Thai truckers’ protest at diesel prices clogs capital

Some truckers in Thailand demand the resignation of the energy minister for failing to make fuel affordable

BANGKOK, Thailand – Hundreds of freight trucks deliberately clogged a major thoroughfare of Thailand’s notoriously congested capital on Tuesday, February 8, seeking to pressure the government into lowering diesel prices.

Police tried unsuccessfully to shift the protesting trucks and taxi drivers as they crawled along the main northbound highway out of Bangkok, some carrying banners demanding the energy minister’s resignation for failing to make fuel affordable.

“We have asked the government to fix the fuel price problem many times, but nothing happened,” said Apichart Prairungruang, chairman of the Land Transport Federation of Thailand.

“The government has never responded to our demands…. From now on, we will pressure the…