RATCHABURI - Around 300 farmers ended their Rama II Road blockade on Friday after officials promised to settle late rice-pledging scheme payments by the end of this month.
Around 300 farmers ended their Rama II Road blockade in Ratchaburi province on Friday after officials promised to pay them the money they are owed under the rice-pledging scheme by the end of this month. (Photo by Sunant Ochakachorn)
The angry farmers had blocked the inbound section of the road in Ratchaburi province's Pak Tho district because they are yet to receive payments for rice sold to government under its subsidy scheme.
They ended their rally after talks with deputy provincial governor Narong Krongchon and district chief Pairat Chanpholhom, but protest leader Somsak Tamningam promised the group would return to Wang Manao intersection on Jan 31 and block both directions of the road if they do not receive the money by the end of the month as promised.
The farmers criticised the caretaker government for trying to win the election while ignoring their problems.
Their protest caused a traffic jam for five kilometres on the inbound road from southern provinces to Bangkok.
Video by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd