Armed with shotguns, batons and tear gas, more than 1,000 police from several districts confronted the demonstrators at the 1,600-rai Thaksin Palms plantation in Khiri Ratthanikhom.

The protesters had occupied the plantation since April 25. It is understood they believed they could acquire land on the plantation.

Hours-long negotiations in the morning failed to disperse the squatters. Police then physically removed the crowd.

Of the 14 injured seven were women. One person was shot after police said he attempted to run over officers with a pickup.

Eight police suffered cuts from sharp implements carried by demonstrators.

Two officers and one protester required surgery at Khiri Ratthanikhom Hospital.

Cars, motorcycles, computers, power generators and other appliances believed to belong to protesters were confiscated. Shelters were dismantled.

Surat Thai Provincial Court issued warrants for the arrest of six people suspected of being demonstration leaders.

Police Region Eight deputy commander Maj-General Santhan Chayanont said all involved would be charged with trespass and some could face attempted-murder prosecutions.

His superior, Lt-General Thani Tawitchsri, said most of the protesters were from Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala provinces farther south.

He suspected they had been encouraged to occupy the land by a person called Wimol Cherdchoo, who "promised to allocate plots" to them.

Thaksin Palm managing director Thanarak Pongpetra said the land was purchased legally and the company possessed title deeds. It had run the plantation since 1978.

The occupation resulted in Bt800,000 in lost production, he said. Workers refused to enter the plantation over the past 18 days.

Plantations have been occupied before, notably in 2003 when 1,300 landless farmers took over farms owned by Worakarn Palms and Ch Kiatcharoen.

Police also broke up those gatherings.

The Nation

SURAT THANI