Rubber and oil-palm protesters reopen road

[Lite Beer]

RUBBER GROWERS
Rubber and oil-palm protesters reopen road
The Sunday Nation

Rubber and oil-palm farm demonstrators from 16 southern provinces yesterday reopened the Bangkok-bound side of Prachuap Khiri Khan's Petchkasem Highway, but insisted they would continue to block the south-bound lanes in protest.

However, police cautioned drivers about using the six-kilometre section, saying that ongoing protests meant it was not safe, especially as there was no police presence in the area.

The protesters have blocked the four-lane road section at kilometre marker 415 in Chang Raek sub-district of Bang Saphan district since October 26, in an attempt to pressure the government to hike the rubber price to Bt100 per kilogram.

Yesterday's meeting between Bang Saphan district chief Somporn Patchimpetch and protest leader Sahachai Somwong, led to both parties signing an agreement to have the two Bangkok-bound lanes opened by 11am. The group also urged administration officials to provide security for the protesters instead of police. Somporn promised to dispatch kamnans and village headmen, as well as volunteers, to the scene and nearby areas.

-- The Nation 2013-11-03

[ivorsnest60]

its been very congested in our small town, with the detoured traffic. but as always, its been very well done. and apart from tailbacks, and being very slow at times. people have been well mannered and well behaved.

its a sad state, when it comes to this, for the farmers. to have to go on this route. blocking everything up. to try and improve there living standards.

hope someone is listening. !! the roads have been hammered, and will need severe maintenance. now.

[b0nkr]

they should make it a per-requisite of being able to protest, name and address and bank details of those who will be paying compensation to those peripherally affected by the protest. hua lampong business should also to sue the protest organization at samsen railway station for loss of business.

Edited November 3, 2013 by b0nkr

[tragickingdom]

First these farmers destroy the environment and the biodiversity and don't get fined. Than the prices are dropping and people earning 5000 Thb a month in a factory have to subsidise them. Just pay them to cut down their trees, so oversupply is going down and next forbid them to grow anything on the land commercially for the next twenty years so the environment can be restored.

First tourist businesses were sponsored after yet another coup, next the automotive industry is helped while making imports more expensive, than the rice farmers and now everybody else from fruit to corn and from palm to rubber, in the meantime the poor folks working for a business are robbed blind. Governments are unable to count, there are more consumers than producers.

[Loles]

Don't panic at all. Make share with Gov. politics and they will incrase the prices, like the rice .............

[thaiguzzi]

First these farmers destroy the environment and the biodiversity and don't get fined. Than the prices are dropping and people earning 5000 Thb a month in a factory have to subsidise them. Just pay them to cut down their trees, so oversupply is going down and next forbid them to grow anything on the land commercially for the next twenty years so the environment can be restored.

First tourist businesses were sponsored after yet another coup, next the automotive industry is helped while making imports more expensive, than the rice farmers and now everybody else from fruit to corn and from palm to rubber, in the meantime the poor folks working for a business are robbed blind. Governments are unable to count, there are more consumers than producers.

What are you talking about?

[spidermike007]

I suggest a mandatory ten year federal prison sentence, for every single protestor who is responsible for closing a major, federal highway. In many countries they would lock them up, and throw away the keys. It is about taking responsibility for one's actions. Is that a concept anybody has ever considered here? How do you get away with blocking a major north/south artery for weeks? Why doesn't anybody do anything about it? Is the government that afraid of it's people? This is the end result of a failed policy of price supports. All of Thailand is paying for the price for the false economy that Yingbat is trying to sustain. Let the market do it's work, and stop trying to manipulated the markets with foolish policies that cost the Thai people billions, and increase the debt burden. Be an adult. Man up. Do the right thing. Do not cave into pressure. Be a "responsible politician". Oh, was that an oxymoronic phrase?