Rice farmers block route to South

[Bristolian]

Rice farmers block route to South
Published: 24/01/2014 at 11:20 AM
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... rn-highway

RATCHABURI - A group of rice farmers blocked the Wang Manao intersection on Friday morning, demanding overdue payments from the government for their rice pledged under its controversial scheme, reports said.

The Wang Manao intersection serves as a gateway to Thailand's southern provinces.

Police put up road signs near the protest site telling motorists to take alternate routes to Petchaburi and the southern region.

Farmers in several provinces have protested and blocked roads after the caretaker government failed to keep its promise to pay money owed to them under the scheme by Jan 15.

If I am not mistaken this is the intersection after Samut Songkran when travelling south the road splits to either Ratchaburi or Petchaburi. this may cause chaos for commuters between BKK & HH today. Can anyone confirm

[Terry]

Yes it is..........

I will take the coast road tonight instead

[Bristolian]

Yes it is..........

I will take the coast road tonight instead

Is that the 4012 after Samut Songkran and the PTT station?

I will also travel down today and directions would be useful

[Nereus]

Yes it is..........

I will take the coast road tonight instead

Where do you turn on to that road please, Terry?

posts crossed there

[parbeau]

I follow this thread with interest since we´re planning to come down to Hua Hin from Phetchabun on Monday 27th. Hope for as much detailed info as possible.....

[PET]

Yes it is..........

I will take the coast road tonight instead

Is that the 4012 after Samut Songkran and the PTT station?

I will also travel down today and directions would be useful

I am also interested and yes there is a road just after the PTT station but it appears to peter out and no easy way back onto the highway?

[PeteC]

Here is a post from Terry from December. Pete

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=25461&p=327031&hili ... ad#p327031

[Bristolian]

Here is a post from Terry from December. Pete

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=25461&p=327031&hili ... ad#p327031

Thanks Pete. JIT as I am about to leave now.

[Nereus]

Rice farmers end Ratchaburi blockade

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... d-blockade

RATCHABURI - Around 300 farmers ended their Rama II Road blockade on Friday after officials promised to settle late rice-pledging scheme payments by the end of this month.

The angry farmers had blocked the inbound section of the road in Ratchaburi province's Pak Tho district because they are yet to receive payments for rice sold to government under its subsidy scheme.

They ended their rally after talks with deputy provincial governor Narong Krongchon and district chief Pairat Chanpholhom, but protest leader Somsak Tamningam promised the group would return to Wang Manao intersection on Jan 31 and block both directions of the road if they do not receive the money by the end of the month as promised.

The farmers criticised the caretaker government for trying to win the election while ignoring their problems.

Their protest caused a traffic jam for five kilometres on the inbound road from southern provinces to Bangkok.

[PeteC]

Bristolian's taking the scenic route as he left BKK about an hour before the story was published, Oh well....at least he'll become familiar with an alternative route now. I would think Terry is going that way as well. Pete

[Bristolian]

No Problem. I didn't bother with the scenic route as there was no tailback I'll have to try the scenic route another time. Traffic was heavy today though, much heavier than normal.

[Nereus]

Strange logic with some of this "protest". Why did they block the "inbound" side of the road when last week they had their own supporters from the south using it to get to Bangkok?

[Terry]

Yep - took the 'coastal' route and no problem at all

Thanks for reposting the directions Pete

[fft100]

Appears the blockade at Wang Manao has restarted. Does anyone know if it is just North to South affected, or is South to North also blocked. (question answered by second link below). How bad is the delay going up the 4 to Ratchaburi (i.e. *not* 35 to BKK). Is there a good way round - the coast road is the wrong direction !

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... -shipments

http://thaifinancialpost.com/2014/02/04 ... atchaburi/

[buksida]

Updates on getting around are being posted here: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=25631