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Rice Rebellion Begins as Thailand Farmers Say: We Will Take Back Our Grain

Monday, February 10, 2014
PHUKET: A rice rebellion was underway today in Thailand with angry farmers telling ministers that they intend to reclaim their produce from government warehouses.

The breakdown in negotiations between farmers and the Yingluck Shinawatra government came as the first protest leader was arrested on a charge of sedition.

With dangerous opposition now swelling on two fronts - among rice farmers and among the protesters already occupying central streets in Bangkok - the government has much to fear if both groups unite.

Calculations removing the cost of corruption and the flaws in the government system reduce the value of rice once worth 100 baht to 18 baht.

Today's walkout took the government and the rice farmers further apart when ministers from three departments said they could not satisfy the farmers' request to be paid for their rice within five days.

Many farmers are already destitute and suicides are becoming more frequent. Farming families are begging money for food from their neighbors in parts of central and norhtern Thailand.

Few believe the governments' claims that the rice subsidy has gone unpaid because of the Bangkok protests.

With the ''Shutdown Bangkok, Restart Thailand'' protesters now raising money for the rice farmers on their daily walks, uniting the twin protests against the government is no longer as far-fetched as it once seemed.

But the government shows no sign of conceding yet, with the arrest today of television station owner and protest leader Sonthiyarn Chuenruethai-naitham on a sedition charge.

Khun Sonthiyarn, who runs the T-News agency, was arrested while eating lunch at a shopping centre for having violated the Emergency Decree. Warrants remain outstanding for 18 other protest leaders.

Comments

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rice rebellion ... what is the rice taking arms ?

Posted by chris on February 10, 2014 19:28

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The state rice-pledging scheme is a true ponzi scheme pyramid.

Posted by Whistle-Blower on February 10, 2014 21:52

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It says in the above article that the value of rice has fallen to 18 Baht. BUt my Thai friends say the cheapest they can buy rice is 40 Baht. So who is pocketing the difference then?
Be good if the two groups do combine and get some action going. A new and better managed Thailand could be the best result.

Posted by Robin on February 10, 2014 22:25

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@Robin 18 Baht is probably the buying price, not the selling price of 40 Baht.

Posted by Jowpee on February 11, 2014 01:20

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Every part of history has its name. I think 'The Rice Rebellion' has a good ring to it & fits the bill in this case. The people up country are really fed up - more than is maybe realised in some parts of the country, i.e. Bangkok & perhaps the tourist areas.

Posted by Logic on February 11, 2014 03:52

Editor Comment:

It goes beyond ''fed up'' in some cases, Logic. Some families are not being fed. We've heard of farmers begging from neighbors. Children are going hungry.

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i live in the far nth east ,they rely on rice for the main household income , no issues around here , not even a mention of it from the pooyai baan in his morning wake up calls ... perhaps this region was not part of the scheme...

Posted by chris on February 11, 2014 07:18

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To Ed: I agree. My girlfriend's family restaurant is feeding some of the older people in the village for free. It's very basic food but basically very needed. I have a couple of expat friends in the area whose family's are passing out food via the local temples. Times are definitely getting tougher.

Posted by Logic on February 11, 2014 09:16

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If the farmers take back their rice they lack a means for storage. Furthermore, they will have to incur the cost of movement. This seems an illogical solution to the problem. Perhaps the government should offer them the option: take back your rice or wait for payment.

Posted by EScott on February 11, 2014 09:34

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@Chris, it could be that pooyai is a very staunch red shirt and hides the truth from the village. As you may know, many Thais do not keep up with current affairs so they may be aware of the protests, they generally will not keep track of everyday issues, like the rice scheme or the plight of other farmers from other areas.

Posted by Laurie Howells on February 11, 2014 09:42

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@ laurie ... maybe , i dont see any farmers from the far Nth East protesting either , its business as usual , the local village 4 day temple party is on this week 500baht per household !! isolated areas i think ....

Posted by chris on February 11, 2014 16:36


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