TAK - Sugarcane growers blocked the Asian Highway linking Mae Sot to Muang Tak district on Monday evening to protest against the government delaying the payment of increased compensation for their crops as promised since last year.
On Sept 11 last year, the cabinet resolved to guarantee the sugarcane price for ethanol production in cadmium-contaminated land in Mae Sot district by increasing the price from 950 to 1,150 baht per tonne.
About 200 sugarcane growers from Mae Sot district completely blocked the road with 30 10-wheel trucks, causing a traffic jam that stretched four to five kilometres. They set up a stage for the protest and delivered speeches attacking the government as irresponsible about keeping its promise and for disregarding them.
They pledged to continue to block the road unless the government gave them a satisfactory answer.
The group earlier rallied outside Somdet Phra Naresuan Maharat in Mae Sot municipality and moved to block the road after they did not receive a response from authorities.
Officials are reportedly talking to the protesters.