Show us the bills of sale or shut up

But is he just telling “white lies”? He steadfastly refuses to say at what prices he sold the rice, to whom, and the delivery date. In other words, the sales are clear as mud, with no way of checking.

Local rice exporters doubt the existence of such sales, except for 240,000 tonnes sold to Ivory Coast, for delivery in July. As Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, notes: “Exports of more than 100,000 tonnes would at least have a shipment booking, which cannot be concealed, and due to the current low export volume, we’d know about any large exports, such as those announced by the minister.”

Chookiat continues: “Exporters are concerned about the selling prices. If the price turns out to be as low as $450 a tonne (versus market prices of $560-580), that will mean a massive loss for the government and the destruction of Thailand’s rice export market.” Of course, the government’s loss is your loss and mine, dear taxpayer. The government bought at 40-50 per cent above world prices. If Boonsong has been able to even break even on these sales, it means that the buyers must have paid above-market prices also – in which case their own people should boot them out.

There’s a saying: “If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.” Is Pinocchio’s nose growing? Mr Minister, put the contracts on the Internet and shut up the legions of cynics like me!

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok