Close eye on rallies as talks with Thai govt fail: Rubber price

[webfact]

DEMONSTRATION
Close eye on rallies as talks with govt fail
THE NATION



Police arrest ten in Prachuap Khiri Khan after confrontation; call for rubber price intervention ignored

BANGKOK: -- Authorities are keeping a close eye on protesting rubber farmers amid fears they may step up the rallies currently being held in several southern provinces following the government's decision to reject their demand for intervention in the price of raw rubber sheets, while only granting them subsidy relief.

The protest situation has not changed in the last three days. Announcing the results of tense negotiations on Wednesday evening between farmer groups and the government, Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said yesterday that the annual Bt1,260 per-rai subsidy for farmers owning 10 rai of rubber plantations would be extended to 25 rai.

However, he made no mention of the protesters' key demand that the price of raw rubber sheets, which averages at around Bt70 at present, be boosted to a minimum of Bt101 or Bt120 maximum.

Speaking at a Government House press conference, he said those qualifying for the subsidies, in the case of 10-rai plantations extended to cover 25 rai, must not be engaged in rubber farming on state-owned properties. The whole process of seeking an additional budget of Bt10.6 billion, in addition to the Bt22 billion already approved for the 10-rai cases, would take no more than two weeks, he added.

The annual Bt1,260 subsidy will be transferred to the bank accounts of rubber farmers who have registered for it, and would not be paid in the form of cheaper fertilisers and other farming subsidies, Kittiratt said, as was understood by some protesting farmers.

He said the price of raw rubber sheets might rise to Bt90 in October. "We must let the price be decided by the market mechanism," he added.

A special government committee was set up yesterday to solve problems with the price of rubber in the long run. The 10-member panel will today travel to Nakhon Si Thammarat to meet a group of rubber farmers at Twin Lotus Hotel to find a way to end the ongoing protest as well as open the blocked roads, Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnog said.

A group of protesters in Prachuap Khiri Khan brought 200 car tyres and a fuel drum to a rally site by a Phetkasem Route section at the 413-kilometre marker in Bang Saphan district where they were gathering. They did not say openly what they would do with the tyres and no details were available whether the drum was empty or if it contained something.

Police later dispersed this group of protesters and arrested 10 people. There were bottles thrown at the police during a charge but no serious injuries were reported.

Meanwhile, protesters in Nakhon Si Thammarat agreed to allow access to the railway section of the Ban Toon intersection, though their rally continued at a nearby site. Iad Seng-iad, a protest leader, said the movement would be taken to another level if the government is unable to meet their demands within the seven-day deadline.

Separately, Trang airport officials, guarding against a group of protesters holding a rally nearby, yesterday called on the authorities to provide protection fearing the rubber growers might decide to seize the airport. Songkhla provincial authorities have beefed up security around the Songkhla City Hall and Hat Yai Airport.

Confirming that flights were still operating as usual, Trang Airport director Thaworn Saengamphai said the protesters in Trang's Huay Yot district, which entered its third day yesterday, had made no moves to block the airport yet. As many as 200 police officers are on a standby to handle the situation from possibly escalating.

A special law to enable rescue operations during emergencies has come into effect at the airport and the City Hall compound of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Governor Wiroj Jiwarangsan said. He said anyone found trespassing into both compounds or holding any rally there would face three months imprisonment and/or a Bt6,000 fine.

In Songkhla, provincial officials and police beefed up security at strategic locations, including the City Hall, where all cars are being strictly checked and all visitors have to get their ID cards scanned for record. Security has also been beefed up at Hat Yai Airport.

Meanwhile, Provincial Police Region 9 called on the protesters to gather peacefully and respect other people's rights, adding that police officers manning rally sites will only be equipped with standard crowd-control equipment and would not carry weapons or explosives. He also warned protesters that the punishment for blocking roads was three years in prison and/or a fine of Bt60,000.

In addition, Songkhla protest leaders have warned that if the national policy committee does not accept their demand of boosting the prices of rubber products, they would get protesters from all 14 rubber-growing provinces to escalate their movement. The rubber growers are demanding that the price of ribbed smoked sheets (RSS) be increased to Bt101 per kilogram; raw sheet to Bt92/kg; rubber latex to Bt81; and pure scrap rubber to Bt83. The national police committee was set to discuss the situation yesterday.

In a related development, Nok Air tweeted yesterday that the Nakhon Si Thammarat airport had closed its entrance from the direction of Tha Phae Market and passengers were advised to use the Bang Pu intersection. The airline also urged passengers to show up earlier as a precaution.


-- The Nation 2013-09-06

[Tatsujin]

I'd like to see the reaction/response when they take over downtown Bangkok for months at a time, would be interesting to see the comparisons in who does their jobs properly and how it is all handled.

[ramrod711]

He said the price of raw rubber sheets might rise to Bt90 in October. "We must let the price be decided by the market mechanism," he added.

The government has been clear and unbending on this policy, 555555, sorry I couldn't help myself.

[gemini81]

I think they have to burn the rubber in the form of tires in BKK like another group in order to be heard and satisfied.

[blackman]

i think they will bounce back from this

[Mampara]

Perhaps they could increase the duty of imported goods that contain more than 40% rubber, like industrial components, and sports equipment, we could start manufacturing generic components, at the moment we are importing a lot of goods that consist of rubber, this is not a short term solution, but it would help in the long run.

[webfact]

20+ injured during rubber farmers' clash with riot police in Phrachuap Khirikhan

PRACHUAP KHIRIKHAN, 6 September 2013 (NNT) – Authorities in Prachuap Khirikhan expect the demonstration by rubber farmers to be resolved soon, after several have been injured in the clash between riot police and the demonstrators on Phetkasem Rd. in Bang Saphan district.

According to Provincial Police Region 7 Deputy Commissioner Narong Supha-em, the situation has calmed down after the earlier clash. Leaders of the demonstration have fled the area in the aftermath of the event. Police officials have been trying to foster understanding with those at the protest, about possible interference from 3rd parties to create chaos, and many have agreed to leave the protest.

Reporters quoted police officials putting the figure of injuries from the clash at no less than 20. At least 9 policemen were injured by objects thrown at them. Some sustained injuries from being splashed with acid.

Explosions were heard during the protesters' clash with riot police. Police Colonel Narong believe the explosions to have been large firecrackers lit by teenagers within the protest venue, who were disgruntled with the police.

10 protesters have been arrested by police.


-- NNT 2013-09-06

[webfact]

Protesting farmers in Phatthalung and Nakhon Si Thammarat lift roadblocks

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, 6 September 2013 (NNT) – Rubber and palm oil farmers in Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phatthalung have agreed to temporarily lift their roadblocks as they await clarity about the government's solutions to the issue of low rubber price.

The farmers have lifted their blockades of the rail track in Ban Tun and the Cha-uad - Bolo Rd., and agreed to suspend their protest as they await clarity about whether the government will heed their demand for the guarantee of rubber price at 100 baht per kilogram.

Iad Seng-iad, coordinator of the farmers' group, said the next gathering of the farmers has been scheduled to take place in 7 days. He said if the government does not provide any answers, the protesters will scale up their demonstrations.

In Phatthalung province, protesting rubber farmers lifted their blockade of Phetkasem road in Sinakharin district after the provincial governor personally accepted a letter listing the demonstrators' demands, from the farmers' representatives. The protesters were asking for subsidy to the latex price, in order for the price to be maintained at 91 baht per kilogram. They were also asking for a 7 baht per kilogram guarantee for palm oil price.


-- NNT 2013-09-06

[h90]

Perhaps they could increase the duty of imported goods that contain more than 40% rubber, like industrial components, and sports equipment, we could start manufacturing generic components, at the moment we are importing a lot of goods that consist of rubber, this is not a short term solution, but it would help in the long run.

That would cause the foreign producers to buy less rubber. So the total demand would remain the same. Just the product quality would be lower.

[h90]

20+ injured during rubber farmers' clash with riot police in Phrachuap Khirikhan

PRACHUAP KHIRIKHAN, 6 September 2013 (NNT) – Authorities in Prachuap Khirikhan expect the demonstration by rubber farmers to be resolved soon, after several have been injured in the clash between riot police and the demonstrators on Phetkasem Rd. in Bang Saphan district.

According to Provincial Police Region 7 Deputy Commissioner Narong Supha-em, the situation has calmed down after the earlier clash. Leaders of the demonstration have fled the area in the aftermath of the event. Police officials have been trying to foster understanding with those at the protest, about possible interference from 3rd parties to create chaos, and many have agreed to leave the protest.

Reporters quoted police officials putting the figure of injuries from the clash at no less than 20. At least 9 policemen were injured by objects thrown at them. Some sustained injuries from being splashed with acid.

Explosions were heard during the protesters' clash with riot police. Police Colonel Narong believe the explosions to have been large firecrackers lit by teenagers within the protest venue, who were disgruntled with the police.

10 protesters have been arrested by police.

-- NNT 2013-09-06

I got told the violence started after the police used tear gas. But no newspaper write about tear gas.

Anyone has been there and have first hand experience?

[Mosha]

20+ injured during rubber farmers' clash with riot police in Phrachuap Khirikhan

PRACHUAP KHIRIKHAN, 6 September 2013 (NNT) – Authorities in Prachuap Khirikhan expect the demonstration by rubber farmers to be resolved soon, after several have been injured in the clash between riot police and the demonstrators on Phetkasem Rd. in Bang Saphan district.

According to Provincial Police Region 7 Deputy Commissioner Narong Supha-em, the situation has calmed down after the earlier clash. Leaders of the demonstration have fled the area in the aftermath of the event. Police officials have been trying to foster understanding with those at the protest, about possible interference from 3rd parties to create chaos, and many have agreed to leave the protest.

Reporters quoted police officials putting the figure of injuries from the clash at no less than 20. At least 9 policemen were injured by objects thrown at them. Some sustained injuries from being splashed with acid.

Explosions were heard during the protesters' clash with riot police. Police Colonel Narong believe the explosions to have been large firecrackers lit by teenagers within the protest venue, who were disgruntled with the police.

10 protesters have been arrested by police.

-- NNT 2013-09-06

I got told the violence started after the police used tear gas. But no newspaper write about tear gas.

Anyone has been there and have first hand experience?

Er in doors said it was on the box.

[webfact]

Teen gangs set fires on vehicles at Prachuab Khiri Khan rally site

PRACHUAB KHIRI KHAN: -- Veera Sriwattanatrakul, governor of Prachuab Khiri Khan told Jor Sor 100 that a group of 20 men, mostly teens, lobbed explosives onto vehicles parked near the rally site of rubber growers around 1am.

They also set fires on the vehicles, the governor said. The attack destroyed cars of Daily News newspaper and Thai PBS TV station. Window glass of car of Nation Group was also smashed and tyres were flattened.

The governor said the group then escaped from the scene.


-- The Nation 2013-09-06

[gemini81]

Well the last mob in BKK showed us that it is acceptable to get violent in order to achieve what you want-why, your family can get multi-million payout if you sacrifice yourself.

These protests serve PTP right.

Glad people in the south are smart enough not to support dictatorships.

Edited September 6, 2013 by gemini81

[webfact]

Police close Phetkasem Rd after clashes with protesters
By English News



PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN, Sept 6 -- Forensic police collected evidence on Phetkasem Road in Prachuap Khiri Khan after clashes last night between police and the rubber protesters trying to block the highway.

Officers from Provincial Police Region 7 inspected and collected evidence on Phetkasem Road, in front of Thammarat market in Bang Sapan district's Thong Mongkol subdistrict where rubber protesters clashed with crowd control police.

Many fragments of 'ping pong bombs,' energy drink bottles with chemical substances, burnt bicycle inner tubes and collected stones.

Police said 22 people were injured in the clashes, including police. 12 protest leaders were detained for questioning at the 14th Border Patrol Police Division in the provincial seat.

Two reporters cars were torched at the scene.

The protesters dispersed at around 2am this morning.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Prommok led Deputy Prime Minister/Finance Minister Kittiratt Na- Ranong and Deputy Prime Minister/Agriculture Minister Yukol Limlaemthong to Nakhon Si Thammarat for talks with the protesters.

Pol Gen Pracha, assigned by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to negotiate with the rubber farmers to end the protest, said he did not expect the problems could end immediately.

However, he believed a proposal that could satisfy the rubber planters while being acceptable to the government could be the best solution to ease the problem. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-09-06

[Nickymaster]

That's the result of having double standards. And remember the famous words of Deputy Prime Minister Pladprasop "Don't expect too much support from PT if you haven't voted for them".

And when the going gets tough, the tough gets going again. The leader of this country is leaving again for another week to catch some last warm days in Switzerland and Italy before the summer comes to an end. Cost to Thai taxpayers approx. 10 million dollars/trip.

What a mismanaged country this is, unbelievable.

Edited September 6, 2013 by Nickymaster

[webfact]

Violence flares at Thai rubber farmer protest

BANGKOK, September 6, 2013 (AFP) - Rubber farmers clashed with security forces in southern Thailand as protesters torched cars and police fired tear gas in the latest unrest to shake the politically turbulent kingdom, officials said Friday.

More than two dozen police officers were injured and 11 protest leaders were arrested as the demonstration in Prachuap Khiri Khan province over falling rubber prices turned violent late on Thursday, according to the authorities.

Two vehicles, apparently belonging to local media, were set ablaze during the clashes, which flared after some 400 farmers tried to block a major highway to the south of the country, provincial police commander Major General Thanet Soonthornsuk told AFP.

"Twenty-five police officers were wounded. Two of them are in a serious condition after they were hit on the head by rocks," he said, adding that demonstrators had thrown acid at him.

Thailand is the world's top exporter of natural rubber and mounting anger among the kingdom's rubber farmers over their falling incomes poses a fresh challenge to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's two-year-old government.

In recent days angry rubber farmers have blocked roads, train lines and even -- briefly -- the entrance to an airport in Thailand's south where plunging global prices for the commodity have hit the local economy hard.

The region is a heartland of the opposition Democrat Party.

Yingluck's government has so far rejected demands to guarantee a rubber price of 120 baht ($3.7) per kilo -- which farmers later reduced to about 90-100 baht -- about 50 percent higher than the current price on world markets.

Instead it has stuck to an offer to pay farmers 1,260 baht per rai (0.4 acres, 0.16 hectares) of rubber plantation to help with production costs, along with funds to boost the efficiency of rubber processing -- an offer rejected by the protesters.

Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnog said he would travel to the south later Friday to meet protest leaders.

"We will open talks with them at all levels," he told reporters, without revealing if the government was ready to make concessions.

Thailand has been rocked by several episodes of civil unrest in recent years, with both supporters and opponents of Yingluck's brother -- fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra -- taking to the streets.

In 2010 two-month demonstrations in Bangkok by the pro-Thaksin "Red Shirts" drew 100,000 protesters at their peak before being crushed in a military crackdown under a previous government.

More than 90 people, mostly civilians, were killed during the demonstrations and nearly 1,900 were injured in Thailand's worst political bloodshed in decades.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-09-06

[gemini81]

Dear Assistant dictator is going abroad again too, huh? Imagine that.

Get 'er done Democrats! Give 'em a taste of their own medicine!

[animatic]

"Don't expect too much support from PT if you haven't voted for them".

Well this is the main problem for the whole country in a nutshell.

[johnnie20110]

I got told the violence started after the police used tear gas. But no newspaper write about tear gas.

Anyone has been there and have first hand experience?

Newspaper Post Today confirms the authorities used tear gas.

[TomTao]

"We must let the price be decided by the market mechanism,"

Don't hear the government says anything like that about the market price for rice.

[15Peter20]

I got told the violence started after the police used tear gas. But no newspaper write about tear gas.

Anyone has been there and have first hand experience?

Newspaper Post Today confirms the authorities used tear gas.

Congratulations to the security forces for showing appropriate force in the face of an armed street mob. Effective, and doesn't lose you votes in quite the same way as blowing unarmed people's brains out with sniper rifles.

[Lite Beer]

Pracha: ISA will not be issued against Phrachuap Khirikhan protesters

BANGKOK, 5 September 2013 (NNT) – Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnok has reiterated that the government will not impose the Internal Security Act against Phrachuap Khirikhan protesters despite the clash that injured 20 people including 9 policemen.

DPM Pracha said the government has no intentions to control the rubber farmers in Phrachuap Khirikhan by imposing the Internal Security Act (ISA), adding that an issuance of ISA has to be cautiously deliberated, plus there is no need for that at the moment, as the province has already had the 2007 Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act in force.

The deputy prime minister said the government is determined to bring an end to the rising conflict through negotiations, adding that the government does not want to see any violence.

The clash between riot police and Phrachuap Khirikhan protesters took place on September 5th, during which at least 20 people were injured; including 9 policemen who were pelted with rocks and splashed with acid. Ten protesters were arrested at the scene.

-- NNT 2013-09-06

[stoli]

Perhaps they could increase the duty of imported goods that contain more than 40% rubber, like industrial components, and sports equipment, we could start manufacturing generic components, at the moment we are importing a lot of goods that consist of rubber, this is not a short term solution, but it would help in the long run.

There is a good chance that the imported products made with rubber are made with rubber bought from Thailand. I would hate to see Thailand making it harder for their own customers overseas in bringing back a finished product. They simply won't buy their rubber here.

[MrSlatersParrot]

"We must let the price be decided by the market mechanism,"

Don't hear the government says anything like that about the market price for rice.

So the price is 70 baht a kilo now.

Under Abhisit it was 50-60 baht per kilo.

Didin't see any protests then did we?

I wonder why?

[johnnie20110]

I got told the violence started after the police used tear gas. But no newspaper write about tear gas.

Anyone has been there and have first hand experience?

Newspaper Post Today confirms the authorities used tear gas.

Congratulations to the security forces for showing appropriate force in the face of an armed street mob. Effective, and doesn't lose you votes in quite the same way as blowing unarmed people's brains out with sniper rifles.

Now if the police could only employ some consistency in their actions.

Some protesters get fired upon with exploding and lethal tear gas canisters while with other protesters the police don't fire any tear gas, and with still other protesters, the police fire non-lethal tear gas without provocation and additionally, other protesters are fired at with non-lethal tear gas with provocation.

It's a shame the police show quadruple standards.

.

Edited September 6, 2013 by johnnie20110

[Mosha]

"We must let the price be decided by the market mechanism,"

Don't hear the government says anything like that about the market price for rice.

So the price is 70 baht a kilo now.

Under Abhisit it was 50-60 baht per kilo.

Didin't see any protests then did we?

I wonder why?

Don't remember selling USS so low.

[johnnie20110]

"We must let the price be decided by the market mechanism,"

Don't hear the government says anything like that about the market price for rice.

So the price is 70 baht a kilo now.

Under Abhisit it was 50-60 baht per kilo.

Didin't see any protests then did we?

I wonder why?

Perhaps because at the time, the utter disregard for other farming consumables didn't consume the present Trillion Baht showing such a glaring disparity between farmers.

Edited September 6, 2013 by johnnie20110

[MrSlatersParrot]

I got told the violence started after the police used tear gas. But no newspaper write about tear gas.

Anyone has been there and have first hand experience?

Newspaper Post Today confirms the authorities used tear gas.

Congratulations to the security forces for showing appropriate force in the face of an armed street mob. Effective, and doesn't lose you votes in quite the same way as blowing unarmed people's brains out with sniper rifles.

Now if the police could only employ some consistency in their actions.

Some protesters get fired upon with exploding and lethal tear gas canisters while with other protesters the police don't fire any tear gas, and with still other protesters, the police fire non-lethal tear gas without provocation and additionally, other protesters are fired at with non-lethal tear gas with provocation.

It's a shame the police show quadruple standards.

.

And some other protestors get fired upon with intended 120,000 live rounds and 2,500 sniper rounds!

Big difference from the unintended explosive ancient chinese tear gas canisters used by the police.

[philw]

I got told the violence started after the police used tear gas. But no newspaper write about tear gas.

Anyone has been there and have first hand experience?

Newspaper Post Today confirms the authorities used tear gas.

Congratulations to the security forces for showing appropriate force in the face of an armed street mob. Effective, and doesn't lose you votes in quite the same way as blowing unarmed people's brains out with sniper rifles.

Double like !!!

[johnnie20110]

Newspaper Post Today confirms the authorities used tear gas.

Congratulations to the security forces for showing appropriate force in the face of an armed street mob. Effective, and doesn't lose you votes in quite the same way as blowing unarmed people's brains out with sniper rifles.

Now if the police could only employ some consistency in their actions.

Some protesters get fired upon with exploding and lethal tear gas canisters while with other protesters the police don't fire any tear gas, and with still other protesters, the police fire non-lethal tear gas without provocation and additionally, other protesters are fired at with non-lethal tear gas with provocation.

It's a shame the police show quadruple standards.

And some other protestors get fired upon with intended 120,000 live rounds and 2,500 sniper rounds!

Big difference from the unintended explosive ancient chinese tear gas canisters used by the police.

As we are discussing the police use of tear gas, it would help if you would discuss the police use of tear gas.

The use of the exploding gas canisters was absolutely intentional.

It was known in the morning that the canisters were exploding, yet when police fired canisters again in the afternoon, they were still firing the exploding gas canisters.