BANGKOK, May 29 (TNA) - Private bus companies parked some 200 buses at and near the entrance of the Ministry of Transport on Bangkok's Ratchadamdeon Nok Avenue as they seek the government's help to ease the impact of soaring fuel prices following the Central Administrative Court's injunction against bus fare hikes.
Private Bus Operators' Association president Chatchai Chaiwiset said the strike was beyond the control of the association.
Thousands of low-income commuters are without bus services at all on some routes and much-reduced service on other routes.
However, Mr. Chatchai urged passengers to understand the move as the private bus companies could not operate their services any longer because of the skyrocketing diesel fuel price. The operators could not retain the burden any longer.
Mr. Chatchai called on the government to step in to alleviate the problems of the private bus operators.
The Central Administrative Court on Tuesday issued an injunction against bus-fare hikes after the petition from the people's network. The network said fare increase are not justified because most buses are now natural-gas powered.
Mr. Chaichai said that the private bus operators run only a thousand natural gas for vehicle (NGV) equipped buses, considered a small number in comparison with other bus services.
He said he could not specify how long the strike would last, saying that it was depended on the government decision whether to accept the association's proposal to help solve the surging diesel prices including oil subsidise measure and stop collection of daily concession fees.
The association was scheduled to submit the letter of proposal to the transport minister this morning and would wait for the government's decision.
The strike aggravated an already impacted traffic problem in the capital's ministries area as the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) had already blocked Rajadamnoen Road since Sunday due to its anti-charter amendment demonstration at Makkawan bridge not far from the ministry. (TNA)-E003
General News : Last Update : 10:01:05 29 May 2008 (GMT+7:00)
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