8 ministries ordered to buy rubber

According to Government Spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd, the ministries - Transport, Interior, Education, Public Health, Defence, Industry, Commerce and Agriculture - were told to come up with ideas how much they can help. The proposals are to be submitted to the government secretariat and the Agriculture will completely aggregate the information at noon tomorrow.

The prime minister urges the ministries to use their own budgets in buying the rubber, Sansern said. "It's possible that the matter would be discussed at the Cabinet meeting on January 12," he added.

Rubber farmers threaten to stage a rally, calling for the government's help as rubber prices fall below Bt40 per kg. 

Sansern urged all to avoid pressuring the government, saying that pressure could not help ease the problem.