The former president of the Thailand Research and Development Institute (TDRI) has accused ousted prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's rice-pledging scheme of failing to achieve the programme's purpose of helping small-scale farmers.
Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra is surrounded by supporters as she turns up at the Supreme Court to attend the first hearing of the case in which she is accused of dereliction of duty in supervising the rice-pledging scheme. (Photo by Chanat Kantanyu)
Nipon Poapongsakorn was speaking before nine judges of the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Position-Holders at the first hearing of the trial on Friday in which Ms Yingluck was charged with dereliction of duty in the rice-pledging scheme.
Mr Nipon is one of the witnesses for the prosecution.
He said rice-pledging schemes have been carried out in the country for 30 years.
In the past, the pledging prices were lower than the market prices. The programmes were organised to help small-scale and poor farmers and quotas were set for pledged rice.
During the Thaksin Shinawatra administration between 2005 and 2006, the rice-pledging programme was adjusted with the pledging prices set above the market ones, but without quotas.
Ms Yingluck's government followed on with the purchase of rice at above market prices without quotas, Mr Nipon said.
The programme was organised to buy every grain, which suggests the government would buy rice without any conditions, he said, adding this was at odds with the scheme's purpose which aims to help small-scale growers. The government set a steep price for pledged rice, which also violated the World Trade Organisation accord, he said.
He insisted the TDRI is not the foe of any government. The TDRI's research is aimed at enhancing the country's development and farmers' quality of life, he said.
Another prosecution witness speaking before the judges yesterday was political and security news editor of Channel 7, Noppadon Thipyawan.
Mr Noppadon certified the material and news content in relation to interviews given by Ms Yingluck and then commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom about the rice-pledging scheme.
Ms Yingluck arrived at the court at the Government Complex in Bangkok at 8.30am. She was greeted by a crowd of supporters, some of her cabinet ministers and Pheu Thai Party members, including former minister of finance Kittiratt Na-Ranong, ex-deputy commerce minister Nattawut Saikuar and former science and technology minister Vorawat Ua-apinyakul.
"I am confident. We will do our best today," Ms Yingluck said to the crowd, who cheered the former premier and urged her to fight.
Ms Yingluck was accused of malfeasance under Section 157 of the Criminal Code and Section 123/1 of the 1999 Anti-Corruption Act.
She is accused of failing to stop the rice scheme which caused 500 billion baht in damages to the country. If she is found guilty, she could face up to 10 years in jail.