Protesters currently gathering near Government House in Bangkok insisted on Monday that they will not negotiate with the government unless their demand for an immediate fuel price reduction is met.
The movement, led by a group calling itself ‘The People's Revolutionary Alliance for the Protection of the Land’, is demanding that the government cut fuel prices by 10 baht per litre.
Its leader, Mano Khrueakaew, a village headman from Krabi province, claims that the current administration is favouring big energy businesses, such as oil refinery companies, allowing them to profit from higher fuel prices and leaving the financial burden with the public.
“If they [the government] say they will lower fuel prices by 10 baht, then we can talk. I want to make it clear that there will be no discussion otherwise. I know it’s possible,” Mano said.
He claimed that the government should look into oil refinery companies that benefit from an unnecessarily high gross refining margin, apart from just lowering taxes included in fuel prices, such as excise tax.
In October this year, fuel prices stood at 42.70 baht per litre for diesel, 41.47 baht for Gasohol 95, and 40.92 baht for Gasohol 91, significant increases over the same month last year, when prices stood at 31.35 baht, 32.27 baht and 31.68 baht per litre respectively.
The Cabinet decided to cut excise tax on E20 and B20 fuels by 5.60 baht and 5.50 baht per litre, respectively, for three months, but said that full reductions could not be made due to conflicts in the Middle East, which have driven up energy costs globally.
Separately, observers say the move is unlikely to put much pressure on or trigger any significant consequences for the stable Bhumjaithai-led government, despite key conservative figures openly supporting the group, including Sondhi Limthongkul, a veteran protest leader who led the ‘Yellow Shirt’ demonstrations prior to the 2006 coup. No more than 200 people gathered this afternoon.
Mano said the group has no hidden political agenda and is not backed by any political party.
Representatives from the Energy Ministry came to meet the group this afternoon.
Protestors said they would continue camping at their present location overnight pending government action. Four roads around Government House are now closed to traffic and protests are banned within a 50-metre radius of its compound.
