Rice 'going bad' in warehouses | Bangkok Post: news

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Democrats slam pledged rice quality

MP shows parliament ‘rotten' grain from Surin

Published: 8 Feb 2013 at 00.15
Online news: Local News

A Democrat MP Thursday sliced open a bag of the government's pledged rice in parliament in a bid to demonstrate shoddy quality control of the stored paddy.

Warong Dejkitvikrom, the MP for Phitsanulok, said the rice, retrieved from Surin, was brown and rotten.

His display in the House drew protests from government lawmakers.

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DonAleman
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Discussion 37 : 08 Feb 2013 at 13.4437
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Assuming this is true than the Thai people are paying for the storage of rotten rice ?
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boontong
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Discussion 36 : 08 Feb 2013 at 13.0936
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kasper #26 - According to this news report, Mr. Nathavut did not blame Mr. Warong of stealing. He accused him of trespassing. Again, the bag could have been from a government warehouse, but not necessarily the rotten rice. There are appropriate manner and channel for Warong to request the government to open up its warehouses to reporters, so they could see for themselves, but he chose a confrontational approach. I don't know where the G-G rice is kept, but I do know, in view of regional competition G-G negotiation has to be confidential and use it to leverage other negotiations.
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gdf
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Discussion 35 : 08 Feb 2013 at 12.0735
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“Deputy Commerce Minister Nattawut Saikuar insisted the rice pledging scheme is run in a straightforward and transparent manner.” If that is the case, then please arrange an open day for reporters and other interested people to go and inspect the stocks, randomly. Whilst listening to Nattawut Saikuar it is wise to remember that wearing a white coat does not necessarily make you a doctor.
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hillfarang
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Discussion 34 : 08 Feb 2013 at 11.4534
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Especially to those who are relatively new to Thailand & Thai attutudes: ANYTHING (Everything) about rice is very important & therefore controversial!

Rememember a few days ago: "Thailand will be #1" (rice producer again?

Then there's National pride in its quality, tast production & even history! Thai rice was chosen as the basis of rice genetic studies, so, "Don't 'dis' Thai rice!"
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englishbob
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Discussion 33 : 08 Feb 2013 at 11.4033
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To those people STILL, inexplicably trying to defend this utter farce of a policy...
Yes... It IS easy to fake a bag of rotten rice.

You know what's easier? Make a statement that journalists are entitled to inspect rice in any warehouse they like. That would stop all the rumours, wouldn't it?

One thing that's galling is that Nattawut seems to think that rice belongs to the government. Seeing as it was bought using tax-payers' money, it actually belongs to the people. And shouldn't the people be allowed to know what's happening with it?
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englishbob
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Discussion 32 : 08 Feb 2013 at 11.4032
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To those people STILL, inexplicably trying to defend this utter farce of a policy...
Yes... It IS easy to fake a bag of rotten rice.

You know what's easier? Make a statement that journalists are entitled to inspect rice in any warehouse they like. That would stop all the rumours, wouldn't it?

One thing that's galling is that Nattawut seems to think that rice belongs to the government. Seeing as it was bought using tax-payers' money, it actually belongs to the people. And shouldn't the people be allowed to know what's happening with it?
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banmebkk
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Discussion 31 : 08 Feb 2013 at 11.3431
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@boontong - seems like you can't find any fault with any of the PTP policies or schemes? why? Care to explain whats so good about the rice scheme? Even YS admitted there is corruption invovled and she will look into it.
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canuck
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Discussion 30 : 08 Feb 2013 at 11.1830
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"The NACC's move came after the Democrat Party submitted a petition along with evidence asking the NACC to investigate the rice pledging scheme."

Tit for Tat.
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brilliant
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Discussion 29 : 08 Feb 2013 at 10.5529
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boontong - there's one sentence that very strongly suggests that the bag was real. Unless, of course, you think he counterfeited the bag just for this? Do you have any proof that the bag WASN'T real?
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HowIWish
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Discussion 28 : 08 Feb 2013 at 10.5128
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When he went to take the 'one' bag of spoilt rice from the warehouse (or storage facility), why didn't he take a media contingent with him? Then they could have filmed and reported 'ALL' the spoilt rice. Pretty obvious for someone to do, especially when he is trying to descredit others, unfortunately through his actions he has only descredited himself!!
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