Bangkok rally on November 8 demands 10-baht-per-litre fuel cut and action on corruption
Mano Khrueakaew threatened to escalate the Government House protest in Bangkok unless fuel prices fell, arguing corruption was worsening hardship.
- Protesters led by Mano Khrueakaew rallied in Bangkok on November 8, demanding a 10-baht-per-litre reduction in all fuel prices.
- The protest leader threatened to escalate the demonstration if the government fails to act on the demand for a fuel price cut.
- The leader argued the price cut could be funded by stopping corruption and questioned why Thai fuel is significantly more expensive than in Malaysia.
- Mano Khrueakaew called on other local leaders, such as subdistrict and village headmen, to join the protest against high energy costs.
Protest leader Mano Khrueakaew demanded a 10-baht-per-litre reduction in all fuel prices outside Government House in Bangkok on Sunday (November 8, 2026), threatening to escalate the demonstration if the government failed to act.
Mano, known as “Kamnan Mano”, is the headman of Krabi Noi subdistrict in Krabi province and a leader of the People’s Revolution Coalition to Protect the Land. Mano led supporters to Government House to press the government to address energy costs.
“We cannot bear this poverty any longer,” Mano told reporters after his speech, calling on the government to listen and address the problem.
Mano challenges Anutin over fuel-cut funding
Mano challenged Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul over comments that, according to the protest leader, questioned how the country would be financed if diesel prices were cut by 10 baht a litre.
“If corruption stops, there will be an enormous amount of money to develop the country,” Mano said.
High fuel prices were pushing people into poverty, Mano argued. Mano questioned why fuel from existing stocks had become more expensive during the war in the Middle East.
Mano claimed Thailand had six oil refineries, more than Malaysia, yet fuel cost 43 baht a litre in Thailand compared with 16 baht in Malaysia.
Energy businesses were financing politicians who subsequently favoured their backers over the public, Mano alleged. The protest leader denied that any political interests were behind his own movement.
“I am not afraid to die,” Mano said, recounting warnings from others that people who spoke out about energy and oil risked being killed.
Mano calls on local leaders to join protest
During his journey to Bangkok over the two or three days before the November 8 rally, Mano said many subdistrict and village headmen had contacted him to say they were on their way. Mano invited fellow local leaders to join the demonstration.
“Subdistrict and village headmen will no longer be politicians’ lackeys,” Mano said, arguing that local leaders should instead become a main force in looking after the public.
Calling for reform to safeguard Thailand’s land and resources for future generations, Mano urged action against what he described as three “grey” groups: Chinese operators involved in illicit business, corrupt politicians and corrupt civil servants.
Mano alleges payments for public-sector appointments
Mano described alleged cheating in local-government recruitment examinations as the clearest example of corruption, claiming that an unnamed former MP from Trang had contacted him about a payment of 550,000 baht to secure an appointment.
According to Mano, the former MP said 500,000 baht would go to a “boss” and the remaining 50,000 baht would be kept by the former MP. Mano argued that such practices were damaging Thailand’s civil service.
Mano also repeated a claim that some director-general positions were being sold for 500 million baht.
