Political activist in trouble over 'fairly priced rice' campaign
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Deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said today that political activist Sombat Boonngamanong has launched a "non-constructive" movement through the sale of bagged rice.
He explained that Sombat was still on the list of activists who have been summoned for “attitude adjustment” and released on the promise that they would not get involved in political movements.
However, Sansern said, Sombat’s latest moves might encourage the authorities to review their measures against him.
Sombat, better known as “Bor Kor Lai Jud” (Poka Dot Editor) or @Nuling among Tweeple, has been actively campaigning against the May 22, 2014 coup.
As part of his campaign, he recently introduced a bagged rice product under the “Lai Jud” brand. On the package, it is written “The jasmine rice in this bag was purchased from farmers at a fair price of Bt15,000 per tonne”. A 5kg bag costs Bt200.
Sombat has been tweeting to say this scheme aims to ensure fairness for farmers.
However, his campaign is politicised, because the Yingluck [Shinawatra] government offered the Bt15,000-per-tonne price to farmers under the notorious rice-pledging scheme.
At a press conference today, Sansern attacked Sombat for criticising the junta for not helping farmers. Sansern said the government’s first mission was to compensate farmers affected by the rice-pledging scheme.
“That reflected the government’s honest concern for the farmers, without any intention to exploit them,” he said, noting that without the political overtones, Sombat’s campaign would have been very symbolic.
Sansern added that if Sombat was certain that the campaign was feasible, he should have bought all stocks from the pledging scheme, to cover the damages of over Bt100 billion.
A reporter of VoiceTV, meanwhile, tweeted that Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha had asked ministers and officials at the Government House if they have bought the Lai Jud rice. He also asked how many sacks could be bought for Bt15,000 a tonne and where the money came from.
