Farmers' representatives stormed out of talks with the caretaker government after officials failed to give an answer on when growers can expect to receive money owed to them for produce sold into the state rice-pledging scheme.
About 500 farmers rally at the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence on Monday to demand a clear answer on when they will be paid for pledged rice. (Photo by Seksan Rojjanametakul)
Rawee Rungruang, western province farming representative and leader of the negotiations, abandoned the talks at the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence after meeting with caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisarn, caretaker Deputy Commerce Minister Nathawut Saikuar and caretaker PM's Office Minister Varathep Rattanakorn.
Mr Rawee insisted the farmers he represents have no political agenda, arguing that they are suffering as a result of the caretaker government's inability to pay them for pledged rice, and would return home immediately if and when they received their cash.
Talks between the two parties went on for an hour. Mr Rawee realised that officials were unable to give an answer on when farmers could expect to receive their money so walked out.
The farmers simply wanted to know when they would be paid for their rice, he said.
Before leaving the meeting, Mr Rawee said he wanted the government to sell off the rice it is holding in stockpiles - at any cost - in order to get the money it needs to pay farmers.
He added that the country needs a new administration with the full authority to solve the problem, since the caretaker government has no way of getting the money it needs to pay rice farmers.
Farmers announced via loudspeakers that they would mobilise growers from across the country to seize rice warehouses, arguing that officials no longer have the legitimacy to handle the rice in stock.
An elderly farmer cries after learning that the caretaker government cannot say when it will make payments for pledged rice. (Photo by Seksan Rojjanametakul)
The farmers then returned to their main protest site in front of the Commerce Ministry.
Mr Niwatthamrong said officials desperately want to respond to the farmers' demands but are struggling with legal problems and need to consult with the Election Commission - because it is against the law for a temporary administration to create financial burdens on an incoming government. He pleaded for sympathy and understanding from growers.
Farmers had been paid 60 billion baht under the rice-pledging scheme as of October 2013, he said. By November 2013, 63% of farmers had been paid for rice sold into the initiative, he added.
But Mr Niwatthamrong admitted that farmers have not been paid since December last year, when parliament was dissolved in response to escalating anti-government street protests.
Tomorrow, the caretaker cabinet would consider a proposal to approve 712 million baht from the Central Fund to pay farmers. However, even with cabinet approval, the payment must be first agreed by the EC as required by the royal decree on the general election.
The caretaker government still owes farmers 110 billion baht for the 2013/14 rice crop. Mr Niwatthamrong said the government wants to pay growers but has been unable to sell sufficient rice.
He added that attempts to borrow money from commercial banks to pay farmers had been obstructed.
Mr Varathep also said the caretaker government had tried to seek loans to pay farmers over the past two weeks but had faced legal obstructions and a lack of willingness from financial institutions.
Meanwhile, a farmer in Sukhothai died after hanging herself at home in tambon Ban Mai Sook Kasem of Kong Krailat district on Monday morning. She had been waiting for the caretaker government to pay her for rice sold into the subsidy scheme.
The dead farmer was identified as Pensinee Thongchoi, 38, according to Pichai Aunnartsak, kamnan of tambon Ban Mai Sook Kasem.
Pensinee’s death follows the suicides of two other farmers believed to have been suffering stress over financial problems caused by delays to rice scheme payments.
“Farmers are experiencing extreme distress with no money to pay debts, eat on a daily basis or grow new crops. They resort to loan sharks but are still not making ends meet. They can’t even afford to send their children to school,” Mr Pichai said.
“Some cannot cope with the stress and hang themselves. We are very saddened by this.”
Video by Chumporn Sangvilert.