ID :
114705
Fri, 04/02/2010 - 18:37
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/114705
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Pink-shirted group, tourism industry hold counter-rallies
BANGKOK, April 2 (TNA) - Pink-shirted demonstrators on Friday held rallies against the anti-government Red Shirt's demand for House dissolution, while white-clad tourism industry entrepreneurs and workers urged both the government and the Reds to seek solution to end prolonged protests which has taken a heavy toll on the country's tourism industry with current losses estimated at US$312 million.
The so-called Pink Shirts gathered at the Lumpini Park to express their opposition to the Red Shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) demand for the dissolution of the House.
The Pinks gathered around 2pm, paying homage to the statue of King Rama VI and taking an oath to protect the kingdom, religion and the monarchy.
Led by Dean Charas Suwanmala Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Political Science and retired deputy police chief Pol Gen Vasit Dejkunchorn, the Pink Shirts have written numbers of postcards to the prime minister, urging him not to dissolve the parliament as demanded by the UDD.
Gen Vasit said he agreed with the talks between the government and the Red Shirt leaders to find the solution for the current political conflict, but other factions should be allowed to join the negotiation to find the end of the crisis.
The pink faction dispersed after their activity ended.
A small clash reportedly occurred when a Red Shirt activist on a motorcycle was attacked by pink-shirted demonstrators as he passed an area where the pink faction gathered.
At the other side of the Lumpini Park, meanwhile, tourism entrepreneurs and representatives from the Federation of Thai Tourism Associations (FETTA), Thai Japan Tourism Association, Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), and the Thai Hotels Association announced their position in a statement asking every party to end violence and jointly find a peaceful and tangible solution by first considering of the country’s benefits.
FETTA spokesman Charoen Wangananon said the demonstration by the tourism sector groups was to reflect the negative effects on Thai tourism sector caused by the ongoing protests.
He said for over the past 20 days, the loss in revenues tourism entrepreneurs have faced is over Bt10 billion. (US$312 million). (TNA)
The so-called Pink Shirts gathered at the Lumpini Park to express their opposition to the Red Shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) demand for the dissolution of the House.
The Pinks gathered around 2pm, paying homage to the statue of King Rama VI and taking an oath to protect the kingdom, religion and the monarchy.
Led by Dean Charas Suwanmala Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Political Science and retired deputy police chief Pol Gen Vasit Dejkunchorn, the Pink Shirts have written numbers of postcards to the prime minister, urging him not to dissolve the parliament as demanded by the UDD.
Gen Vasit said he agreed with the talks between the government and the Red Shirt leaders to find the solution for the current political conflict, but other factions should be allowed to join the negotiation to find the end of the crisis.
The pink faction dispersed after their activity ended.
A small clash reportedly occurred when a Red Shirt activist on a motorcycle was attacked by pink-shirted demonstrators as he passed an area where the pink faction gathered.
At the other side of the Lumpini Park, meanwhile, tourism entrepreneurs and representatives from the Federation of Thai Tourism Associations (FETTA), Thai Japan Tourism Association, Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), and the Thai Hotels Association announced their position in a statement asking every party to end violence and jointly find a peaceful and tangible solution by first considering of the country’s benefits.
FETTA spokesman Charoen Wangananon said the demonstration by the tourism sector groups was to reflect the negative effects on Thai tourism sector caused by the ongoing protests.
He said for over the past 20 days, the loss in revenues tourism entrepreneurs have faced is over Bt10 billion. (US$312 million). (TNA)
