Debt-ridden farmers protest at Government House

BANGKOK: -- Some 150 farmers rallied at Government House on Tuesday, demanding their debts be written off.

The farmers from the Assembly of Isan Farmers’ Group had demonstrated in front of Government House since 4.00 am on Tuesday. Having left their hometown in the Northeast a few weeks ago, they walked to Bangkok with the intention to meet Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont.

The demonstrators demanded the government write off their debts with the Agricultural Development Fund. Some have mortgaged their lands with commercial banks.

Most of the farmers were elderly people. The heat and exhaust fumes had driven 6-7 members in the group, including a 70-year-old woman, to climb a fence into the Government House compound. They washed themselves at a fountain in front of the Santi Maitri building while the rest continued their demonstration outside.

They expressed their desire to meet the prime minister, saying they were badly indebted and had neither places to live nor lands to grow crops.

Officials accepted their written petitions to be submitted to the prime minister later.

--TNA 2007-03-06

reminds me of a merry go round ......................