NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: The Thai Raksa Chart Party has vowed to tackle the long-standing problem of low rubber prices after listening to grievances voiced at a seminar on Sunday.
The seminar, attended by representatives of rubber planters and former members of the board of the Rubber Estate of Thailand, was held at the Khuan Nong Hong intersection in Cha-uat district.
On hand to listen to the grievances were Preechapol Pongpanich, leader of the Thai Raksa Chart Party, Chaturon Chaisaeng, chairman of the party's strategy committee, and leading party members Nattawut Saikuar, Veerakan Musikapong and Prapat Chongsanguan.
The problem over the low prices of farm produce during the past five years was raised for discussion, with the seminar attendants putting the blame on executives of various rubber organisations for lacking proper understanding of marketing mechanisms.
Mr Chaturon said the grievances raised at the seminar were the same as those heard five years ago, but left unsolved, particularly over rubber stocks.
Thai Raksa Chart would include this matter in the party's strategies, he said. He blamed the authorities for leaving the problem unsolved for a long time without giving the people a chance to voice their opinions so that it could be properly solved.
Mr Preechapol said the party has taken constructive proposals from the seminar on the rubber price crisis. The proposals included one to set up a rubber bank and to stockpile raw materials to process the rubber into products.
The Thai Raksa Chart leader said during recent years the price of rubber has been tied to politics, without taking underlying causes for the problem into consideration.
As a party vying to form an elected government, Thai Raksa Chart wants to give people their rights back, Mr Preechapol said, adding that the grievances heard would be brought for discussion at a party meeting.
