Bangkok: Rice farmers who have until now been supporters of MsYingluck and her brother have turned against the government. They are protesting against the government’s failure to pay them for rice bought under a subsidy  scheme.

It was on the basis of this scheme that Ms Yingluck came to power in 2001. Her government remains a caretaker administration with limited spending powers after opposition seeking Yingluck’s resignation disrupted the poll on Feb 2. The government is unable to pay the farmers from the central budget and this has caused unrest among farmers who have not been paid for mounths.