BANGKOK, Dec 17 (TNA) – Thousands of Thai fishermen hold
a rally outside the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in protest against
the government’s stringent regulations that affect their livelihood.
An estimated 8,000 fishing trawler operators, crew and
laborers from 22 coastal provinces gathered to demand government response to
their 11-point demand submitted earlier to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
The group led by the National Fisheries Association of
Thailand (NFAT) said they wanted to hand a letter directly to Agriculture and
Cooperatives Minister Chalermchai Sri-on.
But Chalermchai who earlier promised to help address the
labour shortage and debt issues in the fishing industry did not meet the
protesters.
The fishermen have threatened to intensify their planned
one-month-long protest if the government does not act to meet their
demands. They have called on the
government to ease fishing restrictions, address labour shortages and their
mounting debt problems.
For years, the government has introduced new regulations and
strict law enforcement to stamp out human trafficking and IUU problems in the
fishery industry. (TNA)
