Farmers refuse to lift road blockade Protesting farmers continue to block the South-bound highway to protest against the government’s delayed rice payments despite police request that they open just one lane to ease traffic gridlock. Pol Captain Prachak Thetthong, deputy inspector of highway police in Wang Manao, Ratchaburi’s Pak Tho district, met today with representatives of the protesters for discussion on his plea for the protesting farms to open one lane of the highway to be open to traffic so that most of the cars and trucks will not be diverted to detour route through Ban Wang Manao. He reasoned that the detour route is narrow and will soon be damaged as it cannot stand the unusually heavy traffic. Also, the heavy traffic may damage a 200-year old church in the village and is causing pollution problem to the villagers who have been living peacefully and quietly, he added. However, the farmers have refused to budge claiming that there are several detour routes that the police should have directed the traffic to instead of just the route through Ban Wang Manao. More tents have been pitched on the highway at Wang Manao intersection by the farmers and kitchens have been set up to provide food to the protesters for a long-haul protest. Used typres were also laid on the highway to strengthen the road blockade. The protesters have vowed to carry on the road blockade until they get their payments from the government.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 09:44:58 +0000
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