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Month: June 2011
Bloomberg notes that rice prices here in Thailand could be set to soar:
Rice prices in Thailand, the biggest exporter, may jump 50 percent by the end of the year under a plan by the party favored to win the July 3 election to buy the grain directly from farmers, said millers and traders.
Yingluck Shinawatra’s Pheu Thai party plans to reinstate a policy introduced by her brother, fugitive former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, to buy unmilled rice at 15,000 baht ($496) per metric ton, twice the current level. That would raise costs for exporters and boost the price of shipments to about $750 per ton from $500, according to a survey of eight millers and traders.
(Emphasis mine.)
U.S. Senator John McCain was in Thailand yesterday ahead of a visit to assess the situation in Myanmar.
He addressed the media yesterday evening, and I filed a story for ABC News Radio. But I also wanted to share some notes from his remarks that I posted on Twitter (@newley) a few hours ago.
In addition, U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenney spoke about the case of the American citizen recently arrested on lèse-majesté charges.
Here goes:
1. Notes from U.S. @SenJohnMcCain‘s remarks to journalists here in Bangkok yesterday… (1/12)
2. @SenJohnMcCain will visit govt officials & then meet with Aung San Suu Kyi. Goal of trip is to assess the situation there. (2/12)
3. @SenJohnMcCain says there has been progress in recent years but he is realistic about the junta’s willingness to change. (3/12)
4. @SenJohnMcCain: “We should greet what’s happened so far in Myanmar with a healthy dose of skepticism.” (4/12)
5. ASSK has said she’ll tour the country in June. How trip goes will be strong indicator of whether govt is interested in reform. (5/12)
6. @SenJohnMcCain: China has significant influence in Myanmar. But China, too, should reform. Govt there shouldn’t block Web. (6/12)
7. @SenJohnMcCain: “In China you can’t Twitter.” He had meeting w/ high ranking Chinese official in Wash., DC a few weeks back… (7/12)
8. @SenJohnMcCain: “I said if you really want to convince us that you’re progressing then let your people Twitter. Let ’em tweet.” (8/12)
9. U.S. Ambassador @KristieKenney on arrest of U.S. citizen on lèse-majesté charges… (9/12)
10. @KristieKenney: We “take the arrest of this American citizen very seriously…” (10/12)
11. @KristieKenney: “We do also very strongly believe as Americans in freedom of expression…” (11/12)
12. @KristieKenney: “We are visiting with this American…and we are discussing the case with Thai authorities.” (12/12)
