DPMs to find solutions to rubber-related problems

BANGKOK, September 17 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra says that she has ordered Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong and Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Yukol Limlaemthong to work out solutions to rubber-related problems. Yingluck told journalists on Tuesday afternoon, after the Cabinet's weekly meeting, that the solutions, once worked out, are expected to cushion impacts from the ongoing rubber-related problems on the Thai economy and to boost demand for Thai natural rubber. Yingluck insisted that her government is trying to solve problems of local rubber farmers and if there was not any hidden agenda, the government could solve the problems effectively. The prime minister confirmed that her government has had no plan to impose the tough Internal Security Act (ISA) to handle protesting rubber growers in the Thai South, but has only enforced the Disaster Prevention Act and normal laws, which are considered enough to put the protesting situation under control. However, the prime minister said, the situation will be evaluated at times, expressing her hope that the ongoing protest will end as soon as possible without violence. After the Cabinet's meeting, National Police Chief Police General Adul Saengsingkaew has traveled to the southern rubber farmers' protesting site in Nakhon Si Thammarat province to inspect the situation and losses, following a clash between local rubber growers and police on Monday afternoon, resulting in dozens of injuries in both sides, with, according to updated reports, some of them suffering serious injuries. Meanwhile, Government Spokesman Teerat Ratanasevi quoted Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Pureesrisak as informing the Cabinet that the persistent protest of southern rubber growers has caused damage to the domestic tourism worth about 500 million baht so far. (TNA)