Protesting villagers meet with officials

Protesting villagers meet with officials

BANGKOK (AFP):Some 300 representatives of thousands of Thai villagers who have set up camp outside government offices here to demand social justice began a series of meetings with officials yesterday.

A number of deputy ministers were on hand to meet with the protestors, who have been camped outside Government House since late last week to demand action on land rights and justice for the poor.

Police and officials from the Assembly of the Poor, which has organized the protest, have estimated up to 20,000 rural villagers, factory workers and slum-dwellers have turned out in front of the government offices.

Sources from the Assembly of the Poor said yesterday's talks would focus on land rights and agricultural issues and said other grievances would be tackled in meetings which are expected to continue for the rest of the week.