Forty villagers on hunger strike

Hundreds of workers last night joined the demonstration in front of Government House as 40 protesters began a hunger strike.

The new arrivals, led by the Labour Congress of Thailand, included 300 laid-off employees of Thai Durable Textile Co in Samut Prakan. They occupied Phitsanulok road, forcing its closure to traffic.

Forty Pak Moon dam protesters began a hunger strike at Government House yesterday, showing their discontent with the cabinet's response to their demands. - Sarot Meksophawannakul

A labour leader said their presence was intended to press the government to accept all the villagers' demands.

The hunger strikers-18 men and 22 women-received support from Chalard Vorachat, who has gone on protest fasts before and promised to join them on his birthday on Monday. The hunger strikers, who dressed all in white, said in a statement that they wanted to convey their thoughts to the government and the middle-class.

Tang Paknok, from Chaiyaphum, said the hunger strike was the only way left to prove that they were not paid to join the protest.

"We resort to fasting to show we are really suffering, or else we would not be here in the first place," she said.

Mr Chalard said he would fast for eight days if the prime minister remains indifferent.

He gave advice to the hunger strikers on how to sustain their fast. "Drink clean water and honey four times a day. Make sure there is no glucose in the water or you will get a stomach upset.

"You may feel uncomfortable for the first three days, but remain calm and patient. Then everything will be fine."Social critic Sulak Sivaraksa visited the hunger strikers but said he disagreed with their action.

He did not think the prime minister would care if 10 or 20 poor people died. Had Sanan Kachornprasart still been in the government, Mr Sulak said, the protesters' problems would be taken care of much better because the former minister had courage and a better understanding of the poor than the prime minister.

He was also suspicious of the absence of PM's Office Minister Savit Bhodivihok, who is in charge of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, throughout the protest by Pak Moon protesters.

Alongkorn Polabut, personal secretary to the prime minister, said the government had tried its best to solve the protesters' problems. It had bowed to most demands but the Assembly of the Poor wanted all 16 demands accepted.

The government also agreed to hold a public forum to explain why it could not accept all the protesters' demands, he added