Protesters short of supplies
Willing to work to pay for their protest
Bangkok Post, Aug 27, 2000
The Assembly of the Poor is calling for
help from Bangkok residents as their food and money supply dwindles after
44 days of protest outside Government House. Protest leaders said
villagers were happy to accept donations to rebuild their food stock and
at least 100 had signed up for any jobs that might be offered.
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| Members of the assembly of the
Poor enjoy a movie at their protest site, organised by
sympathisers. Villagers have been protesting at Government House
for more than a month demanding the state help solve their
problems. - Somchai Poomlard |
Protesters who offered their labour for money were between 30 and 60
years old, said Boonchu Savisa, a leader.
"They are willing to do any kind of work, from construction to
house chores," he said, adding one had typing skills and could handle
easy office work.
Protesters had spent their free time selling handicrafts and I-san food
to passersby but the income was barely enough to sustain the food stock.
As the protest was unlikely to end soon, the villagers would need the
support of Bangkok people to keep up their fight, he said.
Nine assembly representatives handed a petition to Tuan Leekpai, the
prime minister's mother, at her home town in Trang yesterday, to seek her
sympathy.
The villagers said they were protesting to draw attention to their
problems, not because they wanted to overthrow the government her son led.
Mrs Tuan expressed her sympathy. She said she always taught her son to
take good care of the people in all regions, not only those in the South.
She noted, however, that Thailand was a big country and it was not
possible for her son to extend his help to all people at once.
Kit Leekpai, Mr Chuan's elder brother, promised he would forward the
petition to the prime minister when he returned home on Sept 3.
The villagers spent some 30 minutes with Mrs Tuan. Some broke down in
tears as they related hardships allegedly caused by government development
projects in their provinces.
Meanwhile, Wanida Tantivitthayapitak, a protest adviser, said
protesters would hold a panel discussion on the villagers' problems at
Thammasat University today.
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