Kamnan Mano Plans March to Energy Ministry Demanding Fuel Price Cut
Protest leader Kamnan Mano announced plans to march to the Ministry of Energy on November 16 to demand a 10-baht reduction in fuel prices, escalating a week-long rally at Government House. He said the government has ignored their demands since a ministerial team visited on November 9, and warned of further escalation if no response is given. Protesters negotiated with police to adjust security arrangements while vowing to remain peaceful and lawful.
On November 12, Mano Kurekaew, known as 'Kamnan Mano,' leader of the People's Revolution Alliance for Land Protection (NPHP), along with supporters, held a press conference amid the fifth day of protests at Chamai Maruchet Bridge near Government House to announce plans to escalate the rally. The group plans to march to the Ministry of Energy on November 16. The format of the march—whether on foot or by vehicle—will be decided later. This march to the Ministry of Energy is considered the first escalation of the protest, aimed at showing strength and informing the Energy Minister that the public cannot bear current fuel prices and demands a 10-baht reduction.
Mano added that the march is not intended to submit a formal petition, but to directly convey the people's suffering from energy prices to the minister. They will march there and then return; the duration of the stay at the ministry will be discussed later. Meanwhile, some protesters remain camped at Chamai Maruchet Bridge, the protest site, inviting all affected citizens to join regardless of political affiliation. Mano acknowledged that since the Energy Minister's team visited the area on November 9, there has been no further contact. He said, 'The fuel issue is important. The government knows we are suffering. We lie on the ground, eating sand, because we got no answer. The government knows we are in trouble. When we get no answer, we must escalate because it is time.'
If the march to the Ministry of Energy yields no response, further escalation will be discussed, but if the government remains indifferent, escalation will certainly increase. A number of people are waiting to join on November 16, regardless of who they are or their political color, without attachment to any side. They are not worried about turnout being lower than expected; whatever the number, they will march. Today's stage activities have no special highlights, just regular speeches.
Later, Wirapon Rojana, acting as the NPHP's negotiation representative, met with police officials to discuss relocating the protest area within legal frameworks. The Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister joined the talks to request moving the police van line slightly up onto the embankment for order and aesthetics, without affecting or encircling the protest area. The negotiation went well, and the protesters agreed and cooperated. Wirapon stated that officials only asked to move the vans slightly onto the embankment, so he clarified to avoid misunderstanding. He affirmed the protest's sole purpose is to demand a solution to fuel prices, with no intention to obstruct any individual or agency. He emphasized that the protest and all participants must remain within the law, and the group is ready to cooperate with all authorities.
