Commerce Ministry official gets into trouble over falling shallot prices
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A SENIOR Commerce Ministry official in Chiang Mai was abruptly demoted for allegedly ignoring the protests of shallot farmers, even though he had apparently suggested measures to ease the problem of falling prices earlier, a source from the ministry said.
The demotion took place after Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha met a group of shallot farmers protesting against falling prices during his recent visit to Chiang Mai.
Commerce Minister General Chatchai Sarikalya, however, insisted the official had not been demoted, just transferred to another post and tasked with drawing plans to develop special economic zones.
“The transfer was not a punishment. The ministry only wants this officer to help set up special economic zones, which is one of key agendas of this government,” Chatchai explained.
However, a source from the ministry said the officer in question had been moved to an inactive post after Prayut called on the Commerce Ministry to quickly address the problem of the falling price of shallots.
The source said the official had submitted many plans to help prevent the drop in price as well as help find new markets for the crops, but the ministry ignored them.
Separately, Chatchai said the ministry had not made a decision on whether to fire or just dismiss two top officials for their alleged role in fraudulent “government-to-government” rice deals.
The Foreign Trade Department officials came into the spotlight after the National Anti-Corruption Commission launched an investigation into four so-called government-to-government rice deals led by former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and ex-commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom.
Chatchai said he will call a meeting with the ministry’s Office of Civil Service Commission next week to make a final ruling on the two officials, adding that a decision should be made before March 21. Once a decision on the two officials is made, they have 30 days to appeal via the Merit System Protection Commission.
Meanwhile, moves to control the falling price of farm crops and ease the rising cost of living, Chatchai has called on provincial officials nationwide to come up with measures to balance the supply and demand of each crop and draw up a marketing plan to help local farmers.
The minister also called on provincial agencies to closely monitor the price of goods to ensure fair practice for consumers.
