Thai deputy interior minister to meet southern rubber growers

BANGKOK, September 18 (TNA) - Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan has announced that he is sending his deputy, Wisarn Techathirawat, to negotiate with protesting rubber farmers in the Thai South. Charupong told journalists on Wednesday that he hopes Wisarn, as an elected MP from the Thai South for more than five times, can work out a compromise. Charupong acknowledged that the Thai government has extended its deadline for the enforcement of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, the rallying area, for another 12 hours, from noon on September 18, to handle the protesting rubber farmers as the government intends to respond softly to the demonstrators. Charupong said some parties were reportedly building up their rubber stocks and he is sending officials to, thus, inspect the situation and to stop such the speculative attempt, vowing as well to take action against those found to have been behind the persistent rubber growers' protest. Meanwhile, Nakhon Si Thammrat Governor Wiroj Jiwarangsan told reporters that he has ordered his subordinates to adhere to law enforcement and strict searches to restore order and appointed nine negotiators to talk with leaders of the protesting rubber farmers, resulting in the improving situation, as the talks have created understanding among the protesters. In nearby Songkhla province, Kajbundit Ruammak, who represents local rubber and oil palm planters, noted that they were satisfied with the government's recent resolution to subsidize rubber cultivation at 2,520 baht per rai of rubber plantation and local rubber farmers were registering for the official assistance, cautioning, however, that leaders of the local rubber farmers would discuss their next movements unless the government's subsidy reached them by October 15, 2013. (TNA)