‘Anarchy’ in Thailand as rubber protests continue
Thai police have said that the protests of rubber farmers in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat – and meanwhile also oil palm growers – have turned “ugly, out of control and have led the area sliding into anarchy”.
Protests continued on September 16 when police and protesters clashed, leaving about 70 police officers injured and a number of farmers injured and about 10 police vehicles set alight in the scuffle, as well as vehicles of news companies. Two protesterswere shot in their legs. It was not clear who fired the shots.
Angry farmers reportedly used the damaged vehicles to again block Highway 41, the main road connecting the central and southern regions. About 300 police officers, mostly from riot control units, managed to clear the protesters and their blockades – which included branches, concrete pipes, tents, tables and chairs – but they resumed the blockade later.
The protesters had set up roadblocks since last Saturday to demand the government raise its price guarantee for unsmoked rubber sheet to 100 baht per kilogramme and introduce a 6 baht/kg price guarantee for oil palm nuts.
Police has ordered a curfew to quell the violence and is considering the enactment of the Internal Security Act and the Emergency Decree.
Thai police have said that the protests of rubber farmers in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat - and meanwhile also oil palm growers - have turned "ugly, out of control and have led the area sliding into anarchy". Protests continued on September 16 when police and protesters clashed, leaving about 70 police officers injured and a number of farmers injured and about 10 police vehicles set alight in the scuffle, as well as vehicles of news companies. Two protesterswere shot in their legs. It was not clear who fired the shots. Angry farmers reportedly used the damaged vehicles...
Thai police have said that the protests of rubber farmers in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat – and meanwhile also oil palm growers – have turned “ugly, out of control and have led the area sliding into anarchy”.
Protests continued on September 16 when police and protesters clashed, leaving about 70 police officers injured and a number of farmers injured and about 10 police vehicles set alight in the scuffle, as well as vehicles of news companies. Two protesterswere shot in their legs. It was not clear who fired the shots.
Angry farmers reportedly used the damaged vehicles to again block Highway 41, the main road connecting the central and southern regions. About 300 police officers, mostly from riot control units, managed to clear the protesters and their blockades – which included branches, concrete pipes, tents, tables and chairs – but they resumed the blockade later.
The protesters had set up roadblocks since last Saturday to demand the government raise its price guarantee for unsmoked rubber sheet to 100 baht per kilogramme and introduce a 6 baht/kg price guarantee for oil palm nuts.
Police has ordered a curfew to quell the violence and is considering the enactment of the Internal Security Act and the Emergency Decree.
