Soaring cost of living sparking protests across Thailand

[buksida]

Tens of thousands of heavy trucks are threatening to cause havoc in the Thai capital while fishermen have begun burning their boats in nationwide protests against soaring prices of fuel and other essentials, protesters said Thursday.

The government has until next Tuesday to subsidize fuel for truckers or face at least 100,000 vehicles rumbling into already traffic-clogged Bangkok, said Thongyoo Khongkhan, secretary-general of the Land Transport Federation of Thailand.

Also protesting or planning to stage demonstrations in this still heavily agricultural nation were garlic, cabbage and rice farmers, along with fishermen.

A government spokesman said money has been allocated to subsidize some costs of the farmers, fishermen and transport workers.

"The government is trying its best to reduce the immediate problem of the various groups of protesters," said Natawut Saikau.

"The ongoing protests are not affecting the stability of the government but merely affecting the feelings of the people," he said.

Prices for some commodities, such as rice, have risen because of greater worldwide demand, but farmers complain that these have been offset by skyrocketing inflation spurred by soaring fuel prices.

Thongyoo said a half-day strike Wednesday by truckers who parked their vehicles on highways across the country was only a prelude to next week's possible push into Bangkok.

"Yesterday we merely showed our power by parking the trucks on the roads, but if the government fails to meet our demand, the federation has decided to make June 17 D-day when we will bring at least 100,000 trucks into Bangkok," Thongyoo told The Associated Press.

The federation demands that the government sell diesel to them for 3 baht (9 U.S. cents) less than the market price per liter and allocate funds to the federation to convert truck engines from diesel to cheaper natural gas.

Finance Minister Suraphong Suebwonglee brushed aside the threat from truckers, saying authorities were working on a plan that would help reduce costs in the transport sector.

"I am not concerned about the truckers threat to strike because the government is seeking to subsidize the transport sectors as the whole," Suraphong said without elaborating.

The president of the Fishing Federation of Thailand Mana Sripitak, meanwhile, said that more than half of the 50,000 fishing boats under its wing are being kept ashore because of the high cost of diesel.

Some fishermen have burned their boats in protest, he said, as the federation negotiated with the government for subsidies.

Farmers have in recent days staged protests in Bangkok asking the government to relieve their debts while rice and garlic farmers in northern Thailand have demonstrated against the high cost of living and the low prices for their crops.

Adding to the government's woes is a threat by major labor unions to join up with pro-democracy demonstrations that have been occurring daily in Bangkok in recent weeks.

Source: IHT

Thought: Wasn't it the rural "majority" that voted for this government? Reaping what they sewed now it seems.

[kendo]

This is only going to get far worse, things are looking grim in the economy here in the U.K and people are feeling the pinch, but when you get countries that cant afford to eat there staple diets i.e rice, they are really in trouble.

[Sabai Jai]

Demonstrations and protest about the rising cost of fuel for road, sea and air transport together with the subsequent knock-on effect on food and many other consumer goods are gathering pace in many countries.

Prices rises here in Blighty are scary - 30% on your weekly supermarket bill, the hard up really suffering. Add the credit squeeze and property market into the equasion and the result is not atractive.

What can you do about fuel prices? We've know for donkey's years it's going to run out but this has been largely ignored. Most OPEC members are apparently lying about the quantity of their reserves and unlikely to increase production significantly. China and India are increasing consuption at expoential levels and Bio-fuel has been largely a mess by destroying forest reserve to produce palm oil and diverting recources from food prodution.

There are no short term fixes here - time to get yer solar panels and windmills installed

SJ

[STEVE G]

I really can't see what these protests are going to achieve as no government can afford to subsidise fuel at these prices without destroying the whole economy. At least people in rural areas can increase their income from higher commodity prices; those in the cities could really suffer.

[Terry]

Just as an indicator

We buy alot of bread waste from bakeries which we use to make groundbait - this has risen by 20% in the last six months.

Another ingrediant, 'Lum' - Rice Flour - a staple, has risen from approx THB380 for a 100kg sack to THB540 in the last six months.

Add the increased cost of fuel to go and get it and my fish are getting expensive to feed

[sandman67]

I read in the Post today that some "civil service" union is voting on Tuesday as to whether to join the PAD protesters in BKK in protest at the governments lack of action in respect of cost of living rises....all 200,000 of them. There are rumbles from some of the road unions in a similar vein.

That should make the protest site quite a sight to see....

also make me think it wont be long before Mr S joins Mr T !

[Spitfire]

Good points above.

Everyone better get used to it, prices are up and will continue to go up. The days of 25 baht a liter of petrol (which were only at the end of last year) are gone for good.

The price of diesel here goes up almost everyday, think it's about 41.71 at the time of this post.

The problem with the rice is that it's the millers and the government that make the cash, not the farmers. The farmers have only seen their costs rise.

The other problem that is waiting in the wings is that the baht is over-valued at the moment. When it swings to what it's really worth, whenever that is, it will only compound the problems.

Generally it will be OK for most of us, but the average Thai is in for some tough times in the not so distant future.

[Guess]

More happenings today. Any change is good IMHO.

The Chart party is seriously considering disolving the coalition. If they do the other minor parties will follw leaving another General election the only option.

Additionally the ASTV 24 hour televised showing of the BKK People for Democray rally has been cut off in most Provinces ioncluding all of Isan and all of BKK (where the PM's support comes from).

Sheer deperation I think.