BMTA bus crews end protest

About 3,000 bus drivers and fare collectors of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) who rallied at Government House on Tuesday morning dispersed peacefully after getting confirmation there will be no privatisation of the BMTA.

The rally was in protest against the recommendation by the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) that concessions on 155 routes be offered to private bus operators to cut the BMTA’s operating losses. The workers felt that allowing somany concessions  was an effort to privatise the state-owned BMTA.

Soon after the protest started, Deputy Transport Minister Prachak Klaewklaharn had held talks with leaders of the demonstrators and signed an agreement confirming that there would be no privatisation of the BMTA and no granting of concessions on the 155 routes.

Mr Prachak promised the BMTA workers that he will pass on their demand to the cabinet meeting today. He said he personally disagrees with the proposal by the NESDB.

The confirmation made BMTA workers happy and returned to their respective stations to start providing public bus services as usual.

The workers said they would temporary halt the protest to wait for the cabinet resolution on the issue. They threatened that the government will face a mass protest if the cabinet does not  agree gos ahed with the proposal.