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.