Thai farmers meet in Bangkok

Thai farmers meet in Bangkok

BANGKOK (Reuters): Farmers from Thailand's impoverished
northeast converged on Bangkok yesterday demanding relief from
billions of baht in debt owed to a state-owned bank.

About 2,500 farmers and their supporters, clad in traditional
sarongs and carrying placards demanding social justice, gathered
near parliament, witnesses said.

Protest leaders said about 20,000 could be expected later.
Police intelligence sources said they thought the rally, set for
three days, was unlikely to attract more than 5,000 thanks to a
split in the ranks of protest leaders in dealing with the
government.

Witnesses said the rally was orderly and relaxed with the only
police in sight directing traffic. The farmers had threatened to
bring Bangkok to a standstill by clogging up the capital, which
is congested at the best of times.

They say that the government, in collaboration with the
International Monetary Fund, is channeling financial aid to the
country to rich business at the expense of the poor as the
Thailand suffers its worst economic crisis in decades.