Protesting Farmers Invade Agriculture Ministry Headquarters

Protesting farmers invade Agriculture Ministry headquarters

BANGKOK: -- Some 700 protestors from the "Assembly of the Poor" broke into the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives headquarters here Thursday, demanding that the government keep its promises to help local farmers.

About 600 demonstrators marched from the Government House to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Thursday morning.

They entered the ministry's central headquarters building, including the area directly in front of the minister's office.

Another group of more than 100 farmers gathered outside the ministry, while a 100-member strong police force were present to provide security.

Agriculture Ministry Permanent Secretary Banphot Hongthong met the leader of the protestors, but reached no conclusion during the exchange because some of the demands are not within the mandate of the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, but of other ministries, including the Interior, the Energy and the Natural Resources and Environment Ministries.

Mr. Banphot asked the protestors to later submit their demands in a written form so that the ministry could cooperate with other agencies concerned to address their problems.

A demonstrator, Mr. Pakdee Chantajiad, said the farmers came to Bangkok Thursday because Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Wednesday told reporters to ask the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry about the problems of the Assembly of the Poor.

The Assembly of the Poor has called for 'tangible solutions' from the government for five years, but there has been no progress so far, he said, adding that the protest is not linked with the next anti-government rally planned at Sanam Luang on February 26.

Farmers gather in Bangkok after the harvest season every year to remind the government of the promises it has made to help them, the protestor said.

However, some farmers may join the Sunday's rally, as it is their right, he said.

The protestors' demands include responses to problems with dams, land rights, fisheries, alternative farming, work-related illness and impacts of free trade area (FTA) agreements.

--TNA 2006-02-23