Rice scheme is like a bribe for farmers

The front page today highlights the measure of Thaksin Shinawatra and where his aims lie. The rice pledging scheme is a straightforward bribe to the farming community, but it is a shame that farmers are not getting their share of it. They gave him power after all.

I agree the charge against him was petty compared to the main agenda but it was a clear-cut, indisputable example of self-patronage in government. Thaksin no doubt would claim he did not know his wife was bidding for the government land as he “did not know” his wife had sold his shares to his servants at a cost of Bt100 million in 2001. What has the attorney-general done about the clear-cut abuse of power in the great satellite swindle and the rest of the corruption in “Thailand PLC” days?

Somsak Pola is like the captain of the Titanic. He has seen the tip of the iceberg but cannot avoid steering his mind in the same direction.

Richard Bowler

Bangkok