NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, Sept 6 – The latest round of talks on rubber price between the government, led by Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnok, and farmers in this southern province reached a deadlock again today.
Negotiations were held at the Twin Lotus Hotel from 10.30am to 4pm. The government offered to guarantee the rubber price at Bt90/kg but farmers wanted Bt95-100/kg. The government had agreed to increase from an earlier proposed price of Bt80/kg.
Chanachai Plengsiriwat, Rubber Estate Organisation managing director, said the subsidy to Bt90/kg would cost the government Bt16 billion while the earlier resolution to grant financial assistance to farmers at Bt1,260/rai for the maximum of 25 rai per household would remain unchanged.
Deputy Prime Minister Pracha stood firm that the authorities were not instructed to disperse protesters who blocked roads in the South but said the clash last night was unexpected.
More than 20 policemen and protesters were injured in the violence, he said.
Rubber planters in several southern provinces agreed that the guaranteed rubber price should be Bt95/kg and the government should pay the subsidy from September 1 to March 31.
They also called on the government to look into the plight of those injured in yesterday’s clash.
The government representatives called off the meeting without a decision on the farmers’ demand for Bt95/kg for rubber.
