Thais suffer without subsidies as oil hits record

Thais are to suffer another economic blow as global oil prices rose to a record above $80 a barrel and the post-coup government ruled out resurrecting fuel subsidies that were dumped as too expensive.

Motorists in Thailand are more exposed to global oil rises than many in Asia, after the country freed fuel prices at the pump to market rates by 2005, unlike countries such as China and India that maintain government-capped prices.

“Everything has become more expensive and sellers blame it on rising oil prices,” said coffee vendor Atchara Jarinthong, who travels 50 km (30 miles) to and from work every day in a diesel truck.

Reuters