Local politicians back away from organising rubber farmer protests

An informed source said political-office holders in many provinces had backed away from the protest after Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who also heads the military’s ruling National Council for Peace and Order, threatened to take legal action against protesters. 

“They are worried that they will lose their posts,” the source said. “So now they have only assured |rubber farmers that they will help press for a better price. They don’t want to serve as protest leaders any more.” 

The source said the politicians initially promised to help lead rubber farmers in staging protests at various locations including city halls this coming Tuesday.

Prayut yesterday said locals apparently believed local politicians more than the central government. “I know what you are doing,” he said. 

He said that if farmers blocked roads, they would face legal action. “I won’t give in to protests or threats,” he said. 

Prayut said he definitely would not use the state budget to distort rubber prices. 

The prime minister said he understood rubber farmers’ plight but they should realise they used to enjoy good rubber prices. “For the time being, rubber farmers should cooperate with the government.” 

In response to the widespread suggestion that rubber farmers should also grow other crops to earn extra income, Arthorn Suksawangphon, who heads a rubber network in Songkhla’s Hat Yai district, said not all rubber plantations could accommodate other crops. “If you grow other crops in plots where rubber trees are already seven or eight years old, you may damage their roots,” he said. 

In the Northeastern Nakhon Phanom province, Tambon Phumkae Rubber Farmers Cooperative chairman Taihong Porsarn said rubber prices were at the lowest level in a decade. 

“The government needs to provide urgent help. Many locals here are in real trouble,” he said.