BANGKOK, 22 September 2013 Pheu Thai Deputy Spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard has assured the public of the government’s intention and sincerity to assist rubber farmers.
Deputy Spokesman Anusorn said the government wants to help the rubber farmers cope with the dropping prices of para rubber, adding that there has been a group of people trying to aggravate the situation by cooperating with the middlemen and hoarding the para rubber for speculation. The amount that is being hoarded, according to Mr. Anusorn, is as high as 27,000 tons.
The deputy spokesman said the police are now looking for this group of people as he thinks it is the same group that was found guilty of rubber fraud and arson earlier.
According to the governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat where protests have been most intense, more than 80,000 rubber farmers have already registered for government assistance, adding that all 120,000 farmers in the province will register for assistance before September 27th.
Meanwhile, Democrat spokesman Chawanon Intarakomalyasu said the Opposition Party is not the one supporting the rubber protests, while urging the government to stop telling the public that the protests are politically motivated.
