Thai farmers meet in Bangkok<\/p>\n
BANGKOK (Reuters): Farmers from Thailand's impoverished
\nnortheast converged on Bangkok yesterday demanding relief from
\nbillions of baht in debt owed to a state-owned bank.<\/p>\n
About 2,500 farmers and their supporters, clad in traditional
\nsarongs and carrying placards demanding social justice, gathered
\nnear parliament, witnesses said.<\/p>\n
Protest leaders said about 20,000 could be expected later.
\nPolice intelligence sources said they thought the rally, set for
\nthree days, was unlikely to attract more than 5,000 thanks to a
\nsplit in the ranks of protest leaders in dealing with the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said the rally was orderly and relaxed with the only
\npolice in sight directing traffic. The farmers had threatened to
\nbring Bangkok to a standstill by clogging up the capital, which
\nis congested at the best of times.<\/p>\n
They say that the government, in collaboration with the
\nInternational Monetary Fund, is channeling financial aid to the
\ncountry to rich business at the expense of the poor as the
\nThailand suffers its worst economic crisis in decades.<\/p>",
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