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| Anti-government protesters sell shrimps in front of government houses as people now fear to eat shrimps due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bangkok, Thailand Dec 26, 2020. (Photo: by = REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] Thai protesters demonstrated on Saturday (Dec 26) to demand more action to help seafood sellers hit by a COVID-19 outbreak as the government urged people to eat more shellfish.
Thailand's worst outbreak of the new coronavirus was reported just over a week ago, with more than 1,500 infections now linked to a shrimp market outside Bangkok. Most of those infected have been migrant workers from Myanmar. Seafood sellers say business has fallen in a country whose economy had already been badly hit by a collapse in tourism. "We want the government to create confidence in shrimp consumption," said Piyarat Chongthep, among the scores of protesters at Government House, some of whom briefly scuffled with police.
The issue is the latest seized on by protesters who for months have been demanding the removal of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-Ocha, a new constitution, and reforms of the monarchy. At a seafood-eating event in a nearby province, government ministers said they were trying to promote seafood."We are building confidence that you can have seafood without getting infected," Anucha Nakasai, minister for the prime minister's office, told reporters. A major shrimp exporter, Thailand sold 36 billion baht (US$1.2 billion) worth in the first 10 months of 2020, industry association data showed.
