Rubber farmers displeased with measures
Surat Thani rubber growers' protest eyes on burning coffins for Prime Minister and her deputies, following the burning by protesters in Nakhon Si Thammarat
A protest leader Manoon Oopla said on Thursday that the protesters would soon burn three coffins for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong and Agriculture Minister Yukol Limlamthong in front of each of the 19 district offices, as to pressure the government to tackle the sacking rubber prices.
The date and time of such symbolic protest would be determined later among protest leaders, he said.
The farmers were displeased with today's resolution of the national rubber policy committee. The committee chaired by Kittiratt today just approved the fertiliser subsidy, not to intervene in the rubber prices. Yet, it agreed to extend the subsidy for upto 25 rai, not 10 rai as proposed earlier. The resolution is subjected to the Cabinet's approval. In the meeting with Kittiratt yesterday, the farmers demanded the price intervention.
Surat Thani governor Chatpong Chataputi called for an urgent meeting with peace-keeping officers in the province, prepared for more protests by farmers. All district chiefs are instructed to be prepared, on the belief that protests would spread throughout the province.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today endorsed the establishment of a committee to oversee rubber prices.
Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnok, the committee would comprise other members like Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Kittiratt Na-Ranong; and Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister Yukol Limlaemthong.Its first mission is to meet with protest leaders at 10am on Friday in Nakhon Si Thammarat. All committee members including the three deputy prime ministers will join the meeting.
