Rubber farmer shot dead at railway blockade

A group of armed men attacked rubber farmers at the blockade of the railway in Cha-uat (Nakhon Si Thammarat) on Saturday night.

A 29-year-old protester died in hospital from his injuries, a second was injured. The rubber farmers have given the government an ultimatum: send representatives by 11 a.m. this morning at the latest for consultation or 'face the consequences'.

The shooting incident fuels fears that the protest will intensify and lead to further violence. Critics of the government are calling for her to become more involved in solving the problem.

“The government has slammed the door on the protesters. She is irresponsible and weak because she reacts too slowly," said Rong Boonsuayfan of Walailak University in Nakhon Si Thammarat. The farmers threaten to rally tomorrow if their demands are not met.

Nakhon Si Thammarat police have two theories about the shooting. Quarrels broke out between the demonstrators or residents who were duped by the blockade shot at the farmers. The national police have offered a reward of 100.000 baht and the province 50.000 baht for information leading to the arrest of the gunmen.

In Surat Thani, the association of kamnans and village chiefs yesterday expressed support for the rally of rubber farmers in Phunphin district, scheduled for tomorrow. The governor of Surat Thani has scheduled a meeting for today with nineteen district heads to prepare for the rally.

The farmers in the South demand a guaranteed price for 'unsmoked sheet rubber' of 120 baht per kilo and 7 baht for a kilo of palm kernels. The current price is around 70 baht. The farmers in the North and Northeast have suspended their announced blockades. Most agree with the government's offer of a subsidy of 1.260 baht per rai.

(Source: Bangkok Post, Sept. 2, 2013)

Photos: Police are investigating the place where rubber farmers were shot at on Saturday night.