BANGKOK, Sept 18 – Deputy Interior Minister Visarn Techatirawat confirmed today that the opposition Democrat Party was not involved in protests by rubber farmers in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat.
The protests erupted into violence on Monday when more than 70 police were injured and about 10 police vehicles damaged by fire.
Mr Visarn said the situation at Cha-uat district – the site of the demonstration and clashes between protesters and police – has improved with assistance from Democrat MPs in the province, Nakhon Si Thammarat incumbent and former governors.
He said he was given useful recommendations during talks with Democrat MPs on the phone yesterday and would personally meet them for further discussion.
Mr Visarn expressed concern that instigators—particularly a community radio station known as Thakam Radio–would encourage the protesters to renew their rally.
“Please refrain from stimulating or instigating the farmers to protest. Do not distort the government’s policy which may lead to unrest,” said the deputy interior minister.
Thawat Boonfueng, deputy secretary general to the prime minister, said Tuesday that politicians were involved in the protests by rubber farmers in the South.
Mr Visarn said he asked Pol Maj Gen Thawat about the remark and was told that he pinpointed provincial politicians, not Democrat MPs.
He said the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act, enforced by order of the Nakhon Si Thammarat governor, bans protesters from entering the demonstration site between 5pm and 5am.
The provincial administration has set up a special centre for rubber farmers to file their applications for financial assistance from the government.
The Cabinet decided to allot each rubber farmer household Bt2,520 per rai of plantation to a maximum of 25 rai (10 acres).
Some farmers disagreed with the assistance and demanded that the government pledge rubber prices at no less than Bt95 per kg.
