Thai rubber farmers accept government deal, call off next protest

ERJ staff report (BC)

Bangkok, Thailand – A network of Thai rubber farmers said on 10 September that it had accepted a government subsidy offer aimed at ending recent mass protests that erupted into violence last week, reports the Straits Times from an Agence France Press source.

Thailand is the world's top exporter of natural rubber and anger among the kingdom's rubber farmers over their falling incomes had posed a growing challenge to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's two-year-old government.

Deputy government spokesman Sunisa Lertpakawat said the cabinet on Tuesday approved a budget of 21.25 billion baht (€504m) to subsidise rubber farmers.

"Today's decision comes ahead of a mass rally by rubber farmers (this weekend) which could severely affect the economy," Sunisa is reported to have told a news conference.

This is an external link and should open in a new window. If the window does not appear, please check your pop-up blocking software. ERJ is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Full story from Straits Times