Luk Kwan Loy Lom group denies role in rally violence

The ‘‘Luk Kwan Loy Lom’’ youth group, accused of using violence in the rubber protests in Nakhon Si Thammarat, along with its lawyer, met officers from Provincial Police Region 8 yesterday, denying any links to the rally strife.

However, Pol Maj Gen Wisanu Muangphraesri, deputy chief of the regional police, said the police investigation showed the group had been involved with the protest violence. The group should cooperate with police by screening out bad members, he said.

The youth group was found to have been involved in some 19 cases of violence connected to protests by rubber farmers in the province, Pol Maj Gen Wisanu said.

Led by lawyer Phuangthip Boonsanong, the youth group provided the police with information on its back- ground and a list of all group members.

Later, reporters were asked to leave before the group and police held a closeddoor meeting. The group has admitted joining the rally at Khuan Nong Hong intersection on Highway No. 41, but denies being responsible for the clashes there last month.

Meanwhile, protesters at the intersection in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Cha-uat district continued their rally yesterday.

In Ron Phibun district, a first batch of 2,043 rubber growers yesterday received subsidy money offered by the government to help them cope with high production costs.

The farmers received 2,520 baht per rai of their growing areas with the maximum capped at 25 rai per person.

The 2,043 farmers were among a total of 81,168 rubber farmers in Nakhon Si Thammarat province who have registered for the subsidy.