Oprettet af thai d. 17-02-2014 07:33
#5
RICE
Govt searches for ways to pay rice farmers
The Yingluck Shinawatra government may have dried the tears of a few cash-strapped farmers when she vowed to pay them off today, but her administration is still struggling to find ways to secure at least Bt130 billion legally.
Over the past week, some of the methods the caretaker government is using to seek funds to pay the farmers what they are owed under the rice-pledging scheme have surfaced.
These ways are separate from the Commerce Ministry's accelerating sales of rice from the state's stocks, expected to reach almost 20 million tonnes.
First, a group of rice millers in Nakhon Ratchasima showed up with the intention to help farmers by taking out loans from banks for them. The banks would lend to the millers so that the millers could lend to the farmers. The millers would use their credit standing to back the loans from the banks while keeping the farmers' pledging receipts as collateral.
The farmers would receive some money, though this would be part of the total value of their pledging receipts; for example, Bt50,000 out of Bt100,000 if they are extended loans at 50 per cent of the pledging receipt.
Second, millers are being offered loans to buy rice from the government. State-owned Krungthai Bank circulated a letter dated Wednesday saying it would extend credit to millers and packers interested in joining the Commerce Ministry's rice auction. The bank said this is a normal lending service.
Deputy Finance Minister Benja Louicharoen on Thursday said the ministry had come up with a conclusion on loans in an effort to pay the farmers. Part of the loans would come from the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC).
The Finance Ministry was also reportedly securing funds to pay unpaid farmers via the interbank market, in which the state-owned Government Savings Bank extends loans to the state-run BAAC. But the loan would be for Bt20 billion, much more than the usual Bt5 billion deal. The ministry then would issue a "letter of comfort" in confirmation that it would support the loan deal, a ministry source was cited as saying by Isranes Agency.
"The ministry expects to seek approval on this matter from the Cabinet meeting this week," the source said.
However, GSB president Worawit Chalimpamontri said on his Facebook page on Friday that he refused to lend to the BAAC for the rice-pledging scheme. He admitted that the bank had extended the loan to BAAC via the interbank market, but not for that purpose. The bank also hasn't received any letters of loan guarantees.
Former finance minister Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala posted on his Facebook page on Friday that if the "comfort letter" was true, this meant the government is trying to avoid violating Article 181(3) of the Constitution. Under the law, a caretaker government is banned from creating any activities or transactions that could burden the next government unless the Election Commission (EC) gives it permission. But, the EC has declined to consider whether the government could obtain such loans as requested.
Normally, the Finance Ministry issues letters of guarantee to back loans made by state-run banks for the government's specific purposes.
"The letter of comfort is likely a letter for the government to show its intention to guarantee such a loan, which it cannot do now. When the government is out of being the caretaker, it will issue the letter of guarantee to back that loan," Thirachai cited in his page.
However, if the "comfort letter" is legally binding, the Cabinet might be accused of violating the law, Thirachai said. If it's not, claims for loan guarantee payments cannot be made. The blame might then be placed on the banks' boards of directors or those involved with the loan deals, instead of ministers.
Even though some of more than 1 million rice growers seem to enjoy a partial inflow of cash to ease their plight, that could happen in the short term. Considering the sales of rice from inventory, it would take some two years to earn as much as Bt130 billion. For those who cannot wait, they are likely to have a chance to face a "legal risk", however.
http://www.nation...26958.html
Oprettet af masa d. 17-02-2014 08:49
#6
Kællingen også kaldet Yingluck er total kold overfor alm. mennesker og deres problemer((1((
RICE-PLEDGING SCHEME
Farmers break into Defence compound Monday
Farmers who broke into office of permanent secretary of defence on Monday broke down in tears as they spoke to military officers, saying they wanted to meet the premier to ask when her government will pay them pledged rice money.
They had been waiting outside the office compound since early morning but had failed to meet with officials.
About noon, they tore down the barbed wire and forced their way into the compound. They were met by antiriot soldiers who showed no resistance as the farmers pushed them aside with their hands.
The office sent two military officers to talk to the farmers. Many of the farmers started crying as they talked to negotiators.
Over the past week, the caretaker government has been seeking funds to pay the farmers what they are owed under the ricepledging scheme.
Yingluck declined to meet the farmers who travelled to the capital to seek an explanation about the scheme as well as the payments they are owed.
http://www.nation...27000.html
