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'ntig()ern$ent pr(testers in Bangk(k wa)ed &hai *lags (n Wednesday in their c(ntin+ingca$paign t( *(rce the pri$e $inister *r($ (**ice. 'ss(ciated ress

&hailand-s *lagship rice s+bsidy is r+nning (+t (* cash and back*iring at a critical ti$e *(r ri$eMinister ingl+ck Shinawatra,wh(se p(litical *+t+re hinges (n s+pp(rt *r($ *ar$ers and (ther r+ral)(ters as her ri)als intensi*y their ca$paign t( re$()e her *r($ (**ice.

&he g()ern$ent has been b+ying +p rice *r($ *ar$ers at ab(+t /0 ab()e $arket prices t( b((str+ral inc($es since Ms. ingl+ck-s he+ &hai arty t((k (**ice in 211. (w, it can-t sell the rice*ast en(+gh t( *+nd the s+bsidy. i)al exp(rters s+ch as India and 3ietna$ ha)e ra$ped +ppr(d+cti(n, selling rice cheaper and kn(cking &hailand (** its perch as the (. 1 exp(rter.

45ar$ers are )ery angry,4 said ip(n (ap(ngsak(rn, a r+ral de)el(p$ent specialist at &hailande)el(p$ent esearch Instit+te, a think tank. 4It is the *irst ti$e in (+r hist(ry that *ar$ers didn-t get$(ney *(r the rice that they already s(ld t( the g()ern$ent,--

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ttac(s on Protesters )scalate Thai %risis

&he state7(wned bank tasked with *+nding the p(licy, the Bank (* 'gric+lt+re and 'gric+lt+ral8((perati)es, is seeking t( raise 2 billi(n baht 9:61 $illi(n; in a b(nd a+cti(n &h+rsday it h(peswill $ake +p the sh(rt*all *r($ a #/ billi(n baht a+cti(n in ()e$ber, when (nly hal* (* the iss+ewas p+rchased.

&he *+nds will g( t(ward paying rice *ar$ers, s($e (* wh($ ha)en-t been paid in $(nths. &heg()ern$ent (n Wednesday extend a deadline *(r the pay$ent (*

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Bang(o( h!tdown

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&he Internati(nal M(netary 5+nd has warned that the debt has er(ded the credibility (* &hailand-sp+blic *inances and rec($$ended in ()e$ber that the s+bsidies be scrapped. S($e *ar$ers ha)ee)en t+rned (+t in Bangk(k t( E(in in the antig()ern$ent pr(tests. Wasana ingph(n, a !/7year7(ldrice *ar$er, dr()e *r($ the ancient capital (* 'y+tthaya, a str(ngh(ld (* s+pp(rt *(r Ms. ingl+ck, t(the capital in ece$ber t( c($plain ab(+t $issing pay$ents.

Ms. Wasana said $any rice *ar$ers are ha)ing t( g( t( n(nbank lenders and pay high interest ratess( they can a**(rd t( plant new cr(ps.

With s+ch large (+tstanding pay$ents, Mr. 8h((kiat (* the rice exp(rters ass(ciati(n said he w(rriesh(w the g()ern$ent will settle its bills l(ng7ter$.

4I s+spect that the sit+ati(n will get w(rse i* the g()ern$ent delays their pay$ents any *+rther,4 hesaid.

Write to Isabella Steger at isabella.stegerFwsE.c($

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