Rubber growers in Thai South urged to stop street protest

BANGKOK, August 31 (TNA) - The Thai government has urged natural rubber growers in the Thai South to end their demonstration pending the Cabinet's discussion on ways to assist them at its next weekly meeting on September 3, 2013. Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Yuko lLimlaemthong made the call on Saturday (Aug 31) morning during the weekly TV and radio programme of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, pointing out that rubber growers in the Thai North, Northeast and East have already accepted the government’s proposed subsidy of rubber prices and called off their plan to join mass rallies nationwide, set on September 3. Only the southern rubber growers have kept their protest for the ninth day by blocking part of the Highway No. 41 in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, making it difficult for travelers heading for farther southern Thai provinces or those travelling to Bangkok. The rallying southern rubber farmers have also blocked a railway in the area by parking a heavy truck. (TNA)