PM Yingluck pleas for public order as rubber protests turn violent

[webfact]

PM Yingluck pleas for public order as rubber protests turn violent
By English News



BANGKOK, Sept 16 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said today the government would avoid using force, but rather turn to negotiation, in dealing with rubber growers’ protests in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

She was referring to a clash between the authorities and protesters at Kuan Nong Hong intersection of Cha-uad district where several government vehicles were torched and a 40-year-old man was injured.

The violence ended later Monday after police took control of the highway which had been sealed off by demonstrators since the weekend.

Ms Yingluck called on rubber growers to abide by an earlier agreement on financial assistance to them, based on the size of their plantations.

According to the government’s resolution, each household of rubber grower would be granted Bt2,520 per rai at the maximum of 25 rai (10 acres), starting October 1.

The prime minister said the government would be ready to jointly work out solutions on the falling rubber price and would be as lenient as possible in dealing with growers.

Suporn Attawong, deputy secretary general to the premier, said the protesters at Kuan Nong Hong intersection were teenagers trying to instigate unrest, and not rubber farmers.

He said the government would not hold any talks with growers as the agreed subsidy was finalised already.

Some traders with substantial amounts of rubber in stock were trying to interfere and create unrest using the protesters for their own benefit, he said.

Varathep Rattanakorn, Minister to the PM’s Office and Deputy Agriculture Minister, urged farmers to abide by the law and refrain from damaging government buildings.

It is impossible for the government to pledge rubber price at Bt120/kg as demanded by farmers, he said, insisting that Bt90 per kilo was an appropriate price. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-09-16

[ramrod711]

Some traders with substantial amounts of rubber in stock were trying to interfere and create unrest using the protesters for their own benefit, he said.

What kind of a person would create unrest using protesters for their own benefit? I'm seeing the face of a man from afar, a man in Dubai.

[pedro01]

That's the problem with setting a precedent - people will follow it.

[hellodolly]

She will try any thing short of equality.

At all costs double standards must prevail.

At least until Thaksin can figure a way to make a buck at it.

[monkeycountry]

"It is impossible for the government to pledge rubber price at Bt120/kg as demanded by farmers, he said, insisting that Bt90 per kilo was an appropriate price."

I am not sure he understands the meaning of the word impossible, however we know from the rice scam that it is possible to pay 40% above market price, and on a much larger scale as there is a lot more rice than rubber, so just offer the rubber farmers and other farmers 40% above market price, and I am sure they will accept that and go home. - Unless of course it is only possible to pay 40% above market price to people who wear red shirts?

[Sunderland]

The photos shown on Thai news websites of what looks like a Thai policeman in riot gear smashing the windscreen of a police truck with a pole of some sort is interesting. Is this a real policeman, a red shirt fake policeman pretending to be a policeman or a rubber farmer dressed up as a policeman???

Anyway, it seems rather suspicious, and if it turns out it is a real policeman trying to make it look like the actions of a rubber farmer, then it provides further evidence of authorities wasting taxpayers' money.

[Sunderland]

Eh???? Something not quite right about this.

And then a short time later ... the same truck, or perhaps a similar one nearby goes up in flames. Conspiracy or not?

Edited September 16, 2013 by Sunderland

[waza]

Eh???? Something not quite right about this.

And then a short time later ... the same truck, or perhaps a similar one nearby goes up in flames. Conspiracy or not?

Those pesky blackshirts again, the third hand strikes.

[gerry1011]

The photos shown on Thai news websites of what looks like a Thai policeman in riot gear smashing the windscreen of a police truck with a pole of some sort is interesting. Is this a real policeman, a red shirt fake policeman pretending to be a policeman or a rubber farmer dressed up as a policeman???

Anyway, it seems rather suspicious, and if it turns out it is a real policeman trying to make it look like the actions of a rubber farmer, then it provides further evidence of authorities wasting taxpayers' money.

Could be a yellow terrorist wearing his motorcycle helmet

[OnAccount]

The photos shown on Thai news websites of what looks like a Thai policeman in riot gear smashing the windscreen of a police truck with a pole of some sort is interesting. Is this a real policeman, a red shirt fake policeman pretending to be a policeman or a rubber farmer dressed up as a policeman???

Anyway, it seems rather suspicious, and if it turns out it is a real policeman trying to make it look like the actions of a rubber farmer, then it provides further evidence of authorities wasting taxpayers' money.

Could be a yellow terrorist wearing his motorcycle helmet

Much more likely one of the henchmen for indicted red shirt leader out on bail, Issan Rambo...

or as he is currently referred to in the thread's article, Yingluck's Deputy, Suporn Attawong

Suporn Attawong, deputy secretary general to the premier, said the protesters at Kuan Nong Hong intersection were teenagers trying to instigate unrest

[jaidam]

The photos shown on Thai news websites of what looks like a Thai policeman in riot gear smashing the windscreen of a police truck with a pole of some sort is interesting. Is this a real policeman, a red shirt fake policeman pretending to be a policeman or a rubber farmer dressed up as a policeman???

Anyway, it seems rather suspicious, and if it turns out it is a real policeman trying to make it look like the actions of a rubber farmer, then it provides further evidence of authorities wasting taxpayers' money.

Could be a yellow terrorist wearing his motorcycle helmet

Much more likely one of the henchmen for indicted red shirt leader out on bail, Issan Rambo...

or as he is currently referred to in the thread's article, Yingluck's Deputy, Suporn Attawong

Suporn Attawong, deputy secretary general to the premier, said the protesters at Kuan Nong Hong intersection were teenagers trying to instigate unrest

What happened to this cretin after he was caught impersonating a police officer during the anti-Thaksin rally in Bkk recently? He was photographed wearing full police uniform. If he isn't in prison then he is probably still pretending to be a police officer so yes, likely him in the photo smashing the truck windshield although who could have set the fire? Nobody could accuse the red leadership of having any association with arsonists, could they?

[webfact]

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT
Many injured as police crack down
Krissana Tiwatsirikul,
Suphannee Pootpisut
The Nation


Protesting rubber growers clash with police on a road in Nakhon Si Thammarat

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: -- More than 10 vehicles were smashed and set ablaze and people injured when clashes broke out between hundreds of rubber growers and security officials at the Kuan Nong Hong Intersection in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Cha-uat district yesterday.

The officials used tear gas to disperse the crowd, while the protesters used what they could find - stones or sticks - to hit back.

Deputy PM Kittiratt Na-Ranong said the government had put measures in place to help rubber growers and was not planning to offer anything else. Calling on the protesters to not do anything that affects other people's rights, he said the government would explain the measures.

Initially, most rubber growers found the Cabinet-approved Bt2,520 subsidy per rai per household deal acceptable, but some demanded the price for rubber be set at Bt120 per kilogram and the subsidy be paid to individual farmers with/without title deeds. Hence, they organised a road block at Kuan Nong Hong again.

Early yesterday, police managed to take charge of the site and re-open Highway 41, but protesters began gathering again at around noon and youngsters started throwing rocks and firing slingshots at officials. That was when police opted for tear gas.

Jaroon Yoschu, a mentally ill man, wandered into the site and sustained a head injury.

As the clash continued and security officials were pushed back, protesters damaged and set fire to a detention truck and several other vehicles. It was reported that a Thai PBS van was also smashed and a reporter's camera seized by the protesters.

A hair salon near the site was also damaged and riddled with bullets, while protester Somnam Rachrong was shot in the leg.

Chayanin Khongsong, one of 11 protest leaders wanted by the authorities, was also reportedly arrested during the crackdown.

Provincial governor Viroj Jivarangsan said that in the morning security officials went to investigate damage done to a police booth at Kuan Nong Hong Intersection and police then moved to re-open the road.

Meanwhile, 10 Democrat MPs for Nakhon Si Thammarat issued a statement objecting to the crackdown and expressed concern that the situation may get out of control. They urged the government to tell the police to avoid confrontation and employ peaceful means to control the situation.

-- The Nation 2013-09-17

[webfact]

Thai police pelted with petrol bombs, acid in new rubber protest

BANGKOK, September 17, 2013 (AFP) - Protesters hurled petrol bombs and bottles of acid at Thai police, who fired tear gas in return, in fresh clashes Monday over a government rubber subsidy in southern Thailand, officials said.

Several police officers suffered cuts or acid burns as they were forced to retreat by around 1,000 protesters blockading a key road in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, local police told AFP.

"They outnumbered the police... we had to step back, we don't want any violence," said Police Colonel Piyawat Supanapong, adding a change of wind direction sent tear gas back into police lines.

In recent weeks angry rubber farmers have protested across Thailand's south calling for government support as the local economy has been hard hit by slumping global prices for the commodity.

Rubber farmers appeared to have been appeased last week by a government offer of 2,520 baht ($80) per rai (0.4 acres, 0.16 hectares) of plantation to help with production costs -- double its previous offer.

But after several days of near calm, Monday's protest threatened to re-open the dispute, which has been most fierce in southern regions loyal to the opposition Democrat Party.

Protesters blocked the road into the late afternoon as police withdrew.

Piyawat said the protesters -- who also torched several police cars and fired marbles from slingshots -- were teenagers and had no leader with whom they could negotiate.

The local rubber union also distanced itself from the violence.

"We don't know who they are," said union leader Boonchot Romyen.

"We are checking who they are. Some Rubber farmers may not be happy with the government's proposals... but I don't think these are local people."

Rubber farmers have accused the government of ignoring their plight while spending billions of dollars on a rice price guarantee scheme seen as mainly benefiting ruling party supporters.

The government had previous said another generous price guarantee scheme was something it could not afford, but days of protest appear to have forced a climbdown.

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

The kingdom has been beset by protests 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 2013-09-17

[jaidam]

I'll bet Thaksin is really regretting having the premeditated murder charges filed on Abhisit for the deaths of the red rioters. All it is going to take is the death of one rubber farmer and poor Yingluck will have premeditated murder charges brought against her too.

I must admit to deriving some pleasure from being proved totally correct, it was always going to end this way after the riot rouge and subsequent change of government. Some self proclaimed serious observers will be learning hard lessons here about confusing emotions and love for Thaksin with the reality of using terrorism as a tool. Payback time's a bitch.

[lujanit]

The hypocrisy of the Thaksin PTP is boundless. Rice farmers are predominately paid for PTP voters whilst rubber farmers are predominately Democrat voters. No contest.

[waza]

The hypocrisy of the Thaksin PTP is boundless. Rice farmers are predominately paid for PTP voters whilst rubber farmers are predominately Democrat voters. No contest.

A north south divide, sounds familiar.

Edited September 17, 2013 by waza

[GeorgeO]

This is typical of the 'left and right hand' syndrome demonstrated by this government:

Yingluck Shinawatra said today "the government would avoid using force, but rather turn to negotiation, in dealing with rubber growers’ protests in the southern province"

Suporn Attawong, deputy secretary general to the premier, said "the government would not hold any talks with growers as the agreed subsidy was finalised already".

As clear as mud then....!?

[SouthernMan3]

I am going to sell my rubber today.

Will I get the 90b./K. that the Gov't guaranteed ?

We shall see............................

[SouthernMan3]

"It is impossible for the government to pledge rubber price at Bt120/kg as demanded by farmers, he said, insisting that Bt90 per kilo was an appropriate price."

I am not sure he understands the meaning of the word impossible, however we know from the rice scam that it is possible to pay 40% above market price, and on a much larger scale as there is a lot more rice than rubber, so just offer the rubber farmers and other farmers 40% above market price, and I am sure they will accept that and go home. - Unless of course it is only possible to pay 40% above market price to people who wear red shirts?

Like I said.

We shall see today if the Gov't backs up their 90b. guarantee.

Tomorrow we will be filing our papers for our subsidy.

Wonder if we'll see that ?

[webfact]

Governor pledges no use of force to disperse rubber farmer protesters
By English News



NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, Sept 17 – Rubber planter protesters still occupy Kuan Nong Hong intersection in this southern province today while Nakhon Si Thammarat governor pledged no use of force to disperse them.

The provincial administration earlier imposed the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act following violence on a highway where protesters injured scores of police officers and set fire to 11 police vehicles.

Nakhon Si Thammarat governor Wiroj Jiwarangsan announced the use of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act 2007, declaring the protest site, Kuan Nong Hong intersection in Cha-uat distrct, as a restricted area and a dangerrous zone after finding that the situation was uncontrollable.

He urged the protesters to stop violating the law, saying that burning police cars was illegal.

The governor vowed that the authorities would not use force to disperse the demonstration and the Act banning people to stay away from the rally site to be enforced until noon.

As of Tuesday morning, protesters continued their demonstration on the highway and some of the burnt cars were pulled to block the road.

Yongyuth Charoenvanich, Region 8 Provincial Police commander, said police officers remained on duty at Kuan Nong Hong intersection following the clash yesterday afternoon.

Some 1,500 protesters returned to block the roads at the intersection again just hours after police dispersed demonstrators Monday morning to open the traffic.

They later clashed with the police before burning police vehicles.

Two rifles were stolen from a police car but one was later returned, he said.

The protesters insisted that they disagreed with the government’s latest decision on financial aid to rubber farmers. They wanted the government to instead pledge an agreed rubber price. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-09-17

[fareastguy]

_{I'm sure it's been said a million times.. but what's "good for the goose is good for the gander"}

_{Having the rice scam in place for the voting friends in red, now extended for another period of time to make sure all get their just rewards}

_{is wanted by the rubber farmers.. more troughs needed I think, or it's time to get the tin hat out from under the bed again!!}

[soi41]

Irony, that a lot of the rubber grown in the south is grown on stolen land, (crown land, national parks) and now the farmers want the government to subsidise their theft!!

quote from post #20: "saying that burning police cars was illegal" Really?

[SICHONSTEVE]

"It is impossible for the government to pledge rubber price at Bt120/kg as demanded by farmers, he said, insisting that Bt90 per kilo was an appropriate price."

I am not sure he understands the meaning of the word impossible, however we know from the rice scam that it is possible to pay 40% above market price, and on a much larger scale as there is a lot more rice than rubber, so just offer the rubber farmers and other farmers 40% above market price, and I am sure they will accept that and go home. - Unless of course it is only possible to pay 40% above market price to people who wear red shirts?

You are not supposed to point this out as Yingluck doesn't want these nuisances knowing this as they might just want their fair share of the 'populist policy' cake when they clearly don't deserve it as they didn't vote for her party!!!

[WAERTH]

A lot of rice is grown on illegal land to. Many people do not have the correct land ownership papers!

[h90]

The photos shown on Thai news websites of what looks like a Thai policeman in riot gear smashing the windscreen of a police truck with a pole of some sort is interesting. Is this a real policeman, a red shirt fake policeman pretending to be a policeman or a rubber farmer dressed up as a policeman???

Anyway, it seems rather suspicious, and if it turns out it is a real policeman trying to make it look like the actions of a rubber farmer, then it provides further evidence of authorities wasting taxpayers' money.

or a policeman dressed as policeman who is a fake rubber farmer

[hellodolly]

A lot of rice is grown on illegal land to. Many people do not have the correct land ownership papers!

Makes no difference they are loyal PTPredshirts.

[phitsanulokjohn]

One price for the red shirts,another price for the rest.

[phitsanulokjohn]

One price for the red shirts,another price for the rest.

[TheGhostWithin]

Irony, that a lot of the rubber grown in the south is grown on stolen land, (crown land, national parks) and now the farmers want the government to subsidise their theft!!

quote from post #20: "saying that burning police cars was illegal" Really?

My girlfriends family grow rubber in the South. They own the land. They farm it with their own hands. Not every agricultural worker is dishonest or undertakes in squatting. Just so that there is no confusion and the lines are clearly drawn.

[hammered]

Read the accounts elsewhere. They are very different. Virtually anyone can tell you why this riot occurred after the majority of the rubber farmers had agreed to a government deal, and the roadblock site had been peacefully cleared at 7AM. That fact is something the Nation seem to have overlooked. Whether that holds now we will see. Lots of politics in this.