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Rice subsidy controversy widens protests against govt
Farmers are up in arms against the government’s failure to pay for their
rice while employees of a state bank dressed in black to protest against
borrowing from bank reserves to pay farmers.
Puti Srisamutnark, president of the Thai Farmers Promotion Association, said
Monday that he was compiling a list of petitioners to lodge a complaint with
the Administrative Court against the government for repeatedly failing to
pay for the rice they have sold under the rice subsidy scheme.
The caretaker Yingluck Shinawatra government has pledged to buy rice from
farmers at Bt15,000 per tonne.
Puti said farmers in many areas have prepared for the new planting season
but they have yet to receive payment for delivery of rice from the last
harvest.
“They have admitted that they would earn only Bt6,000-8,000 per tonne from
the next harvest while production costs would be as high as Bt6,000,” he
said.
No matter which political party will run the country, the association will
ask the new government to continue assisting farmers so that they can sell
rice at no less than Bt12,000 per tonne, he said.
Meanwhile, the labor union of the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural
Cooperatives (BAAC) held a special meeting Monday and strongly objected to
the government’s plan to spend the depositors’ money to pay farmers.
BAAC employees dressed in black to display their opposition and said the
government has already withdrawn Bt90 billion from the bank to subsidize the
rice pledging scheme.
Union leader Prasit Pahome said the labor union protested the new move to
borrow Bt55 billion from the BAAC to purchase rice from farmers for the 2014
crop.
“The Cabinet did not approve the Bt55 billion (before dissolving the House
of Representatives). It is turning to the Government Savings Bank for the
loan,” he said.
The caretaker government is not authorized by law (to make any) new
financial expenditures.
Caretaker Deputy Finance Minister Thanusak Lek-uthai is scheduled to meet
with the BAAC board of directors to discuss the bank’s financial allocation
to the rice subsidy scheme.
Prasit said BAAC employees nationwide will organize civil disobedience but
will not stop servicing clients. They will organize a movement to remove the
Board of Directors if it insists on lending to the government for the rice
scheme.
“We have to protect the bank’s liquidity. The Public Health Ministry has
threatened to withdraw its deposits if the BAAC approves loans for the rice
subsidy program,” he said. (MCOT)
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Political issues drag
confidence of industrialists
The Thai Industries Sentiment Index (TISI) dropped to the
lowest level in 25 months in December 2013 thanks to the current political
rift.
According to Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) president, Payungsak
Chartsuthipol, the Thai Industries sentiment index (TISI) plummeted to 88.3
in December from the 90.3 in November, which is the lowest since December
2011.
Entrepreneurs have expressed concerns over the ongoing political situation,
which has repercussions on the already sluggish local economy. Moreover, the
decrease in domestic orders, sales volume, and output, have resulted in poor
business performance in many sectors.
He said the survey also found that entrepreneurs demanded that the
government settle the political conflicts by peaceful means as soon as
possible lest it take heavy toll on the country, slowing down economic
activities and domestic consumption. (NNT)
Fruit prices likely to increase during Chinese New Year
An inspection in Trang’s fresh markets has indicated that
fruit may see an increase in prices during the upcoming Chinese New Year.
Fruit vendors at the fresh market in Trang province have been providing a
wide selection of various types of fruit to cater to the needs of consumers,
especially with the Chinese New Year drawing near, when customers often shop
for fruit for ceremonial occasions, such as oranges, watermelons, dragon
fruits, pears, guavas and longans, of which the prices at the moment are in
line with the general market. However, the prices may hike prior to the
upcoming Chinese New year.
Oranges, which are selling at 80 baht per kilo, will probably see a hike of
another 10 baht; dragon fruit costs 80-90 baht per kilo; pears 25 baht per
kilo; grapes 150 baht per kilo; watermelons 25 baht per kilo, and longan
90-100 baht per kilo. The Increase will be approximately 5-10 baht per
kilogram.
In Trang, consumer spending is quite low at the moment possibly due to the
sluggish economy and the drop in rubber and palm oil prices. (NNT)
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