Rubber protest: Thailand's Cha-uat district under special law

[webfact]

RUBBER PROTEST
Cha-uat district under special law
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- Nakhon Si Thammarat Governor Viroj Jivarungsan is implementing a special law for another 24 hours so state authorities have time to make a decision on what control measures they will put in place to cope with rubber farmers' protests. Security is also being beefed up at key locations and government buildings.

After the Cabinet chose not to implement the Internal Security Act yesterday, Viroj decided to declare Cha-uat district's Khuan Nong Hong Intersection as a restricted area under the Disaster Prevention Act of 2007 for 24 hours since Monday night.

However, insisting that her government would resolve the problem lawfully, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said she believed the Disaster Prevention Act was good enough to control the situation. She has also given her deputies Kittiratt Na-Ranong and Yukol Limlamthong the task of setting up mid- and long-term measures with operators of processed rubber businesses.

Meanwhile, protesters continued blocking a section of Highway 41 with pipes and tree branches. Security officials set up a checkpoint about a kilometre from the protest site in order to ensure no weapons were being taken in and urged motorists to take alternative routes.

At a meeting with related officials yesterday, Viroj urged agriculture officials to inspect rubber stocks at areas near the protest site since he had heard that some shops were hoarding rubber and supplying food to protesters. The meeting was also told that Army Region 4 had decided to set up a war room to provide back-up in case of emergency.

Provincial police deputy chief Suthat Chansawat said 119 police officers had been injured, nine state vehicles damaged and three guns had gone missing during Monday's clash.

Viroj had earlier told Thai PBS TV that negotiations were going ahead but rubber growers continued to add demands. Other than demanding that the government boost the price of rubber from Bt90/kg to Bt120, "they are now demanding that the PM attend parliamentary sessions and sit at the negotiation table. These demands come from nowhere", he said.

Meanwhile, PM's deputy secretary-general Pol Maj-General Thawat Boonfueng said that though many were affected farmers, some protesters were also receiving orders from politicians at local or national level.

Separately, some 500 tapioca farmers launched a protest in Nakhon Ratchasima's Nong Bunnak district demanding that the government do something about the falling price of tapioca by September 30 or they would organise a major movement.


-- The Nation 2013-09-18

[NongKhaiKid]

Yesterday I read an article in which government sources were bemoaning the fact that the rubber farmers had resorted to arson and were threatening abductions etc.

I'm not condoning such acts in any way but it all sounded very familiar until I remembered previous similar acts and threats were not serious because those involved were wearing the appropriate " colour of the day ".

[Tatsujin]

And now the Tapioca boys are going to join the party . . . who's next?

[bigbamboo]

Their demands are totally unreasonable. The PM attend parliamentary sessions?

[Valentine]

And now the Tapioca boys are going to join the party . . . who's next?

The temp teachers are starting to grumble. I see no reason why groups other than farmers will not start demanding a piece of the pie. Let's face it the whole country has learned from their "respected" leaders how they slice up the taxpayer's money pie.

[webfact]

Southern police on alert as protesters vow to continue rally
By English News

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, Sept 18 – Rubber farmers in this southern province have vowed to resume their protest this afternoon with the authorities on full alert and government buildings protected from possible attack.

National Police chief Adul Saengsingkaew said the protest site in Cha-uat district, Nakhon Si Thammarat, was under control but police were instructed to be especially cautious in light of a violent clash between police and demonstrators on Monday. More than 70 police were injured and 10 police vehicles were burnt.

He said police were collecting evidence in order to issue warrants for wrongdoers, adding warrants were earlier released for 19 suspects in the violence.

He said the authorities have yet to identify the photos of men in police uniforms who mingled with the protesters.

About 300 people who rallied at Kuan Nong Hong intersection, Cha-uat district, yesterday announced that they would resume their protest this afternoon.

Pol Maj Gen Piya Uthayo, National Police Bureau spokesman, said the protesters tried to strengthen their demonstration and create violence by burning government buildings and abducting senior provincial officials. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-09-18

[brianb1944]

And now the Tapioca boys are going to join the party . . . who's next?

Govt started it with the "Rice Pledging" now everyone wants a snout in the trough.

[webfact]

Police say there is tendency for Nakhon Si Thammarat protest to escalate

BANGKOK, 18 September 2013 (NNT) – The national police has indicated that there is a tendency for escalation of the rubber farmers’ demonstration in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

National police spokesman, Police Major General Piya Uthayo showed press members images of a man in police uniform who went about setting fire to police vehicles at the demonstration site in Khuan Nong Hong, Nakhon Si Thammarat. According to Pol. Maj. Gen. Piya, the man was not a police officer and he had stolen the uniform from a police vehicle.

Police said it is believed there are attempts to escalate the situation because there are a number of people who are unwilling to agree with the government and who are encouraging violence. He said that group of people had connections with people in the area as well as in the capital city.

The Royal Thai Police has determined that the situation remains normal following Monday’s clash between demonstrators and policemen. Officers have been told to avoid clashes and to exercise tolerance while also facilitating road traffic at the same time.


-- NNT 2013-09-18

[Thaddeus]

And now the Tapioca boys are going to join the party . . . who's next?

I said it weeks ago when this first started, sugar cane next and chicken.

By PTP making unrealistic promises and enough of the voting population believing them, both parts having no concept of consequences, together they have managed to screw the entire country.

I can't see any pleasant way out of this.

[gabruce]

Just waiting for the corn farmers too. This year price offered is 20% of the price last year (5baht a kilo last year, 1 baht per kilo this year). (maybe a local problem since the government seems to have announced that they will pay 9 baht per kilo).

[NongKhaiKid]

And now the Tapioca boys are going to join the party . . . who's next?

I said it weeks ago when this first started, sugar cane next and chicken.

By PTP making unrealistic promises and enough of the voting population believing them, both parts having no concept of consequences, together they have managed to screw the entire country.

I can't see any pleasant way out of this.

Exactly. The government has shot itself in both feet with the rice scheme and their inability to get out of it and it has set a precedent for all other sectors.

Another example of not thinking something through.

[lee b]

Try helping them out? Or is that too easy?