The group, led by Prapas Ngoksungnern from the Northeast, Supan Naksingh from the Central region, Pradit Saengkla from the South and Wallop Kaewpikul from the Eastern region, are demanding that the government stop legal action against farmers in debt and write off all debts owed to government and private financial institutions as well as "non-system lenders".

They also want a sufficiency economy learning centre to be set up for farmers and for Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula and Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thira Sutabutra to quit.

"It's been three months and the government has taken no action to solve the poverty, debt and land problems of farmers," Prapas said.

"The government and the Council for National Security only focus on three issues - cracking down on subversive 'undercurrent' movements, investigating corruption in the Thaksin Shinawatra government and establishing the National Legislative Assembly and the Constitution Drafting Assembly. It leaves no space for farmers although we are the majority in the country," he said.

"We guarantee this rally is not a subversive movement and no political party has hired us," he said.

"We are really in trouble."

Prasit Tangprasert

The Nation