Farmers cancel Suvarnabhumi Airport protest plan

[Mentors]

The Slow-Motion Coup getting more slower.

[bigbamboo]

Rice Protesters Drop Plan To Seize Airport - For Now

By Khaosod English

BANGKOK: -- Farmers who have marched to Bangkok to demand payment from the government for their mortgaged rice have dropped their threats to seize the city's main airport.

The rice protesters arrived in the northern suburb of Rangsit district last night after a motorised march on their farming tractors from Ayutthaya. They claimed they had not received the payment they were promised under the government′s rice-pledging scheme for month, and they had no choice but to express their demands via the protests.

Although the scale of the farmers′ demonstration is small compared to anti-government campaign led by the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), the farmers have drawn much attention after their leader threatened to occupy Suvarnabhumi Airport by today′s afternoon.

The announcement strokes fears that Thailand could see a repeat of the protest in 2008, in which anti-government protesters seized both Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang Airport, causing massive disruption to the country′s air transportation.

Responding to the threat, administrators of the Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Airports of Thailand Company (AOT) assigned a large stretch of road near the airport as a protest ground for the farmers; officials hoped they would successfully convince the demonstrators to rally close to the airport rather than directly besieging the building itself.

Nevertheless, a number of riot police and soldiers were stationed at the airport in case of emergency.

But the tension was defused today when leader of the farmer protesters, Mr. Chada Thaiseth, a former MP of Chart Thai Pattana Party, said he has personally consulted with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday about the farmers′ distress, and he has been assured by Ms. Yingluck that the rice payment would arrive by next week.

Explaining that he is satisfied by the Prime Minister′s response, Mr. Chada urged the farmers to call off the protests and return to their home districts.

However, Mr. Chada also threatened to come back to Bangkok and besiege Suvarnabhumi Airport if the government breaks it promise.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNNU1qazJNakF4TUE9PQ==

-- Khaosod English 2014-02-21

And with that Mr Chada hopped onto his shiny brand new tractor and was off.

[MK1]

This sudden back down and turn around by the farmers, influenced by just one leader from Uthai Thani, provides very little assurance or explanation as to whether or not other farmers from other regions will also paid next week too.

It sounds to me YL government or PTP have perhaps greased the Uthai Thani leader palm in the hope that by turning him around like the pied piper, monkey see-monkey do-the rest will follow. No doubt, this minority role model leader agreed to roll over so they could buy more time until the outcome of YL appearance before the NACC on the 27^th of February is known.

Edited February 21, 2014 by MK1

[marquis22]

" after they had been assured by the government that they would be paid for their pledged rice."

Wonder if they've heard that before?

Can a new government pay them tho?

[fleeing]

This illustrates perfectly the way that politics is subservient to feudal overlords outside the cities and larger towns. The local 'lord of the manor' Chada from Chart Thai Pattana seeing that his 'peasants' were close to revolting, co-opted them in an attempt to show leadership and handily steered them away from making any independent demands.

No wonder then that he was directing them to Suvarnabhumi and away from the other protesting farmers at The Commerce Ministry.

The only positive outcome from this will be in one week when, unless by some miracle Yingluck 'finds' 130 billion in a forgotten Gucci handbag, Chada will be unable to show his face in public in Uthai Thani and Chart Thai Pattana will be forced to disappear locally.

The rice-farmers are not 'kwaai' but the products of centuries of feudal abuse. But even they will not accept being abused and lied to, if Chada can't produce the money he has now personally promised to deliver next week.

Edited February 21, 2014 by fleeing

[honzad]

Why the Airport?

Because it has the precedent of closing down the country and causing a past government to fall.

As much as I am against closing down anything, it would be good end-game ploy for Suthep to join with the farmers in declaring:-

"If the rice money is not paid in full by 28th February the protesters, and farmers, will descend on Suvarabhuni and Don Mueang airports with the intention of closing the airports until Yingluk resigns"

That should bring the army out and we will see a conclusion to the current round of events.

So you really think a military coup is the best solution? While certainly more honest than a judicial coup - at least you're not pretending to respect democracy while <deleted> it over - it's certainly not been a success in the past. I bet you wouldn't go wishing for a coup in your own country.

[steven100]

after they had been assured by the government that they would be paid for their pledged rice.

is that the same as ' cheques in the mail '

[Suriya4]

One phone call from the Army, "Stay away from the airport." Plans changed.

More like one Skype call from Thaksin, "Stay away from the airport." Plans changed.

[slipperylobster]

Why the Airport?

AC is good and there is a good food court

...and clean toilets

[Globeman]

Doesn't say they are not still in Bangkok to get things done in their eyes.

I bet some money changed hands to their leadership to make them buy that line about getting paid next week.

Try this for a possible scenario:

The protest leader, Chada, former member of close PTP ally Chart Pattana and old friend of the Shinawatra family (and Thaksin in particular) leads the farmers to Bangkok. As they approach the city, Chada sets up a backroom meeting with a high-ranker in the Shinawatra family and explains that he was only trying to help by giving the farmers some independent leadership, thereby preventing them from falling into the clutches of Suthep's gang. He has done the government an enormous favour because they were going to come anyway.

Chada can get the farmers to back down for now, but there will be expenses of course - "Not for me, you understand - for the farmers." He gets a gunnysack full of cash, pays the farmers for their fuel and a couple of days inflated wages for their troubles, and trousers the rest. The farmers are assured that the government will conjure up billion of baht by next week, and they turn around and putter home... Not only has a crisis been averted for the government, by the time they get home, wait a couple of days and discover they've been hoodwinked by the lying government, it takes them four days to get back to Bangkok - if they've still got the steam to head to Bangkok again. The government has bought themselves two or three weeks.... about as far ahead as they are capable of thinking.

Just a thought, like.

[Showbags]

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" after they had been assured by the government that they would be paid for their pledged rice."

Wonder if they've heard that before?

Seriously wonder why they keep voting for this government....perhaps some of the not so nice things the Bangkok people say about them...is true.....they seem to be providing the proof willingly.

[marcusd]

Well looks like they just got lied to again, right into their faces. And they still believe they're going to get paid by this government. I guess you can't blame the desperate for having hope. It's the same as buying a lottery ticket and hoping to strike it rich.

They will get paid. Why doubt this? Just may not be this century that's all.

[rreddin]

Either some heavy threats or heavy bribes...or both, to make them turn around....

Or maybe there is not the money to fund their protest, that would be a delicious irony

[code88]

Poor farmers, obviously they haven't learned their lesson.

[belg]

i bought enough time to get army and riot team overthere to prevent a future jam ?

guess not, thais live day by day, why would they worry

that can just come up with another lie ...

[silent]

At least if nothing else, another mission of symbolizing the intention of accomplishing nothing by the time all is said and done over and over again, has been highly successful. Almost like all the fanfare over groundhog day every year in other places of the world and what timing.

Edited February 21, 2014 by silent

[DrTuner]

This then practically guarantees them returning pissed as hell after a week and this time closing down the airport.

[soalbundy]

The farmers are in a tough spot. The current government hasn't paid them yet, but if the government falls to Suthep or a military coup they won't ever get paid. Their best bet is to continually remind the government how pissed off they are without actually toppling it, which is what they appear to be doing.

They will get paid......its a government debt not a PTP debt.The next government whether yellow red or green is duty bound to pay up.

[BuddyPinkham]

WHAT?

Another of the 3 great lies......... The check is in the mail, I will love you in the morning and I won't .............. ..... ....... ...........!

[ThaiTrav]

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10,000 farmers from northern provinces return home

BANGKOK: -- About 10,000 farmers who travelled from lower northern provinces to Bangkok resolved Friday to return home instead of heading to rally at the Suvarnabhumi airport.

The farmers decided to return home after their leader, Former Chart Thai Pattana Party MP Chada Thaiset, was assured by the government that they would get their payments for their rice next week.

The farmers reached Ayutthaya's Bang Pa-in district Thursday and stayed overnight there. They travelled in about 1,000 farm tractors.


-- The Nation 2014-02-21

Want the truth ???"Their leader, Former Chart Thai Pattana Party MP Chada Thaiset, was quietly paid off to avert the farming troop homeward " If the Government can't pay ,over 5 months now and can't get a loan ,what dummy would you have to believe it will come in a week ........duhhhhhhh! only stupid thai brain will fall for that . They'll most likely be back after a week ....more fuel ...more wasted time ....still no money !!! Oh well least they will fall for the next comment of BS and go home.

[soalbundy]

Poor farmers, obviously they haven't learned their lesson.

There are some farang who believe in the second coming. Father Christmas comes to mind as does the tooth fairy. The Thai farmers just went a step further into fairyland and believed in the promises of their elected government.

[soalbundy]

This then practically guarantees them returning pissed as hell after a week and this time closing down the airport.

We can but hope.

[ThaiTrav]

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Well looks like they just got lied to again, right into their faces. And they still believe they're going to get paid by this government. I guess you can't blame the desperate for having hope. It's the same as buying a lottery ticket and hoping to strike it rich.

Nope. They were given a face saving way out of being used by Suthep.

The farmers have a legitimate gripe, but they realize that the government has done its utmost to get them their money. It doesn't take a genius to realize that Suthep has done everything he can to block their payment.

The rice farmers may not have much love for the government, but they are not about to help a group of thugs who ridicule them and that has the potential to hurt them more.

They came on their own accord. Like you said, they have a legitimate gripe.

Suthep never blocked their payment. The government lied to the farmers and their Hail Mary loan from GSB was called off because of the bank run to the tune of 100 billion baht and counting. That's almost as much as the amount they were going to lend the Shins in the first place. You going to blame Suthep for that too?

They may not want to help hurt the government but it seems the lying Shinawatras don't seem to want to return the favor. In 6 weeks, when they're not paid again, they'll be back and this time they'll shut the airport for sure. Even the nicest people aren't going to allow themselves to be screwed that many times.

Oh you,d be surprised as to how STUPID these people really are!

[Nalo56]

I just hope that the Farmers do get paid next week as promised by Yingluck Shinawatra today, but unfortunately we already know the answer to this and I truly hope I'm wrong since we know how good she has blaming others or come up with lame excuses to avoid any deliveries on her promises. Poor Farmers that are now returning home empty handed after driving for so long and reaching the Bangkok doors. I truly wish them all well, they all deserve better treatment and respect.

[ThaiTrav]

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Possibly due to a large transfer deposit made from Dubai.
Buys time until the government is able to manhandle some financial institution to cough up the 130 billion.

How much time do you get for 130billion baht????

[rickirs]

On the practical side (apart from all the lovely conspiracy and corruption theories some like to advance), the march on the international airport made little sense for the effort that had to be made to travel there. Trying to put forth any symbolism for the farmer's plight to largely foreign travellers is not going to advance their objectives and they run a risk of causing negative publicity; maybe they'll redirect to domestic flights Don Muang Airport. Or cut to the chase and assemble at the Government House.

[monkey4u]

So the lonely sheep go home with another false promise in their pockets

[Mudcrab]

What you are seeing is a PR stunt - albeit a very good one. It has sucked in most of the posters here.

These farmers are bought and paid for by Thaksin and his cronies.

They made a show of asking for their money (or a Red leader did anyway). They have promised to be paid soon and all gone home.

.

This will have the effect of placating the real farmers who are doing it hard -they will think they will be paid soon because their agricultural brothers made a stand and beat the Government into submission - for a while anyway.

It will give YL and Co a few days breathing space until the farmers wake up to the fraud.

I don't think we have seen what the farmers can, and most likely will do yet.

[binjalin]

the government would be very wise to get rid of this problem as it will obscure the real battle with the elites attempt to 'hang on' to power

[ThaiTrav]

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Well it is now official...... The rice farmers ARE stupid.

....and you are just waking up to the reality now???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????