Published on Nov 30, 2005

In addition to a large gathering of teachers, two other groups turned up to protest in front of Government House yesterday. The first group consisted of 1,000 dairy farmers demanding the government solve the oversupply of milk powder; the second was a group of disabled protesters who were demanding facilities for handicapped people on the public transport system. The farmers, led by the Dairy Co-operatives Federation of Thailand, arrived early in the morning.

They poured away litres of milk and read a statement blaming the director of the Livestock Development Department of helping foreign countries by allowing dairy-product manufacturers to import unlimited amounts of powdered milk. This policy has caused a local over-supply of 37 tons per day.

Cherdchai Vicheanwan, spokesman for the federation, said that since the introduction of the policy, manufacturers had imported more than 67,200 tons.

He also demanded the government let the federation decide the import allowance of powdered milk for dairy-product manufacturers. In addition, they asked the government to hike its buying price of raw milk above the current Bt12.50 a litre, campaign for daily milk-consumption among children, and initiate a law protecting dairy farmers.

In response, the Cabinet yesterday approved a dairy management plan that would allow the Dairy Co-operatives Federation of Thailand to oversee the raw material production and trade with manufacturers, Surapong Suebwonglee, the government spokesperson said.

The Cabinet will also hike taxes on imported powdered milk as well as campaigning for milk consumption among the public. However, the proposal to hike the buying price of milk needed further consideration, Surapong said.

The approvals pleased the farmers and the meeting broke up.

Meanwhile, a group of disabled people clashed with the police while trying to submit a letter to the PM urging the government to provide amenities on the public transportation system, after the Transport Ministry reportedly planned to cut handicap facilities due to budget constraints.

The police tried to move the group away from the traffic, causing a man to fall from his wheelchair.

The protest later broke up after Transport Ministry and Minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal showed up to receive their proposals himself.

The Nation