Out of sight, but rice scheme not out of hot water

Published: 15 Jan 2013 at 11.54
Online news: Opinion

Out of sight, out of mind, so the saying goes. And never more so than with the government’s primary, populist policy vote-catcher – the deeply troubled rice pledging scheme.

Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom inspects a rice mill in Ratchaburi province. (Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)

It is largely out of the sight of the general public and, probably, out of their minds too because most of the mainstream and alternative media outlets no longer pay any attention to the issue – much to the relief of the government and, particularly, Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom.

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pquinlan
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Discussion 16 : 17 Jan 2013 at 11.1116
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Englishbob: yor maths is out. The conversion is US$13.3 billion. Still a massive amount for any country, and agree with your comments regarding better, alternative uses for the money. Especially as it appears something like $500 million of it has apparently evaporated and been whisked off to HK.
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rod266
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Discussion 15 : 17 Jan 2013 at 06.4415
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Just wait for the millions of rats that will thrive on all that rice!
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Renaissance
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Discussion 14 : 15 Jan 2013 at 21.5414
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What a mess! I expect Thaksin will now create another smokescreen by finding a way of blaming Aphisit for the rice problem in order to buy time. No doubt the farmers will believe his every word as usual. For sure, he won't abandon the rice scheme until after the Constitution has been changed, if it ever is changed because of the inevitable mess, which will ensue. I wonder, if he really cares about the problem.
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justfacts
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Discussion 13 : 15 Jan 2013 at 21.3213
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english bob ...just think in reality how many less bnz's ferrai's and other useless cars of the corrupt
would of been purchased....and don't forget the BIb marksmens dad has to keep him out of jail
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onlyme
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Discussion 12 : 15 Jan 2013 at 21.2912
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buckseeda - a wonderful western proverb but here they don't care what they sow as long as they reap.
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kasper
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Discussion 11 : 15 Jan 2013 at 21.1411
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I am just waiting for the day Thailand has borrowed so much money it ends up like Greece. Then the government can no longer run populist policies, even if it wants to, as noone will lend Thailand any money.
That day, maybe 10 years from now, all the poor will be standing there looking completely confused, wondering why they can no longer get any healthcare or rice scheme money or anything else for that matter, and why blocking the roads to get what they want no longer works.

The rich meanwhile will still be just fine both now and then. Many will probably be sitting in a nice house or condo, watching the news, thinking "we told you so!"
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buckseeda
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Discussion 10 : 15 Jan 2013 at 20.4210
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................. it is very likely that seven million tonnes of paddy “bought” by millers under the rice pledging scheme were not actually delivered to them by the farmers who, in return, were given 1,000 baht in cash for each tonne of paddy “sold”.

You reap what you sow!
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bluebkk
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Discussion 9 : 15 Jan 2013 at 20.209
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13 billion dollars?? Piece of cake for the fugitive inventor of the ridiculous scheme.... let him pay for it with ill gotten funds.....
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englishbob
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Discussion 8 : 15 Jan 2013 at 19.218
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The Dark Side - My bad... Sorry Peua Thai are spending 13 BILLION DOLLARS appeasing a voting bloc of inefficient farmers.

Wonder how many schools, hospitals etc that could have bought...
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jfb44
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Discussion 7 : 15 Jan 2013 at 19.197
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I think the G-to-G deals have to be kept secret because the only way the rice can be sold is below cost.
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