Showing 1 - 10 of 12
Stakes high as Prayut switches parties
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 26/12/2022
» Finally, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced on Friday his decision to join the Ruam Thai Sang Chart, or United Thai Nation (UTN) party, to become its first choice candidate for the premiership at the next election.
FFP makes waves for better and worse
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 01/04/2019
» The achievement of the Future Forward Party (FFP) in the March 24 general election is phenomenal, if not unprecedented.
Ex-ministers fail badly in their defence of Yingluck
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 19/01/2015
» So, four ministers from the ousted government of Yingluck Shinawatra have taken to YouTube to answer, in her defence, the questions about the rice-pledging scheme raised by members of the National Legislative Assembly last Friday. They took this action to offset the assembly's refusal to let them speak on her behalf.
Rice farmers must help themselves
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 29/09/2014
» Rice farmers recently asked for help from the government after a similar call from rubber growers in 16 southern provinces demanding intervention to arrest the seemingly unstoppable fall in rubber prices.
Buy high, sell cheap -- and you lose
Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 22/10/2013
» The mathematics is simple and straightforward. When you buy something such as a pack of rice at 200 baht and you sell it at 150 baht, the loss is 50 baht. And if there were other costs too, then the loss will be higher.
Government brings trouble on itself
Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 21/06/2013
» Resentful farmers angered by the cutback in the rice pledging price have threatened to protest in various parts of the country, putting the government in the hot seat with the possibility it may have to backtrack to appease its major voter base.
Who really benefitted from the rice scheme?
Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 18/06/2013
» Better late than never. The Yingluck government is finally back-peddling on its most ambitious and, perhaps, most destructive populist policy, the rice pledging scheme -- which set the purchase price of paddy about 40% above market price and cost taxpayers 136 billion baht in losses, according to official estimates, in just the first year, with more to come.
Wall around failed rice scheme starting to leak
Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 21/05/2013
» Most people still know little or nothing about the rice pledging scheme, with the actual details fiercely guarded by a handful of officials at the Commerce Ministry, including Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapriom.
Banks teetering on brink over rice scheme
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 25/02/2013
» The state-owned SME and Islamic banks are struggling to survive after having to shore up huge non-performing loans (NPLs) from careless lending by their managements, especially to their friends and political bosses. The two banks have combined NPLs of a staggering 70 billion baht, or 30% of 210 billion baht in loans extended.
Forest issue takes a serious turn for the worse
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 12/11/2012
» Can we kiss goodbye to our forests? Green groups won the first round when they forced Natural Resources and Environment Minister Preecha Rengsomboonsuk to halt the issuance of land documents in certain protected areas.