BANGKOK: A protest by Thai rubber farmers demanding subsidies turned violent Thursday, with police in a southern province saying a group of demonstrators threw bricks and bottles containing an acidic liquid at them.
Rubber farmers have been blocking roads to demand compensation as the world market price for rubber has fallen.
Police Col. Narong Supa-aim said about 50 mostly young protesters out of a group of about 250 blocking a road in Prachuap Khirikhan province attacked his men Thursday evening. He said 10 police, including the provincial chief, were slightly injured, and 10 protest leaders were detained but not charged.
The government established a Cabinet-level team on Thursday to negotiate with the protest leaders.
There were also scattered scuffles at bigger protest sites in Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces.
There had been fears that the protesters would try to block airports, some of which serve key tourist destinations. Rail services resumed after protesters earlier blocked tracks.
The government has offered to subsidize the farmers with cash payments pegged to the size of their plantations, while the farmers are demanding that they be paid a guaranteed price. The government already maintains an expensive subsidy program for rice farmers.
Thailand is the world’s top producer and exporter of natural rubber, which is used in products from condoms to tires.
Thailand produces about 360,000 tons of rubber a month during August and September, according to the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries.