FORMER prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday made an emotional admission that she might be unable to pay the Bt35 billion in civil liability damages stemming from her government’s corruption-plagued rice pledging scheme.
The current government has issued an administrative order seeking 20 per cent of the estimated total loss incurred by the scheme, which amounts to Bt35 billion.
During her visit to the Northeast yesterday, Yingluck was asked by a farmer in Si Sa Ket what she would do in response to the administrative order.
With tears in her eyes, she said, “I don’t know where to get the money to pay. It’s a lot of money.”
Yingluck and her entourage also visited Ubon Ratchathani, where she said she became “overwhelmed and speechless” by the offer of some farmers to help her to pay part of the civil damages.
“I am speechless to hear about the offer. Farmers are now suffering and their suffering is even greater than mine. But they still have sympathy for me and offer to donate and help me,” Yingluck said. “I would like to thank all of you who show your good will and kindness to me. Also, I would like to offer my moral support to all of you,” she said.
A source close to her said yesterday the former prime minister went to Ubon Ratchathani to help farmers by buying rice paddy from local farmers with the plan to sell the rice in Bangkok.
“If this project succeeds, she will arrange for farmers to sell their rice directly in Bangkok. She will provide a place for them to sell,” said the source, who added that the project was to be funded with Yingluck’s own money. She chose to visit Ubon because it was the first city in the Northeast where farmers have completed harvesting their paddies, according to the source.
Yingluck said she simply wanted to help farmers at a time when her political party was not ruling the country. “At this time, the rice price has been the lowest in 10 years. We want to visit farmers and give them moral support,” she said.
Yingluck returned to Bangkok in the evening as she had to attend a hearing of the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders today, stemming from her government’s rice subsidy scheme, according to the source.
Her entourage on the visit included Pheu Thai politicians and former MPs. They were welcomed by a group of the party’s local politicians.
They were met by a group of 20 farmers who came from different districts in the Northeastern province. The farmers had set up a roadside booth outside a school in Muang district to sell their rice.
Yingluck told them that if her political party took over the government again, it would push for higher rice prices.