Ex-politician summoned for ‘attitude adjustment’ over falling rice prices

The Thai military summoned a former politician in Isan, Thailand’s Northeast, for an ‘attitude adjustment’ session after he complained about falling rice prices.  

According to Matichon Online, on Monday, 14 December 2015, Maj Gen Achichat Rojanapirom, commander of the 22nd Army Division in Warin Chamrap District of the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani, summoned Somkid Cheukong, a former Member of Parliament for the Pheu Thai Party for a brief ‘attitude adjustment’ session.

The officers forced the ex-MP to delete his Facebook post in which he complained about the falling price of rice and implied that it would have been better if the Rice Subsidy Programme was still in place.

The Rice Subsidy Programme was a policy which guaranteed a fixed above-market price for rice under Yingluck Shinawatra's administration. It was scrapped after the 2014 coup d’état.

Currently, Yingluck, the former Prime Minister, is facing corruption charges over the Rice Subsidy Programme.   

In addition, the ex-MP was forced to signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), promising to steer clear from political activities. At the end of the session, the former politician complied with the officers and signed the agreement.

The officers threatened to charge Somkid if he violates the MoU.

 

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