When the government twice failed to respond to demands to shore up plummeting crop prices in early August, rubber farmers in Nakhon Si Thammarat began their lengthy blockade of Highway No. 41.
Protesters stay put at Khuan Nong Hong intersection in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Cha-uat district. Southern Democrat MPs, including Nipit Intarasombat (with hat), met them on Wednesday.
The blockades resulted in scores of protesters being injured after police tried to clear them from the road.
However, the farmers managed to force the government into talks, even though the negotiations were not fruitful. Weeks have now passed with on-and-off protests and negotiations.
Things seemed to go back to square one last Monday when rubber planters returned to the street and clashed with police.
At this stage, the government insists it cannot guarantee the rubber prices demanded by the farmers. The best offer is a 2,520-baht-per-rai cultivation subsidy to help reduce costs, which guarantees an income of about 90 baht/kg for rubber sheet.
The battle over rubber prices is likely to be drawn-out if the farmers are not completely satisfied. Rubber has been the main cash crop for southern farmers for decades.
A sharp drop in prices _ it once rose to 200 baht/kg _ to below 90 baht/kg is threatening their livelihoods.
But the protest will remain volatile, depending on how the government handles the situation, according to those familiar with the issue.
The government and local authorities seem to see the rubber farmers as politically driven.
''Southern people share a love of the land and they do what they say ... When they feel they are being fooled [by the government], things can go wrong,'' said an observer, pointing to the violent confrontation on Monday which saw police trucks set ablaze and scores of injuries.
According to one observer, some of the protesters, mostly the young ones, are hot-headed. When provoked, they turn violent.
Some reports suggest they have connections with Democrat Party MPs, but these claims have not been verified.
The Democrats have been accused of being behind the rubber protests since the beginning. They are said to be split over the violence associated with the rubber farmers.
Some prefer ''an-eye-for-an-eye'' approach while others believe the farmers will lose if they use violence to fight back at the authorities.
It is reported that Democrat MP Nipit Intarasombat was approached to negotiate with the farmers to persuade them to lift the road blockade, while Deputy Interior Minister Wisarn Techathirawat is expected to hold talks with Democrat members who might be able to help end the rubber subsidy wrangle.
General disorder in army changes
The latest military reshuffle sprang some surprises, including the appointment of 3rd Army deputy commander Maj Gen Prakarn Chonlayuth, the Yala Taskforce chief, as first deputy of the 4th Army supervising the far South.
He is replacing Maj Gen Kitti Intasorn, a home-grown soldier in the insurgency-plagued region.
Maj Gen Kitti has been sitting nervously as the first deputy, hoping to get promoted this time around, or at least in April, as the regional commander.
Traditionally, the 1st deputy commander is given the post of regional commander.
Close aides of some policy makers have been known to be moved to a post for a short period of time to fulfil policies and are then ''rewarded'' with a promotion.
The selection of Maj Gen Prakarn, a close friend and classmate of the army chief's brother, Lt Gen Preecha Chan-ocha, as the 4th Army deputy chief, has dashed Maj Gen Kitti's hopes of getting a shot at the region commander post one day.
As a consolation, Maj Gen Kitti has been made the assistant chief-of-staff and his rank elevated to lieutenant general.
Maj Gen Prakarn could be joining the ranks of the army's rising stars in the wake of Lt Gen Preecha's appointment as 3rd Army commander in March.
Sources said army chief Gen Prayuth may not wish to see alumni of the Armed Forces Preparatory Academies School Class 14, of which Maj Gen Kitti is a member, head too many important posts for the sake of balance of power.
Several class members have already been assigned key posts in the latest reshuffle.
They include newly appointed 1st Army commander Lt Gen Teerachai Nakwanich, the new 2nd Army commander Lt Gen Charnchai Poothong, and the new Navy chief Narong Pipattanasai.
Among the well-known faces belonging to Class 14 are Lt Gen Paradorn Pattanatabut, the secretary-general of the National Security Council and chief delegate of the peace talks with Barisan Revolusi Nasional, and new defence permanent secretary Gen Nipat Thonglek .
However, Class 15 members are also strong contenders for top posts in the military.
Maj Gen Walit Rojanapakdi, who missed a promotion as the 1st Army commander this time round, could be a candidate for the post of 4th Army commander in the next reshuffle in April.
Both Maj Gen Prakarn and Maj Gen Walit are Class 15 members.
The source said the reason Maj Gen Kitti missed key promotions was not because he is incapable or inexperienced, or that Maj Gen Prakarn was completely flawless in terms of character.
Those in the know feel that promotions may not always be based on merit but on connections and familiarity with those in high office.
Maj Gen Prakarn was believed to be a perfect candidate, as he had already spent two years in the strife-torn deep South.
Maj Gen Prakarn was awarded the distinguished Rama Honour Medal for his combat history in Nan against communist insurgents.
But people familiar with the southern problems feel the military is not the only agency contributing to the restoration of peace, progress and stability in the predominantly Muslim southern border region.
Agencies such as the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre and branches of all the ministries and also the police were no less important for the task.
Their coordination and collective approaches need improving to turn the wheel of peace forward.
Graft-buster calls it a day
At his birthday party last week, Klanarong Chanthik reflected on the trials and tribulations of his time as a commissioner of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).
Arranged for him by the NACC at its head office, the party celebrated his 70th birthday as well as providing a farewell for the retiring commissioner.
A song about a namesake, composed especially for him, was sung on stage after which he played an accordion for the staff.
Klanarong: Took on Thaksin
The highlight of the party was his speech about his experiences as an NACC commissioner. It was preceded with a captivating remark: ''I love this organisation.''
He is no stranger to the NACC. After leaving his post as secretary-general of the commission in 2003, he was elected a senator for Bangkok.
However, his ties to the NACC were never severed. In fact, he returned to the commission and was made a member once again.
During his years at the NACC, he survived a shooting attack which left him in hospital.
Mr Klanarong remembered one particularly stressful incident in his time at the NACC _ having to seek the prosecution of then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in an asset concealment case before the Constitution Court in 2001.
It was the first time the NACC had confronted Thaksin in the Constitution Court. Both sides were given 20 minutes to present their closing statements.
At that time, it was not an easy or enviable job to try and prosecute a person with many supporters behind him.
In a van heading to the court, Mr Klanarong said he learnt that about 10,000 Thaksin supporters had turned up outside the building.
The bad news was that most of them did not understand that the NACC was only doing its job.
In the van, an eerie silence descended.
Mr Klanarong admitted he felt discouraged and even apprehensive about going to trial that day.
Breaking the uneasy calm, Mr Klanarong started humming ''Mon Du Dao'', a song he learnt to sing when he was a student at Thammasat University.
By the time he finished humming the university's soul-stirring song, he had regained his confidence and was ready to deliver the final statement no matter what lay ahead.
As soon as the van pulled over at the court building and the door slid open, the commissioner and the other NACC officials were escorted directly inside to avoid Thaksin supporters who were scrambling to reach them.
Going into the court was difficult, but Mr Klanarong thought getting back out after the trial would be even more daunting.
Police there told him he should wait until Thaksin had left.
But the supporters were still milling about even after Thaksin had gone home. Mr Klanarong and his team were forced to leave the court through the back door.
Mr Klanarong recalled the time he served as an assistant to former prime minister MR Seni Pramoj. He said he learned a lot from the late premier from whom he acquired his working mottoes.
''Listen to your subordinates' reasons no matter how much younger they are than you and never discourage them by openly expressing your pains before them,'' Klanarong said of one of the mottos he has lived by.
He ended his birthday speech by reading a poem he composed that helped him rebuild his strength when it was at its lowest ebb.