Rising anger in Thai heartland

Rising anger in Thai heartland

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The rural heartland of Thailand's deposed leader Yingluck Shinawatra and her exiled billionaire brother Thaksin is hurting, stirring discontent and the threat of protests.

The removal of generous agricultural subsidies has left rice farmers in northeast Thailand struggling with mounting debts. With rice prices near an 8-year low, farmers will get little relief when they sell their crop in coming months.

. Nong Khai, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva
Women give Buddhist monks rice in a village outside Nong Khai.

Thaksin's "red shirts", many of whom hail from the northeast, have punctuated a decade of political turmoil in Thailand with protests on Bangkok's streets. That includes 10 weeks of protests in 2010 that left scores dead and sparked the worst arson and rioting in Thailand's modern history.

Thaksin has told his supporters to stay calm and "play dead", but some in Thailand's poorest region say it is only a matter of time before discontent overcomes fear of the military and people again take to the streets.

"People want to protest," said Sabina Shah, a local leader of Thaksin's "red shirt" supporters in Khon Kaen. "But we have to wait for the right trigger."

. Udon Thani, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva

Petty crime is on the rise and retailers are struggling. The vast Platinum 168 shopping mall on the outskirts of provincial capital Udon Thani was built in the boom. It’s now less than a third occupied and no longer charges tenants rent.

"People are complaining about the rising costs of living," said Teerasak Teecayuphan, mayor of neighbouring provincial capital Khon Kaen. "Their patience will gradually run out. Sooner or later this pot will boil over."

. Udon Thani, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva
A worker inspects motorcycles for sale in a retailler in Udon Thani.

Coup leader and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha represents a largely Bangkok-based establishment that reviles the Shinawatras' populist policies and is threatened by their rural support base.

Cash is already running out and many are selling cars and land to repay loans. Credit is scarce as banks tighten lending to battle rising bad debt.

The military toppled Yingluck's government in a May 2014 coup and have zealously enforced a ban on political activity.

. Udon Thani, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva
A rice farmer poses for a photo after selling his harvest at a rice mill in Udon Thani.

Both Shinawatras mobilized the rural poor to deliver landslide electoral victories with a mixture of development projects, social benefits and subsidies.

Many in the northeast, also known as Isaan, think they are paying an economic price for their political allegiance.

. Udon Thani, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva

"Those facing hardship are the people who invested a lot of money and are now facing losses,” said 60-year-old rice farmer Khamkong Banphod. “They have their debt problems and are angry with the government."

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Slideshow

A rice farmer, wearing plants on his head to repel bugs and insects, poses for a picture in Udon Thani.
. Udon Thani, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva

A rice farmer, wearing plants on his head to repel bugs and insects, poses for a picture in Udon Thani.

Rice farmer Boonhome Suaydee, 57, gestures.
. Khon Kaen, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva

Rice farmer Boonhome Suaydee, 57, gestures.

Rice farmer Samrong Pongthai, 65, poses in a rice field in a village near Udon Thani.
. Udon Thani, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva

Rice farmer Samrong Pongthai, 65, poses in a rice field in a village near Udon Thani.

Rice farmer Vichan Chumpeen, 66, poses in a rice field in a village near Udon Thani.
. Udon Thani, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva

Rice farmer Vichan Chumpeen, 66, poses in a rice field in a village near Udon Thani.

Rice farmer Praphaporn Pongthai, 38, stands in a field of rice near Udon Thani.
. Udon Thani, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva

Rice farmer Praphaporn Pongthai, 38, stands in a field of rice near Udon Thani.

A worker at a rice mill poses in front of a rice mountain in Udon Thani.
. Udon Thani, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva

A worker at a rice mill poses in front of a rice mountain in Udon Thani.

A rice farmer poses in front of a rice mountain after selling his harvest at a rice mill in Udon Thani.
. Udon Thani, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva

A rice farmer poses in front of a rice mountain after selling his harvest at a rice mill in Udon Thani.

A rice-mill worker holds rice fallen onto the ground in Udon Thani.
. Udon Thani, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva

A rice-mill worker holds rice fallen onto the ground in Udon Thani.

. Khon Kaen, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva