June 16, 2008
BANGKOK - Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej yesterday used his weekly television address to give tips on cooking with garlic, hoping to ward off farmers protest.
Samak urged people to buy local rather than imported garlic, and rattled off his favourite garlic-infused dishes.
"I did not come here today for ... a cooking demonstration, but I came here to show these ingredients," said Samak.
"I want to ask people to help buy local garlic -- it is perfect for Thai foods. If we are not helping each other, who will help us?"
The garlic farmers last week threatened to protest as the price of their product falls, according to AFP.
Samak government is facing the threat of protests from truck drivers, rice farmers, fishermen and now garlic growers.
"I bought the garlic to prevent them from blocking the roads," Samak told the nation.
Truck drivers have given the government until Tuesday to come up with an assistance plan -- or they say they will block roads into Bangkok.
Samak is already facing street protests from the People’s Alliance for Democracy.
