Rubber growers to march on Bangkok
Play
Rubber growers in the southern province of Songkhla were set to travel to the capital on Tuesday morning to join forces with rubber growers nationwide who are calling on the government to help shore up rubber prices to Bt120 per kilogram.
Growers gathered in Songkhla before leaving for the premier’s residence in Bangkok with latex-laden pick-up trucks as part of their caravan. They plan to pour the latex in front of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s home if the problem of the falling rubber price is not addressed.
Crowd-control police have been dispatched to maintain order at the intersection where the protesters are meeting.
Meanwhile, Yingluck said talks are proceeding with the rubber growers to solve the price problem.
Chayant Sangkhapaitoon, coordinator of the network of rubber growers in the southern region on Monday said para rubber prices fell from Bt100 per kilo to just Bt80, where they remain.
Rubber growers from the northeast, the north, the central region and the east will join the protest at the premier’s home, as the demand was made to the government almost three months ago and there has as yet been no response, he added.
The growers have threatened to prolong their protest unless the price reaches Bt120/kg.
