Rubber growers to protest at Thai PM's residence

BANGKOK, January 10 (TNA) - Rubber growers from all across Thailand plan to stage a mass rally in front of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's residence in Bangkok from January 10 onwards to pressure the government to quickly resolve falling natural rubber prices. According to southern rubber network coordinator Chayan Sangkapaitoon, groups of rubber farmers from all Thai regions, the South, the North, the Northeast and the East, are travelling from their hometowns to join the mass rally in front of Premier's Yingluck mansion to show their protest over the government's alleged mishandling of rubber issues. The southern rubber network coordinator said that natural rubber prices have plunged from over 100 baht per kilogram to some 80 baht per kilogram currently, claiming that the problem was reported to the government three months ago but it has not yet been responded. The rubber growers will also reportedly protest the government for signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to sell 480,000 tonnes of locally-grown natural rubber to a trading partner at only 105 baht per kilogram, which has capped Thailand's rubber prices to a disadvantageous level, as local rubber farmers have also been affected by lower rubber produce due to impacts from repeated floods. (TNA)