Rubber farmers are threatening to march on Bangkok next year if their demands for higher prices and an industry-rescue plan aren’t met.
Rubber farmers' representatives air their demands at Government House in Bangkok on Tuesday. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)
About 100 growers defied marital law to rally at Surat Thani provincial hall Tuesday, insisting the government purchase rubber sheets at 80 baht per kilogramme, twice the current market rate.
In a petition addressed to Surat Thani governor Chatpong Chatputi, they also called for the government to raise the price of scrap rubber to 30 baht per kilogramme, and latex to 70 baht per kilogramme.
Also today: Prayut pushing to raise rubber prices
Four industry representatives followed up the southern protest by submitting a letter to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at Government House Tuesday. As the premier was not there, the group read the letter aloud.
Sunthorn Rakrong, coordinator of the Rubber Planters Rescue Alliance, said farmers would wait until the end of this month. If the government failed to raise prices to 80 baht per kilogramme, or enact a satisfactory solution, growers nationwide would "meet the prime minister at Government House," he said.
Calling it a matter of survival, coalition representative Tossapol Khwanrod expanded on Mr Suntorn's threat, vowing southern farmers would "march to Government House early next year" even if martial law remains in effect.
The southern rally defied the National Council for Peace and Order's ban on demonstrations and political gatherings of more than five people. While organisers asserted that the protest was non-political, the prospect of risking arrest by the military had an obvious impact on turnout.
On Monday, organisers estimated more than 200 people would turn out. News agencies and police estimated the crowd at only 50-100 people.
It also came a day after Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Amnuay Patise announced four more short-term measures to arrest plummeting rubber prices.
They include a cash subsidy of 1,000 baht per rai for households with no more than 15 rai of land; government purchase of 6 billion baht in rubber products for exports and price support; credit worth 100,000 baht will be extended so planters can invest in a side jobs; and the 1999 Rubber Control Act will be used to ensure stakeholders are treated fairly.
Mr Sunthorn said Tuesday, however, that spending 58 billion baht on the 1,000-baht-per-rai subsidy was insufficient. His group wants the state to purchase 1 million tonnes of grade-3 raw rubber sheets at 80 baht per kilogramme.
As rubber prices currently stand at 40 baht per kilogramme, the government should fund the subsidy with bonds, he said, adding that the total cost would be 30-40 billion baht.
Mr Sunthorn also suggested Gen Prayut remove Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula and Deputy Agriculture Minister Amnuay for failing to have raised rubber price by now.
Down south, agriculture inspector Namchai Phrommeechai met protestors, saying that, for the time being, he would try to accelerate their 1,000-baht-per-rai subsidy payments, as disbursement has been very slow.
Rubber growers rally at the provincial hall of Surat Thani on Tuesday. (Photo by Supapong Chaolan)