20 protesters to join BKK negotiation
About 20 farmers agreed to accompany Thawat Boonfueng, deputy secretary-general to the Prime Minister for Political Affairs, to Bangkok where they will join a negotiation later today. At 4pm, rubber farmers still block Asia Highway No. 41, waiting for t
At 11.30am, Thawat Boonfueng, deputy secretary-general to the Prime Minister for Political Affairs, arrived in Surat Thani by a helicopter. He received four demands from rubber growers in Nong Dee village, which include the guarantee that rubber prices would not fall below Bt100 per kg.
Thawat said that the demands would also be submitted to the national rubber policy committee, which will convene tomorrow.
Earlier today, Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnok vowed that the Surat Thani Airport could not fall under the control of protesting rubber farmers.
He said that all officials in the province are closely monitoring the situation. Protesters at some points also disperse, while others still stay, he said.
A government representative is now negotiating with Surat Thani rubber-farmer cooperative, and this negotiation could be pursued in Bangkok.
At 2pm, a negotiation is scheduled, where Pracha and Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong are ready to join. It remains unclear if the protesters' leader will show up.
Asked if the situation would worsen, he said all depends on the negotiation. Yet, he said that it would be impossible for the protesters to close the airport, as this would tarnish the country's image. "If we are pushed to exercise forces, we will," he said.
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