More than 1,000 farmers headed to Bangkok on February 20 to join anti-government protests in a bid to increase pressure on caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to make overdue payments under the government's rice-pledging scheme.
The farmers hailing from several provinces in the northern and central regions were planning to stage a rally at the Commerce Ministry located in Nonthaburi province.
Earlier on February 18, the Thai National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) pressed charges against Yingluck for negligence of duty over the rice pledging scheme, as well as the economic losses it made to the country.
However, in her announcement on February 20, Yingluck claimed total innocence of NACC’s charges, citing that it is the demonstrations provoked by the protesters during the past three months that made her postpone the payment.
The protesters have taken advantages of the farmers’ displeasure to impulse them overthrow the caretaker government, she added.
Meanwhile, the antigovernment protesters continued to apply pressure on the business networks in which the Shinawatra family is involved.
Nearly 1,000 protesters flocked to a brief protest in front of the Shinawatra building, owned by Yingluck's family, in northern Bangkok, forcing several companies inside the building to close ahead of time.
Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has vowed to put psychological pressure to the premier's family business until Yingluck steps down.-VNA
The farmers hailing from several provinces in the northern and central regions were planning to stage a rally at the Commerce Ministry located in Nonthaburi province.
Earlier on February 18, the Thai National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) pressed charges against Yingluck for negligence of duty over the rice pledging scheme, as well as the economic losses it made to the country.
However, in her announcement on February 20, Yingluck claimed total innocence of NACC’s charges, citing that it is the demonstrations provoked by the protesters during the past three months that made her postpone the payment.
The protesters have taken advantages of the farmers’ displeasure to impulse them overthrow the caretaker government, she added.
Meanwhile, the antigovernment protesters continued to apply pressure on the business networks in which the Shinawatra family is involved.
Nearly 1,000 protesters flocked to a brief protest in front of the Shinawatra building, owned by Yingluck's family, in northern Bangkok, forcing several companies inside the building to close ahead of time.
Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has vowed to put psychological pressure to the premier's family business until Yingluck steps down.-VNA
