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Thai PM Yingluck Shinawatra to hear charges over rice scheme Thai PM Yingluck Shinawatra to hear charges over rice scheme
(about 3 hours later)
Thailand's embattled prime minister has been summoned by an anti-corruption panel to hear charges of negligence over a government rice subsidy scheme.Thailand's embattled prime minister has been summoned by an anti-corruption panel to hear charges of negligence over a government rice subsidy scheme.
PM Yingluck Shinawatra's opponents, who are seeking to replace her, say the programme was rife with corruption.PM Yingluck Shinawatra's opponents, who are seeking to replace her, say the programme was rife with corruption.
If found guilty, she could be removed from office and face a five year ban from politics. If found guilty, she could be removed from office and face a five-year ban from politics.
Thailand's political crisis has become increasingly violent since mass anti-government protests began in November.Thailand's political crisis has become increasingly violent since mass anti-government protests began in November.
Ms Yingluck, who flew to the northern city of Chiang Rai on Wednesday, will not attend the hearing in person at the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on Thursday, reports say. Ms Yingluck, who flew to the northern city of Chiang Rai on Wednesday, will not attend the hearing at the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) in person.
NACC officials say she will be represented by her lawyer, who will hear the charges set against her.NACC officials say she will be represented by her lawyer, who will hear the charges set against her.
Blockading tactics
The prime minister, who denies the corruption charges, says she is willing to co-operate with the NACC "to establish the facts".The prime minister, who denies the corruption charges, says she is willing to co-operate with the NACC "to establish the facts".
The rice subsidy programme - a flagship policy of Ms Yingluck's administration - has accumulated losses of at least $4.4bn (3.2bn euros: £2.6bn) and has left many farmers out of pocket for several months. The rice subsidy programme - a flagship policy of Ms Yingluck's administration - saw the Thai government buying farmers' crops for the past two years at prices up to 50% higher than world prices.
But Ms Yingluck says she was only in charge of formulating the policy, not the day-to-day running of the scheme. The policy was originally popular with farmers. However, it has led to Thailand's rice exports being badly hit and accumulated losses of at least $4.4bn (3.2bn euros: £2.6bn).
The prime minister's supporters, called Red Shirts, were reported to have chained shut the NACC premises on Wednesday in protest, in a bid to prevent staff from entering their offices. Recently, the scheme has left many farmers out of pocket, as the government cannot borrow money to make the payments until a new parliament has convened.
Tensions have been on the rise in recent weeks, with shootings and recent grenade attack targeting anti-government protest sites. Ms Yingluck says she was only in charge of formulating the policy, not the day-to-day running of the scheme.
She has complained that the commission has treated her unfairly, the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok reports.
For the first time since anti-government protesters began blockading ministries in Bangkok last year, the prime minister's supporters have begun to use the same tactic, our correspondent adds. They have surrounded the office of the NACC and chained the gate, to prevent officials from entering.
Tensions have been on the rise in recent weeks, with shootings and recent grenade attacks targeting anti-government protest sites.
Four children were among the dead in separate violent attacks in the Thai capital, Bangkok, last weekend. At least 20 people have died since hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets on 24 November.Four children were among the dead in separate violent attacks in the Thai capital, Bangkok, last weekend. At least 20 people have died since hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets on 24 November.
The protests have disrupted the government's ability to function over the last three months, with Ms Yingluck's opponents blocking roads and government agencies to pressure her to resign. 'Avoid confrontation'
The protests have disrupted the government's ability to function over the last three months, blocking roads and government agencies to pressure Ms Yingluck to resign.
However, Ms Yingluck's party has broad support from rural areas, and there are fears that any confrontation between Ms Yingluck's supporters and opponents could turn violent.
National security chief Paradorn Pattanatabutr told Reuters news agency: "The government must do everything it can to avoid confrontation and to prevent each side setting up stages or rallies near each other."
The US has expressed concern over the violence in Thailand.
"Violence is not an acceptable means of resolving political differences," US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.
"We reiterate our call for all sides to exercise restraint and urge Thai authorities to investigate thoroughly and transparently all recent acts of violence."