ENRAGED sugarcane farmers staged a protest at the Industry Ministry today (June 26) demanding the dismissal of the permanent secretary amid claims of regulations being rigged to seize control of the Sugarcane and Sugar Board and being badly treated, Amarin TV said this afternoon.
Industry Minister Varawut Silpa-archa received their petition and forwarded it directly to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
The protesters are from a network of sugarcane organisations nationwide led by Mr. Kamthorn Kittichotisap, president of the Sugarcane Farmers Association Zone 7; who was accompanied by Mr. Pramot Pairakul, president of the Federation of Sugarcane Farmers of Thailand; Mr. Boonlue Diprasit, president of the United Sugarcane Farmers Associations of Thailand; Mr. Montri Kamphol, president of the Sugarcane Farmers Federation of Thailand; and Mr. Sittiboon Rachatasuviroj, president of the Northeastern Sugarcane Farmers Institute.
In their petition they stated that they oppose amendment to regulations concerning the nomination and removal of sugarcane farmers and sugar factory representatives.
They also demanded the Sugarcane and Sugar Board chairman be changed as his past actions constituted interference in the rights of sugarcane farmers’ representatives and contradicted the spirit of the Sugarcane and Sugar Act B.E. 2627 (1984).
They also brandished placards demanding the dismissal of the Industry permanent secretary.
Kamthorn said the root of the conflict was the administration’s attempts to control the selection process of sugarcane farmers’ representatives through amendment of regulations on nomination and removal of the members. He viewed this as increasing the government’s authority to interfere in the selection of farmer representatives, despite the law stipulating that this is a direct right of sugarcane farmers’ organisations.
Moreover the appointment of a new Sugarcane and Sugar Committee has been delayed for over two years and this along with the attempt to amend regulations is believed to be a violation of the Sugarcane and Sugar Act and infringes upon the independence of their organisations.
Kamthorn also mentioned that the chairman of the Sugarcane and Sugar Committee had behaved inappropriately during meetings including inappropriate seating arrangements.
“Meetings were allowed to be spaced out for months before finally convening for 6-7 hours and stacked with numerous agenda items which prevented farmer representatives from thoroughly considering all the details,” he said.
The permanent secretary also did not trust sugarcane farmers having imposed a condition for financial assistance requiring them to provide a document signed by factory owners proving that sugarcane was not burned after harvesting, Kamthorn said.
Additionally, the 120 baht per ton fresh sugarcane assistance was not paid fully and it was later proposed that this be divided into two sums of 69 and 51 baht, which farmers believe will create complications and hinder effective channelling of the assistance.
Varawut, along with Mr. Thanesapol Thanabunyawat, his secretary, said upon receiving their petition that he came out to meet them in person because he understood they would not have camped out all night on the roadside if they were not suffering.
He also apologised to road users for traffic congestion caused by this protest.
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This and Front Page – Sugarcane farmers protesting outside the Industry Ministry. Photos – Amarin TV
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