Thai PM urged to disclose losses from rice-pledging scheme

BANGKOK, June 9 (TNA) - Thailand’s opposition Democrat Party on Sunday demanded Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to disclose losses from the government-sponsored rice-pledging scheme, which began since October 2011. Democrat-listed MP Ong-art Klampaiboon said Miss Yingluck in her capacity as chairwoman of the National Rice Policy Committee should take responsibility by informing the public how much losses have been incurred from the programme, which has been tainted with irregularities. Mr. Ong-art charged that the government was simply buying time by not disclosing vital information on the scheme to the public. Prompong Nopparit, spokesman of Pheu Thai Party, which has been at the core in forming the current coalition government, denied claims by Democrat Party, saying the government suffered losses of more than 170 billion baht from the programme. Mr. Prompong said the figures were drawn up by the opposition party, arguing that the programme has improved the lives of all farmers in the country. (TNA)