ID :
110524
Mon, 03/08/2010 - 20:17
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/110524
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Business community back's government planned security measures for Red Shirt protest
BANGKOK, March 8 (TNA) – Thailand's private sector on Monday voiced support for the government’s plan to enforce the Internal Security Acts (ISA) March 11-23 to maintain law and order during the Red Shirt’s weekend demonstration as a precautionary measure.
Board of Trade of Thailand and Thai Chamber of Commerce deputy secretary-general Pornsilp Patcharintanakul said he agreed, speaking personally, with the government’s planned application of the security measures to prevent possible disruption during the Red Shirt rally.
If the government waits too long and uses the security acts after violence occurs, Mr Pornsilp said, the situation may become chaotic and more difficult to control as happened in April last year.
Mr Pornsilp said the ISA is expected to be applied in specific areas where anti government Red Shirts from the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) will protest. He said it would not impact foreign investor confidence.
If the demonstration calls for democracy, there will be no problem, as that is acceptable among the business community.
"Businessmen don't want violence, fighting and turmoil because it would cause [economic] losses and tarnish the country’s image. While the Thai economy is currently recovering", Mr Pornsil said, if political unrest occurs, it will have negative impact on investor confidence as well as the tourism industry.
Mr Pornsilp called on all parties to respect the rules and regulations for the sake of peace in the country.
Meanwhile, Thai Rice Exporters Association honorary president Chookiat Ophaswongse ecchoed Mr Pornsilp's comment, supporting the plan to implement the ISA from March 11 through 23 to maintain law and order.
Mr Chookiat accepted that news reports on the current situation in Thailand may confuse foreigners, particularly whether or not the political move will become violent and some critical locations in Bangkok will be closed.
News reports will not negatively affect Thailand's tourism industry, he said, as the ISA will be invoked only in specified zones and for limited periods as needed.
The Thai Rice Exporters Association executive praised the government for being on the right track to prepare for the upcoming Red Shirt protest, but he called on the activists to demonstrate with facts, and not emotions.
Tourism operator Charoen Wongananont, chairman of the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA), backed using the security acts to prevent violence during the Red Shirt protest.
Imposing the act could boost foreign tourist confidence, he said, saying that it is better to prevent possible unrest instead of trying to catch up to solve the problem later. If the ISA is not imposed, violence may occur and damage the country.
Although the security acts may be imposed during the protest, Mr Charoen believes that tourists will understand the situation and while it may impact tourism, it will only be at a minimal level.
The TTAA president also called on the protesters to demonstrate peacefully without violence.
Mr Charoen said that the country was previously tarnished by the Yellow Shirt’s closure of Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Red Shirt’s protest in Pattaya and
Bangkok in April 2009, which took a long time to recover and required a significant budget to regain Thailand’s image.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, tasked for national security affairs, will ask the Cabinet to approve the ISA enforcement March 11-23 in the capital and the surrounding metropolitan area to prevent violence during the Red Shirt demonstration March 12-14. (TNA)
Board of Trade of Thailand and Thai Chamber of Commerce deputy secretary-general Pornsilp Patcharintanakul said he agreed, speaking personally, with the government’s planned application of the security measures to prevent possible disruption during the Red Shirt rally.
If the government waits too long and uses the security acts after violence occurs, Mr Pornsilp said, the situation may become chaotic and more difficult to control as happened in April last year.
Mr Pornsilp said the ISA is expected to be applied in specific areas where anti government Red Shirts from the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) will protest. He said it would not impact foreign investor confidence.
If the demonstration calls for democracy, there will be no problem, as that is acceptable among the business community.
"Businessmen don't want violence, fighting and turmoil because it would cause [economic] losses and tarnish the country’s image. While the Thai economy is currently recovering", Mr Pornsil said, if political unrest occurs, it will have negative impact on investor confidence as well as the tourism industry.
Mr Pornsilp called on all parties to respect the rules and regulations for the sake of peace in the country.
Meanwhile, Thai Rice Exporters Association honorary president Chookiat Ophaswongse ecchoed Mr Pornsilp's comment, supporting the plan to implement the ISA from March 11 through 23 to maintain law and order.
Mr Chookiat accepted that news reports on the current situation in Thailand may confuse foreigners, particularly whether or not the political move will become violent and some critical locations in Bangkok will be closed.
News reports will not negatively affect Thailand's tourism industry, he said, as the ISA will be invoked only in specified zones and for limited periods as needed.
The Thai Rice Exporters Association executive praised the government for being on the right track to prepare for the upcoming Red Shirt protest, but he called on the activists to demonstrate with facts, and not emotions.
Tourism operator Charoen Wongananont, chairman of the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA), backed using the security acts to prevent violence during the Red Shirt protest.
Imposing the act could boost foreign tourist confidence, he said, saying that it is better to prevent possible unrest instead of trying to catch up to solve the problem later. If the ISA is not imposed, violence may occur and damage the country.
Although the security acts may be imposed during the protest, Mr Charoen believes that tourists will understand the situation and while it may impact tourism, it will only be at a minimal level.
The TTAA president also called on the protesters to demonstrate peacefully without violence.
Mr Charoen said that the country was previously tarnished by the Yellow Shirt’s closure of Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Red Shirt’s protest in Pattaya and
Bangkok in April 2009, which took a long time to recover and required a significant budget to regain Thailand’s image.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, tasked for national security affairs, will ask the Cabinet to approve the ISA enforcement March 11-23 in the capital and the surrounding metropolitan area to prevent violence during the Red Shirt demonstration March 12-14. (TNA)
