Non-South rubber farmers opt out of rally plans

[webfact]

RUBBER
Non-South rubber farmers opt out of rally plans
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- Rubber farmers in all parts of the country except the South have decided to cancel simultaneous rallies they planned to hold on Tuesday.

The decision follows the government's offer to give rubber farmers a fertiliser subsidy for seven months.

"With the subsidy, rubber farmers will earn around Bt89 per kilo of rubber," Rubber Farmers Network of Thailand chairman Terdsak Sermsri said yesterday. The amount came very close to satisfying the rubber farmers' demand that the rubber price be pegged at Bt92, he said.

Nine of the network's 15 regional heads had already agreed to the government offer, Terdsak said.

"Only the six regional heads from the South plan to hold further discussions among themselves before deciding their next move," he said.

The negotiations between the network and Agriculture Minister Yukol Limlamthong took place at Government House on Wednesday.

Yukol agreed to participate in those negotiations only after rubber farmers vowed to stage massive rallies across the country next Tuesday. In Nakhon Si Thammarat, rubber farmers have already blocked roads and railways for days.

An informed source quoted Yukol as saying that even if rubber farmers in the South went ahead with their plans to stage rallies, the threat should ease to an extent in the absence of similar rallies in other parts of the country.

At press time, rubber farmers in Satun, Ranong and Phatthalung were still preparing to stage big protests on Tuesday.

PM's deputy secretary-general Suporn Atthawong, who has been assigned to monitor the protest in Nakhon Si Thammarat, said he was considering a plan to upgrade measures to deal with the protest there. He raised the possibility of invoking the Internal Security Act.

Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnog said separately that the government was planning measures to deal with the protest in the South. He refused to elaborate, however.


-- The Nation 2013-08-30

[Robby nz]

Good, that defuses what could have been a very bad situation.

The Govt did put forward good proposals which should have been accepted right off.

[dcutman]

Nine of the network's 15 regional heads had already agreed to the government offer, Terdsak said.

Would these nine regional heads happen to be in Red Shirt dominated areas?

I think this is an excellent opportunity for the govt to cancel the next season of rice pledging and go to the same fertilizer subsidy for those farmers. All is fair that way, and should eliminate any future problems.

[worgeordie]

Now the rice farmers will want cheap fertilizer,its a never ending cycle,

put a bit pressure on the Government and they give in!

regards Worgeordie

[Sing_Sling]

Nine of the network's 15 regional heads had already agreed to the government offer, Terdsak said.

Would these nine regional heads happen to be in Red Shirt dominated areas?

I think this is an excellent opportunity for the govt to cancel the next season of rice pledging and go to the same fertilizer subsidy for those farmers. All is fair that way, and should eliminate any future problems.

Why would it be 'red/yellow/purple' shirt issues all the time - if you have anything of substance to your assertion then please show us -that would make a nice change.

Most governments subsidise their agricultural sector in one way or another, to single out Thailand is quite disingenuous in this instance

[rdcny1]

New York Times story:

Rubber Farmers Block Road After Prices Plunge

By THOMAS FULLER

After falling rubber prices drove many rubber farmers in south Thailand into debt, hundreds of them blocked the region’s main north-south road and railroad in protest.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/30/world/asia/thai-rubber-farmers-block-road-to-protest-prices.html?emc=edit_tnt_20130829&tntemail0=y&_r=0

[kartman]

OK subsidy for seven months then block the roads / rails.

[Mosha]

In a way it boils down to lack of education and understanding how the world works. Until the education system is improved and tells Thais that Thailand is not the center of the universe. These kind of things will only continue. I tried explaining why rubber is where it is now. ie global price at around 80 baht/kg etc. Her response was "But under Abhisit......"

[hellodolly]

Good, that defuses what could have been a very bad situation.

The Govt did put forward good proposals which should have been accepted right off.

Using partial numbers is a useless thing Wow they are going to get 89 baht a kilo. As compared to the 92 baht they were asking for.

Try giving us a useful number to base it on. How much are they getting now. Fertilizer to be subsided for 7 months. Are those the months it is used in and when the subsidy is over will the price of fertilizer be higher than it is now eating up the gain what ever it is they get in the 89 baht.

Also Why is it red shirt territory that is accepting this plan and not the rest of the nation.

I smell a rat.

[hellodolly]

OK subsidy for seven months then block the roads / rails.

OK it is a jest but why not block the roads and rails for 7 months and then negotiate. They will find a much more agreeable party to negotiate with.

[mikemac]

The decision follows the government's offer to give rubber farmers a fertiliser subsidy for seven months.

Quite a hollow gesture, in my opinion. The PTP's government policies are all built out of "fertilizer", they have warehouses full of the stuff.

[Mosha]

Good, that defuses what could have been a very bad situation.

The Govt did put forward good proposals which should have been accepted right off.

Using partial numbers is a useless thing Wow they are going to get 89 baht a kilo. As compared to the 92 baht they were asking for.

Try giving us a useful number to base it on. How much are they getting now. Fertilizer to be subsided for 7 months. Are those the months it is used in and when the subsidy is over will the price of fertilizer be higher than it is now eating up the gain what ever it is they get in the 89 baht.

Also Why is it red shirt territory that is accepting this plan and not the rest of the nation.

I smell a rat.

I don't expect to see 89 never mind 92 Baht

[dcutman]

Nine of the network's 15 regional heads had already agreed to the government offer, Terdsak said.

Would these nine regional heads happen to be in Red Shirt dominated areas?

I think this is an excellent opportunity for the govt to cancel the next season of rice pledging and go to the same fertilizer subsidy for those farmers. All is fair that way, and should eliminate any future problems.

Why would it be 'red/yellow/purple' shirt issues all the time - if you have anything of substance to your assertion then please show us -that would make a nice change.

Most governments subsidise their agricultural sector in one way or another, to single out Thailand is quite disingenuous in this instance

First off, it was a question not an assertion. (Note the question mark).

Secondly, "single out Thailand" what!!? I thought thats what most of TVF topics are about. Thai farmers and subsidies in this instance.

Geez your Red Shirt defense is overcoming your reading comprehension.

[Sing_Sling]

 

Nine of the network's 15 regional heads had already agreed to the government offer, Terdsak said.

Would these nine regional heads happen to be in Red Shirt dominated areas?

I think this is an excellent opportunity for the govt to cancel the next season of rice pledging and go to the same fertilizer subsidy for those farmers. All is fair that way, and should eliminate any future problems.

Why would it be 'red/yellow/purple' shirt issues all the time - if you have anything of substance to your assertion then please show us -that would make a nice change.

Most governments subsidise their agricultural sector in one way or another, to single out Thailand is quite disingenuous in this instance

First off, it was a question not an assertion. (Note the question mark).

Secondly, "single out Thailand" what!!? I thought thats what most of TVF topics are about. Thai farmers and subsidies in this instance.

Geez your Red Shirt defense is overcoming your reading comprehension.

 

Yes, I saw the question mark and wonder why it would even enter your thinking that this may have been behind it . . . An innocent question on your art I'm sure

This is indeed a Thailand topic but to treat it as though this were the only country to do so is laughable and disingenuous to the extreme . . . almost as much as your 'parting shot':

"Geez your Red Shirt defense"

. . . and that brings us right back to point one about seeing politics behind everything. . . this is the firs time we've 'discussed' an issue and because I question your poor and odd choice of thinking you label me as one of those 'reds'.

Childish . . . and ever so incorrect

[dcutman]

 

Nine of the network's 15 regional heads had already agreed to the government offer, Terdsak said.

Would these nine regional heads happen to be in Red Shirt dominated areas?

I think this is an excellent opportunity for the govt to cancel the next season of rice pledging and go to the same fertilizer subsidy for those farmers. All is fair that way, and should eliminate any future problems.

Why would it be 'red/yellow/purple' shirt issues all the time - if you have anything of substance to your assertion then please show us -that would make a nice change.

Most governments subsidise their agricultural sector in one way or another, to single out Thailand is quite disingenuous in this instance

First off, it was a question not an assertion. (Note the question mark).

Secondly, "single out Thailand" what!!? I thought thats what most of TVF topics are about. Thai farmers and subsidies in this instance.

Geez your Red Shirt defense is overcoming your reading comprehension.

 

Yes, I saw the question mark and wonder why it would even enter your thinking that this may have been behind it . . . An innocent question on your art I'm sure

This is indeed a Thailand topic but to treat it as though this were the only country to do so is laughable and disingenuous to the extreme . . . almost as much as your 'parting shot':

"Geez your Red Shirt defense"

. . . and that brings us right back to point one about seeing politics behind everything. . . this is the firs time we've 'discussed' an issue and because I question your poor and odd choice of thinking you label me as one of those 'reds'.

Childish . . . and ever so incorrect

OK.

Politics is involved in 99% of everything here in Thailand these days. But in this particular story, politics has nothing to do with anything.

So sorry for offending .

Are we good now?

[kimamey]

Nine of the network's 15 regional heads had already agreed to the government offer, Terdsak said.

Would these nine regional heads happen to be in Red Shirt dominated areas?

I think this is an excellent opportunity for the govt to cancel the next season of rice pledging and go to the same fertilizer subsidy for those farmers. All is fair that way, and should eliminate any future problems.

Why would it be 'red/yellow/purple' shirt issues all the time - if you have anything of substance to your assertion then please show us -that would make a nice change.

Most governments subsidise their agricultural sector in one way or another, to single out Thailand is quite disingenuous in this instance

I suppose the other side of this situation where the rubber farmers in the red shirt areas have agreed to the governments offer is that it's in the anti government south that they've not agreed.

Edited August 30, 2013 by kimamey

[Sing_Sling]

Nine of the network's 15 regional heads had already agreed to the government offer, Terdsak said.

Would these nine regional heads happen to be in Red Shirt dominated areas?

I think this is an excellent opportunity for the govt to cancel the next season of rice pledging and go to the same fertilizer subsidy for those farmers. All is fair that way, and should eliminate any future problems.

Why would it be 'red/yellow/purple' shirt issues all the time - if you have anything of substance to your assertion then please show us -that would make a nice change.

Most governments subsidise their agricultural sector in one way or another, to single out Thailand is quite disingenuous in this instance

I suppose the other side of this situation where the rubber farmers in the red shirt areas have agreed to the governments offer is that it's in the anti government south that they've not agreed.

You are supposing that a 'red area' means everyone is a 'red'. Ah, if the world only were that simple and monotone. I hadn't realised that the 'south' is anti-government and all others are not.

Taking this into account where would you place Chanthaburi, Trad etc . . .

I've worked in the rubber and oilpalm sector for many years now and can't sa they are a homogenous lot at all - and the large conglomerates operate Thailand-wide

[Sing_Sling]

Are we good now?

Sure

[Robby nz]

Would seem to be an update on this posted on here at 11.17.

There will now be protests in the north and northeast.

Govt plays down Tuesday's rubber protests
By English News



BANGKOK, Aug 31 – The planned multi-pronged protests against rubber price slump in different parts of Thailand on Tuesday will be weaker than earlier predicted, according to the Interior Ministry.

The special task force centre to monitor rubber growers’ demonstrations, set up by the Interior Ministry, reported that each protest in different regions would comprise not more than 2,000 people.

Rubber planters said they would hold simultaneous rallies in the northeastern, northern, eastern, central and southern regions. The special centre said the South would see about 5,000 protesters.

The authorities were optimistic that the protests would not escalate as most planters accepted the rubber purchase price at Bt80 per kg with financial assistance for fertilizer from the government.

They said Tuesday’s protests would merely be symbolic and many planters including those in Chiang Rai and Roi Et have decided not to join the demonstrations.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnok submitted an urgent letter to Parliament President Somsak Kiatsuranond, informing him that police in Nakhon Si Thammarat had not issued warrants to arrest Democrat MPs from the South, Nipit Intarasombate and Thaworn Senneam.

Witthaya Kaewparadai, Democrat MP from Nakhon Si Thammarat, claimed during a parliamentary debate that the authorities would soon issue arrest warrants for the two opposition MPs.

Both men were seen meeting with rubber planters in Nakhon Si Thammarat. (MCOT online news)

..................................................................................................................................................................................................

And horror of horrors 2 of the Dems MP's were seen meeting with the protestors in the south.

Could it possibly be that the protestors were their constituents.

But whatever it is most certainly not allowed to have Dem MP's meeting with people.

Wonder what the charges will be ?

Oh yes I forgot, terrorism.

Most certainly deserved, talking to people indeed, the new definition of terrorism.

[Sing_Sling]

It's all part and parcel of what a commodity is. Prices in the 80s actually isn't disastrous, it's just when expectations have been stoked by recent relatively higher prices that the uneducated take to the barricades.

Do they do the same when prices are in the 110 range because it makes them expensive? Do they alter their tapping, fertilising and general plantation management techniques or just continue to be as vacuous in their ways as they always have been?

Prices high? Daily tapping, as in D1 as opposed to D3 . . . Ah, slaughter-tapping - excellent.

Incorrectly using fertiliser?

Incorrect tapping techniques - because it's always been done like this . . .

Thai Rubber Authority advocating using their own inferior clones as opposed to the best wood/yield clones available . . .

Thailand yet again showing how jingoism can hurt an industry . . . and that has absolutely sweet FA to do with politics as some people here would claim.

[Thait Spot]

New York Times story:

 

Rubber Farmers Block Road After Prices Plunge By THOMAS FULLER

After falling rubber prices drove many rubber farmers in south Thailand into debt, hundreds of them blocked the region’s main north-south road and railroad in protest.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/30/world/asia/thai-rubber-farmers-block-road-to-protest-prices.html?emc=edit_tnt_20130829&tntemail0=y&_r=0

" Ms. Yingluck said Thailand would not be able to influence the global rubber price because “with regards to the quantity of rubber, we have a small amount compared with other countries.” Thailand has been the world’s largest rubber producer since 1990, when it overtook neighboring Malaysia and today produces just under one-third of the world total."

Says a lot about how much YS knows

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Sing_Sling]

 

New York Times story:

Rubber Farmers Block Road After Prices Plunge By THOMAS FULLER

After falling rubber prices drove many rubber farmers in south Thailand into debt, hundreds of them blocked the region’s main north-south road and railroad in protest.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/30/world/asia/thai-rubber-farmers-block-road-to-protest-prices.html?emc=edit_tnt_20130829&tntemail0=y&_r=0

" Ms. Yingluck said Thailand would not be able to influence the global rubber price because “with regards to the quantity of rubber, we have a small amount compared with other countries.” Thailand has been the world’s largest rubber producer since 1990, when it overtook neighboring Malaysia and today produces just under one-third of the world total."

Says a lot about how much YS knows

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

It has more acreage planted . . . but a lower yield - working harder for lower results. It is true that Thailand cannot dictate world market prices - if they could then the price would surely be much higher.

But yes, Yingluck should inform herself

[kimamey]

Nine of the network's 15 regional heads had already agreed to the government offer, Terdsak said.

Would these nine regional heads happen to be in Red Shirt dominated areas?

I think this is an excellent opportunity for the govt to cancel the next season of rice pledging and go to the same fertilizer subsidy for those farmers. All is fair that way, and should eliminate any future problems.

Why would it be 'red/yellow/purple' shirt issues all the time - if you have anything of substance to your assertion then please show us -that would make a nice change.

Most governments subsidise their agricultural sector in one way or another, to single out Thailand is quite disingenuous in this instance

I suppose the other side of this situation where the rubber farmers in the red shirt areas have agreed to the governments offer is that it's in the anti government south that they've not agreed.

You are supposing that a 'red area' means everyone is a 'red'. Ah, if the world only were that simple and monotone. I hadn't realised that the 'south' is anti-government and all others are not.

Taking this into account where would you place Chanthaburi, Trad etc . . .

I've worked in the rubber and oilpalm sector for many years now and can't sa they are a homogenous lot at all - and the large conglomerates operate Thailand-wide

I think you've missed my point. dcutman was pointing to the fact that the regions that have agreed to the governments proposals are in areas which are mainly redshirt pro government areas. The inference being that as they tend to be pro government they are less likely to try and cause more problems for the government. I don't know if this is true but it is certainly possible and not something to be surprised about. My point was that if it's going to be suggested that the pro government areas are being accommodating to the government then it's only right to say that the rubber growers in the anti government south are probably just as politically influenced in the opposite direction. Without this it's a biased statement against government supporters.

I do know that not everyone in the north east is a redshirt or pro government any more than all in the south are Democrat supporters but election results don't show a even mix across the country. Where I live in Mahasarakham the majority of houses have red shirts outside them.

In most countries political support is grouped in areas and a political party's supporters will tend to be more critical of anything to do with their opponents.

Edited September 1, 2013 by kimamey

[Sing_Sling]

I suppose the other side of this situation where the rubber farmers in the red shirt areas have agreed to the governments offer is that it's in the anti government south that they've not agreed.

Why would it be 'red/yellow/purple' shirt issues all the time - if you have anything of substance to your assertion then please show us -that would make a nice change.

Most governments subsidise their agricultural sector in one way or another, to single out Thailand is quite disingenuous in this instance

You are supposing that a 'red area' means everyone is a 'red'. Ah, if the world only were that simple and monotone. I hadn't realised that the 'south' is anti-government and all others are not.

Taking this into account where would you place Chanthaburi, Trad etc . . .

I've worked in the rubber and oilpalm sector for many years now and can't sa they are a homogenous lot at all - and the large conglomerates operate Thailand-wide

I think you've missed my point. dcutman was pointing to the fact that the regions that have agreed to the governments proposals are in areas which are mainly redshirt pro government areas. The inference being that as they tend to be pro government they are less likely to try and cause more problems for the government. I don't know if this is true but it is certainly possible and not something to be surprised about. My point was that if it's going to be suggested that the pro government areas are being accommodating to the government then it's only right to say that the rubber growers in the anti government south are probably just as politically influenced in the opposite direction. Without this it's a biased statement against government supporters.

I do know that not everyone in the north east is a redshirt or pro government any more than all in the south are Democrat supporters but election results don't show a even mix across the country. Where I live in Mahasarakham the majority of houses have red shirts outside them.

In most countries political support is grouped in areas and a political party's supporters will tend to be more critical of anything to do with their opponents.

Nope, I didn't miss your point, I just don't believe that everything is as black and white (or red and yellow in this case) as everyone thinks it is . . . and that politics is an integral part of one's everyday actions.

I would suggest a poor farmer will want to be supported by whomever can help him, irrespective of who he votes for . . . and would protest against anyone whom he sees as not assisting him, irrespective of who he votes for.