief that the US is for the free capitalism, because it ain't .
Whatajoke : Can't believe that you can claim there is no fraud in the EU and US subsidy schemes, read the news
Aussie : Yes also in Oz the government supports farming...corruption , yes there is a lot of corruption in Thailand, but it does not just go away by itself, with that attitude that society should stop doing anything..... it requires that people empower themselves and report it when they see it...the % you refer to is hearsay, if you have documentation then please supply it . As I said there is a lot of corruption, if you know about it blow the whistle, hearsay is not helpful unfortunately ... I am looking forward to see all the corruption cases at court, because they will have to pay back the money they stole from the State, but apparently no brave person has blown a whistle yet, else it would have been at the front page of BP, where it would belong.
Pete : yes Norway pays a lot too, so does the rest of the world.....that is the point pete. got it ? why shouldn't Thailand ??
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brilliant
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Discussion 12 : 03 Oct 2012 at 07.2212
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khunbj - "open your eyes and pay notice to how the rest of the world goes about farm subsidies, why should Thailand be any different....?"

Because in Thailand 40-50% of the money goes in someone else's pocket and 5% got to the "poor" farmers. I've said many times, that I wasn't against the "scheme" per se, but against the fact that 100 billion baht went missing. Are you okay with that?
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Ramet in Dallas
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Discussion 11 : 03 Oct 2012 at 07.2111
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Giving away money for no extra work or productivity is Charity. Helping the farmers produce more/better crops for the same effort/expense is what will, in the long run, improve the lives of farmers. Keeping them addicted/dependent on Govt. handouts is keeping them from bettering themselves. Even if the rice pledging scheme wasn't riddled with corruption, it's a bad, bad program for the future of farmers, farming, taxpayers, and Thailsnd's economy.
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man how to catch fish and he is fed for a lifetime".
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Rice farmers rally against Nida group | Bangkok Post: news