Bangkok taxi drivers protest against NGV fuel price
As Thailand’s economy continues to look precarious after the nation’s worst floods in more than 70 years, today Bangkok’s taxi drivers are holding three demonstrations against the rise in NGV (Natural Gas Vehicle) fuel prices. The protests are taking place at both Government House, at the Royal Plaza, and at the PTT building on Viphavadee-Rangist Road and, according to Thai TV, involve more than 600 taxi drivers and their taxis.
Thailand’s Pheu Thai government has just raised the price of CNG (Compressed Natural Gas),which most Bangkok taxis run on, right after the country’s three months of flooding, which severely damaged taxi drivers’ incomes. Now the drivers are expected to suck up this higher gas price while being unable to raise the minimum taxi meter rate (that’s also regulated by the government) to compensate. No wonder they’re angry.
On several of my typical taxi rides this weekend, I spoke to drivers about the rise in NGV fuel/CNG prices, as I knew the protests were imminent, and not one of them was happy about it. Interestingly too, several voiced their displeasure at the Pheu Thai government.
As taxi drivers were Pheu Thai’s strongest supporters during last year’s general election, and have supported them and former Thai prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, for years, it’s interesting to hear some now saying they wished they hadn’t voted for them. If the taxi drivers are angry with Pheu Thai, you can only imagine how much of the rest of the country feels.
The government’s energy minister meanwhile is asking the taxi drivers to be realistic. He says PTT has lost over 40 billion baht since it launched the natural gas service, and the money has to be made up somewhere.
On the backs of Bangkok’s poor taxi drivers (they make an average of $300 a month, working 28-30 days a month) hardly seems the right way to do it though, does it?
The planned hike in CNG fuel prices will take place on January 16th.
