Yingluck ignoring the madness of rice mountains

Two of the last three sentences in Monday’s article are as succinct as the main body of text. “The price support scheme also makes Thai rice more expensive than rivals’ rice in the world market, leading to shrinking market share … The scheme has also encouraged smuggling, as farmers in Asean countries can get higher prices by selling their rice to Thais.”

These are things that ordinary observers have known for months, but which the Yingluck administration (directed by her brother) either doesn’t know, or wants to sweep under the carpet. Massive manipulation of farming businesses is the wrong path for numerous reasons. Interesting that finally some Yingluck government officials, rather than just Democrat opponents, are now speaking the truth. It probably imperils their jobs, because the Pheu Thai party subsists on obscuring the truth rather than telling it.

Ken Albertsen

Chiang Rai