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Reuters

Thailand's government said yesterday that it had reached a deal with most rubber farmers in the country's south demanding greater state support for prices, signalling a breakthrough in a two-week protest.
"Most protest leaders agree to our pledge to help push prices up to 90 baht per kilogram, but there is a small minority who do not see eye to eye," said Thawat Boonfueng, deputy secretary general to the prime minister.
The government has asked for 10 days to come up with measures to help support rubber prices, but said it would not intervene directly in market prices. Protest leaders had earlier demanded 100 baht (HK$24) per kilogram.
Protesters in Cha-uat district of Nakorn Si Thammarat province, one of the main protest sites, began to disperse after the deal between their leaders and the government.
Others said they would not accept anything less than 100 baht per kilogram.
"We are giving the government one week to rethink their offer. If they don't meet our demands, we will march on city hall," said Amnuay Yititham, a protest leader.
The populist government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra faced pressure yesterday to end the demonstration after violent overnight clashes between riot police and a group of protesters who hurled rocks and bottles filled with an acidic liquid.
Police fired tear gas to disperse a group of protesters in Prachuab Khiri Khan province on a main road from Bangkok to the southern beach resort region of Phuket. At least 21 policemen were injured, authorities said. By mid-morning yesterday, protesters had dispersed.
"Acid and rocks were thrown at police, leaving one officer with a serious injury. Orders were issued to use teargas after a group of youths, who were not part of the protest, fired at police," Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnog said. "The situation this morning is calm."
Thailand is the world's biggest rubber producer and exporter with around 90 per cent of its output heading overseas. Protests have disrupted distribution and delayed thousands of tonnes of Thai rubber shipments.
Tens of thousands of farmers in the main southern rubber-producing region are demanding greater state support after a slowdown in demand from China.


Thailand strikes deal with Thai rubber farmers

Rubber farmers confront and scuffle with riot police on a highway in Prachuab Khiri Khan province, southern Thailand. Photo: AP

Thailand under pressure to end rubber protest after violence

Thai rubber farmers burn a coffin during a protest in Nakorn Si Thammarat province, southern Thailand. Photo: AP

Thai rubber farmers step up protest against plunging prices

A rubber farmer gives a greeting to Thai riot police. Photo: AFP

Thai riot police officers form a line on a highway as rubber farmers block on the other end during a protest in Surat Thani province in southern Thailand. Photo: AP

Thai rubber farmer protesters shouting slogan beside buses they used to block a main highway during a rally calling for the government to increase rubber prices at Surat Thani province, southern Thailand. Photo: EPA

News

Asia

Thailand's government said that it had reached a deal with most rubber farmers in the country's south demanding greater state support for prices, signalling a breakthrough in a two-week protest.
