cavanami Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 Looks like another job for Suthep...time for him to come out from hiding under that rock... http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-24/fearless-farmers-bring-fight-to-test-thai-junta-southeast-asia.html Thai junta leader Prayuth Chan-Ocha is bracing for the country’s biggest public protests since a coup four months ago, as farmers frustrated by falling prices threaten to take to the streets in defiance of martial law. Prayuth, the 60-year-old army chief who also took the post of prime minister, told farmers last week that they may have to sell their rubber “on Mars†amid a global glut and urged them not to stage protests or demand hand outs from the government. He has pledged to quicken state spending, promote investment and create jobs to spur economic growth. “We have suffered with falling prices and lower income for so many years without much help,†Perk Lertwangpong, head of the Rubber Holders Cooperatives Federation of Thailand, said by phone from Chanthaburi province, 245 kilometers (152 miles) southeast of Bangkok. “With prices at this level, we aren’t afraid of martial law. We’ll gather to fight.†Prayuth’s refusal to support prices risks angering the thousands of farmers who played a pivotal role in toppling the government of Yingluck Shinawatra when they left their farms in the nation’s southern provinces late last year to join protests in Bangkok. More than 10,000 rubber farmers may attempt to cut export supply by shutting down processing plants, after prices fell to the lowest level since 2008, Perk said. “They indirectly paved the way for the military to take over,†said Ambika Ahuja, a London-based analyst at Eurasia Group. “Now, they feel they did not get any share of power or even an ability to negotiate with the current regime.†Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 With a "global glut", what do they expect the government to do? Unlike the rice purchase fiasco, this wasn't caused by Thai politicians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted September 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 If the gov can buy out the rice, the gov can buy out the rubber...tit for tat Remember, 2013/2014, the year(s) of the protests... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunsanuk Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 Hi, Direct result of the government providing handouts. Now people see it as a right. Sanuk! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 When Pheu Thai was still running the show, the rubber farmers were already demanding a guaranteed price like the rice farmers. PT wouldn't do it, since the rubber farmers are mainly in the south - in Democrat-voting areas. The chickens are still coming home, thanks to Thaksin's bright ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaiRai Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 Suthep has no interest in these people anymore, nor will they have the tacit approval of the Bangkok power brokers and the ARMY - they'll have a much tougher time of everything. Though it will begin to illuminate not all is as it is portrayed in the 'happiness' regime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coss Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 Direct result of the government providing handouts. Now people see it as a right. Sense of entitlement, not exclusive to LOS, but that sums up the Thai mentality in toto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
passingthru69 Posted September 26, 2014 Report Share Posted September 26, 2014 We have that here in the States. Too many people thinking they are entitled to goverment hand outs.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YimSiam Posted September 27, 2014 Report Share Posted September 27, 2014 They show up on the streets, they'll get shot by the boys in green or strung up by this century's right-wing militias - the regime is not new to this game and these circumstances, Thammasat '76 seems like ancient history to some but recent memories to others. However, my guess is they won't make it as far as the streets in Bangkok, once their leaders get the message that it's shut up, or wake up dead one of these mornings...One of the benefits of having a dictator obsessed with deck chairs, bikinis, and soap operas is that when any real issue comes up, everyone is so freaked out by his irrationality and lack of coherence that they worry he'll be as mad on their issue, too... Nixon's 'mad man' strategy with Kissinger and the Chinese: 'that guy is so nuts, I can't even guess what he'll do next! don't set him off!' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 Thammasat '76 is not ancient history to me, nor is Thammasat '73. I was here for both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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