Boonsong in robust G2G rice-deals
The Commerce Ministry yesterday immediately responded to a move by senators by arguing that current government-to-government rice-sales contracts were not in breach of the Constitution, as they did not involve long-term commitments or cause financial loss
Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom said the ministry had full authority to sign the deals, which he asserted was not in contravention of the charter.
The ministry had not needed to seek parliamentary approval for G2G rice sales, as the contracts did not involve any sensitive issues and should not therefore breach Article 190 of the Constitution, he said.
His comments came after a group of 40 senators had submitted a request for the Speaker of the Upper House to investigate the G2G deals.
The senators believe the government should have sought endorsement from Parliament before entering into agreements with foreign rice buyers under G2G contracts.
The group cited Article 190 of the charter, which states that any treaty with another country or interna-|tional organisation that has an ex-tensive impact on the national bud-get, among other things, must be approved by the national assembly.
Boonsong added that the ministry had also consulted the Juridical Council on whether it should seek parliamentary ratification of the G2G deals. The council responded that it did not consider that the contracts were in breach of Article 190.
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He also said the ministry’s use of G2G deals to sell rice was normal practice and fell squarely under its responsibilities.
The contracts are similar to the Army’s contracts for purchasing arms from foreign countries, and which have not breached Article 190, he added.
Vatchari Vimooktayon, permanent secretary to the ministry, agreed that the G2G deals were not in contravention of the Constitution, as they were not long-term commitments and had not created losses for the country.
She said that, on the contrary, the contracts should benefit the country by enabling the government to release rice from its stockpiles.
As a rice-growing country, Thailand has a right to sell produce to other nations, she said.
The official also said that as the G2G system had been adopted by many previous governments for |selling rice and other crops, the current government should also not have to seek parliamentary endorsement for exporting rice under the same method.
