THAILAND: Eight ministries ordered to buy rubber
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed eight ministries to help buy rubber from farmers, amid rally threat.
According to Government Spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd, the ministries - Transport, Interior, Education, Public Health, Defense, Industry, Commerce and Agriculture - were told to come up with ideas how much they can help. The proposals are to be submitted to the government secretariat.
The prime minister urges the ministries to use their own budgets in buying the rubber, Sansern said. Rubber farmers are threatening to stage a rally, calling for the government’s help as rubber prices fall below Bt40 per kg. Sansern urged all to avoid pressuring the government, saying that pressure could not help ease the problem.
Source: Daily “The Nation”, Bangkok; 10 Jan 2016
(Syed Rashid Ali, Karachi, Pakistan)