Thai Chamber, Trade Chair Warns Of Sinking Investment Prospects

[george]

Thai Chamber, Trade chair warns of sinking investment prospects

BANGKOK: -- Investor confidence and subsequent foreign investment in Thailand could be eroded if the current political turmoil continues and the ongoing rally demanding that the coalition government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej scrap its plan to rewrite the constitution turns into violence, a senior Thai executive said Tuesday.

Pramon Suthiwong, chairman of both the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Thailand, said investment confidence would not be greatly impacted if the demonstration demanding the government to halt its plan to rewrite the charter ends soon without bloodshed.

Now foreign investors are worried about political strife in Thailand and have delayed a committing a considerable amount of investment in this country, Mr. Pramon said.

Activists of the People's Alliance for Democracy held their protest for the third day Tuesday near the United Nations ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) building on Rajadamnoen Avenue.

Pro-government demonstrators have camped nearby and both sides were locked in scuffles on Sunday in which about 20 protesters from both sides were injured.

On Monday, Mr. Samak said he was told by three Thai envoys stationed abroad that the present political troubles in Thailand would deter foreigners from investing in the kingdom.

Touching on Thai economic growth projections for 2008, Mr. Pramon said the Thai Chamber of Commerce had forecast since the beginning of this year that growth would not be less than 5 per cent but the economy in general could be affected due to volatility in global oil prices.

Thailand's economic growth in 2008 could fall below 5 per cent if world oil prices continue to increase like now and the government should urgently find measures to stimulate the economy to grow not less than 5 per cent, he added.

-- TNA 2008-05-27

[Thai at Heart]

Thai Chamber, Trade chair warns of sinking investment prospects

BANGKOK: -- Investor confidence and subsequent foreign investment in Thailand could be eroded if the current political turmoil continues and the ongoing rally demanding that the coalition government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej scrap its plan to rewrite the constitution turns into violence, a senior Thai executive said Tuesday.

Pramon Suthiwong, chairman of both the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Thailand, said investment confidence would not be greatly impacted if the demonstration demanding the government to halt its plan to rewrite the charter ends soon without bloodshed.

Now foreign investors are worried about political strife in Thailand and have delayed a committing a considerable amount of investment in this country, Mr. Pramon said.

Activists of the People's Alliance for Democracy held their protest for the third day Tuesday near the United Nations ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) building on Rajadamnoen Avenue.

Pro-government demonstrators have camped nearby and both sides were locked in scuffles on Sunday in which about 20 protesters from both sides were injured.

On Monday, Mr. Samak said he was told by three Thai envoys stationed abroad that the present political troubles in Thailand would deter foreigners from investing in the kingdom.

Touching on Thai economic growth projections for 2008, Mr. Pramon said the Thai Chamber of Commerce had forecast since the beginning of this year that growth would not be less than 5 per cent but the economy in general could be affected due to volatility in global oil prices.

Thailand's economic growth in 2008 could fall below 5 per cent if world oil prices continue to increase like now and the government should urgently find measures to stimulate the economy to grow not less than 5 per cent, he added.

-- TNA 2008-05-27

Well, they want to rewrite the constitution, railroad an acquital through the courts, the army are twitching, and no has yet cleared up the foreign business act.

Hmm, any more problems with the country from a foreign investors perspective that I missed?

[Plus]

The Finance Minister had to read on the Internet what his ministry generally does, and Commerce Minister spends his time patenting "Full Moon" and "Floating Market" instead of doing his job.

[Thai at Heart]

The Finance Minister had to read on the Internet what his ministry generally does, and Commerce Minister spends his time patenting "Full Moon" and "Floating Market" instead of doing his job.

And Minkwan is one of the smarter one's believe me.

[h90]

Thai Chamber, Trade chair warns of sinking investment prospects

BANGKOK: -- Investor confidence and subsequent foreign investment in Thailand could be eroded if the current political turmoil continues and the ongoing rally demanding that the coalition government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej scrap its plan to rewrite the constitution turns into violence, a senior Thai executive said Tuesday.

Pramon Suthiwong, chairman of both the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Thailand, said investment confidence would not be greatly impacted if the demonstration demanding the government to halt its plan to rewrite the charter ends soon without bloodshed.

Now foreign investors are worried about political strife in Thailand and have delayed a committing a considerable amount of investment in this country, Mr. Pramon said.

Activists of the People's Alliance for Democracy held their protest for the third day Tuesday near the United Nations ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) building on Rajadamnoen Avenue.

Pro-government demonstrators have camped nearby and both sides were locked in scuffles on Sunday in which about 20 protesters from both sides were injured.

On Monday, Mr. Samak said he was told by three Thai envoys stationed abroad that the present political troubles in Thailand would deter foreigners from investing in the kingdom.

Touching on Thai economic growth projections for 2008, Mr. Pramon said the Thai Chamber of Commerce had forecast since the beginning of this year that growth would not be less than 5 per cent but the economy in general could be affected due to volatility in global oil prices.

Thailand's economic growth in 2008 could fall below 5 per cent if world oil prices continue to increase like now and the government should urgently find measures to stimulate the economy to grow not less than 5 per cent, he added.

-- TNA 2008-05-27

Well, they want to rewrite the constitution, railroad an acquital through the courts, the army are twitching, and no has yet cleared up the foreign business act.

Hmm, any more problems with the country from a foreign investors perspective that I missed?

You missed the xenophobic attacks sometimes. Mr. Thaksin had a few of these "Thais can do that better than any foreigner we don't need them". Mostly the end was a complete disaster.

[Thai at Heart]

Thai Chamber, Trade chair warns of sinking investment prospects

BANGKOK: -- Investor confidence and subsequent foreign investment in Thailand could be eroded if the current political turmoil continues and the ongoing rally demanding that the coalition government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej scrap its plan to rewrite the constitution turns into violence, a senior Thai executive said Tuesday.

Pramon Suthiwong, chairman of both the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Thailand, said investment confidence would not be greatly impacted if the demonstration demanding the government to halt its plan to rewrite the charter ends soon without bloodshed.

Now foreign investors are worried about political strife in Thailand and have delayed a committing a considerable amount of investment in this country, Mr. Pramon said.

Activists of the People's Alliance for Democracy held their protest for the third day Tuesday near the United Nations ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) building on Rajadamnoen Avenue.

Pro-government demonstrators have camped nearby and both sides were locked in scuffles on Sunday in which about 20 protesters from both sides were injured.

On Monday, Mr. Samak said he was told by three Thai envoys stationed abroad that the present political troubles in Thailand would deter foreigners from investing in the kingdom.

Touching on Thai economic growth projections for 2008, Mr. Pramon said the Thai Chamber of Commerce had forecast since the beginning of this year that growth would not be less than 5 per cent but the economy in general could be affected due to volatility in global oil prices.

Thailand's economic growth in 2008 could fall below 5 per cent if world oil prices continue to increase like now and the government should urgently find measures to stimulate the economy to grow not less than 5 per cent, he added.

-- TNA 2008-05-27

Well, they want to rewrite the constitution, railroad an acquital through the courts, the army are twitching, and no has yet cleared up the foreign business act.

Hmm, any more problems with the country from a foreign investors perspective that I missed?

You missed the xenophobic attacks sometimes. Mr. Thaksin had a few of these "Thais can do that better than any foreigner we don't need them". Mostly the end was a complete disaster.

Don't remember him ever saying that, and considering he sold his company to a foreign enterprise, I think you may find that he is more the friend of foreign investment than anyone thinks.

[steveromagnino]

Don't remember him ever saying that, and considering he sold his company to a foreign enterprise, I think you may find that he is more the friend of foreign investment than anyone thinks.

In Thai he continually spouted stuff about how we would be self sufficient, and the Democrats were idiots for kowtowing to the IMF etc.

What he said and did were diametrically opposed.

How amusing that now we are in a functioning democracy (and protests are part of that) that people would not be crowing how well FDI is doing here in Thailand; after all it went along fine during the coup years.

Mingkwan should spend a bit less time picking out his handbag and a bit more time doing some work; some of his ideas have verged in insanity, and the remainder have verged on round the bend.

Total morons the current cabinet. At least that hasn't changed since TRT were in power ;-)

[Gravelrash]

Ok so they miss out on a lot of quality investment. No one here will change anything until it all totally dries up and the investments find a new home. Never mind though Taksin has found some Arabs to invest in rice farms.

[Thai at Heart]

Don't remember him ever saying that, and considering he sold his company to a foreign enterprise, I think you may find that he is more the friend of foreign investment than anyone thinks.

In Thai he continually spouted stuff about how we would be self sufficient, and the Democrats were idiots for kowtowing to the IMF etc.

What he said and did were diametrically opposed.

How amusing that now we are in a functioning democracy (and protests are part of that) that people would not be crowing how well FDI is doing here in Thailand; after all it went along fine during the coup years.

Mingkwan should spend a bit less time picking out his handbag and a bit more time doing some work; some of his ideas have verged in insanity, and the remainder have verged on round the bend.

Total morons the current cabinet. At least that hasn't changed since TRT were in power ;-)

Well looking at how Malaysia handled the issue, and numerous reports from economists that the prescribed medicine from the IMF served mainly to make the problem worse, he wasn't wrong that the Democrats were wrong to go cap in hand to the IMF. But then hindsight is a wonderful bedfellow. Being a clever politician, he neglected to mention that the problem wasn't caused by the Dem's but that is politics.

Being self sufficient, maybe he said it, maybe he didn't. If self sufficiency means that they would borrow less from overseas and fund themselves from the domestic market then he is absolutely right. There is pandering to the crowds to get elected and economic reality.

It still doesn't change the fact that most of the current guys are morons, but then the brains is sitting in the other 111 who have been banned. This is definitely the "C" stream when it comes to ability.

[h90]

Don't remember him ever saying that, and considering he sold his company to a foreign enterprise, I think you may find that he is more the friend of foreign investment than anyone thinks.

He said it several times and a few time in a very rude way. Just for example I recall the routing system for the luggage in the airport. His speech about making the system in thailand was so full of racism, that I couldn't believe it.

Another was about the SCUBA industry and that Thais can do that much better. He made a kind of school and from the first 200 students (mostly Isaan not people from close to the beach) only a handfull 3-4 or so could get the exam at the end.

I don't know what he did exactly but the speeches were that I thought I am a Jew in Nazi-Germany....

[Scott]

Sadly, and is often the case in politics everywhere, I think they are missing the point. If they want to rewrite the constitution, then let them. It still needs to be voted on and that is when people can actively be for or against it.

This gov't has some very pressing issues, such as the rising cost of energy and food. These need some attention in the near term.

[Ijustwannateach]

Unfortunately even if the current government ignores the welfare of Thais, the Thai economy, or Thailand, the market will not ignore this fact. What Thailand needs most now is a government focussed on getting the job done; not wasting time on factional politics. Can such a government achieve power in the short term? I'm not optimistic.

[hammered]

The Finance Minister had to read on the Internet what his ministry generally does, and Commerce Minister spends his time patenting "Full Moon" and "Floating Market" instead of doing his job.

The sad reality is none of them are doing their jobs. Then again the plan was not for them to run the country but to get in do a quick bunch of charter rewrites or whatever was needed to get the 111 + T off the hook and then to call another election to allow their sponsors in the 111 back into parliament. Unfortunately this self servign approach to take into consideration the realities of the world economic situation. Thsi is all compounded by the way the country has been left virtually ungoverned since the intial demos started in 2005. In this period according to the Economist Thailand saw growth shrink to 4.5% under Thaksin in 2005, 5% under mostly Thaksin plus a little bit of Sarayud in 2006 and 4.5% under Sarayud in 2007. With the world economic problems and the recession word being bandied around ever more even a highly efficient hard working government with a plan would quite likely face very hard times. The current lot who dont even seem to want to talk about anything other than constitutional reforms, plots against them, balding men, and the state of translation of English to Thai with a bunch of foul language thrown in havent havent got a hope of lessening the impacts of the economic reality on most Thai people. Sadly the relaity is when an utterly inept government hasnt got a clue how to deal with impending problems the only response is to usually create a crisis to distract attention from its failures. The bigger the problems the bigger the crisis they need. In this lies a very worrying time for Thailand.

[Plus]

Well looking at how Malaysia handled the issue, and numerous reports from economists that the prescribed medicine from the IMF served mainly to make the problem worse, he wasn't wrong that the Democrats were wrong to go cap in hand to the IMF. But then hindsight is a wonderful bedfellow. Being a clever politician, he neglected to mention that the problem wasn't caused by the Dem's but that is politics.

Or that IMF terms were negotiated by Thanong Bidaya, his "go to" man on finance issues, not by Democrats, or that both Chinese and Japanese wouldn't loan a dime until IMF conditions were put in place and there was simply no other way to save the coutnry from bankrupcy.

By the time TRT came to power, the crisis was over with growth back to 4%. "They sold your country" rhetoric was meant for upcountry farmers only, it wouldn't fly anwhere else.

[Old Man River]

Sadly, and is often the case in politics everywhere, I think they are missing the point. If they want to rewrite the constitution, then let them. It still needs to be voted on and that is when people can actively be for or against it.

Scott, the issue on a national referendum is that the choice will be either yes or no. Many voters want to be part of the re-write process via working committees as many believe (including the Democrats) that some parts of the constitution need to be re-written, but other parts (that the PPP wants re-written) should be left as is. This is too important a document to come down to a choice of either the PPP's constitution or the junta's constitution.

[steveromagnino]

Well looking at how Malaysia handled the issue, and numerous reports from economists that the prescribed medicine from the IMF served mainly to make the problem worse, he wasn't wrong that the Democrats were wrong to go cap in hand to the IMF. But then hindsight is a wonderful bedfellow. Being a clever politician, he neglected to mention that the problem wasn't caused by the Dem's but that is politics.

Being self sufficient, maybe he said it, maybe he didn't. If self sufficiency means that they would borrow less from overseas and fund themselves from the domestic market then he is absolutely right. There is pandering to the crowds to get elected and economic reality.

It still doesn't change the fact that most of the current guys are morons, but then the brains is sitting in the other 111 who have been banned. This is definitely the "C" stream when it comes to ability.

Democrats never went 'cap in hand' to the IMF; the prescribed the medicine that in part resulted in a miniboom for Thailand in the early 2000s; if we had gone all the way and liberalised, then we would be growing at a way faster rate now than we are. TRT stifled it. The only reason why people think this is what happened is that Thaksin said that is how it happened. He conveniently ignores his own role in the collapse of the Thai baht as any good politician would of course! Or that of his deputy PM in the old TRT days, Chavalit, possibly the most moronic of any politician we've had for a while.

Self sufficiency; get some of his old speeches and we are talking about anti western anti foreigner rhetoric; great book by Baker that outlines a lot of this translated in English.

If you think that the 111 banned politicians have any brains, sorry, I worked with some of them, you are well mistaken. I can think of 1 that is a great marketer, better than Mingkwan and the rest are pigs^&t. The only thing most of them were good at is gin bahn gin muang.

Unless you want to get into a debate on the quality of Newin's intellect, for instance ;_)

[jayjayjayjay]

The unfortuneate the major injustic done to the country goes all the way back to the coup. Without a coup, the Thaksin government would have eventually been pressured to amend the 1997 Constitution. Thakin's popularity would have fallen and the TRT might not have been voted back in. As it is, the people have spoken and you can not deny the majority their choice. This mess is the result of a weak system of government that allows the military too much power.

[Los78]

In my opinion I think a lot of the anti-government criticism about the Amending the charter is not really about the charter, but it goes back to PPP being victorious in the last election. Don't all you anti-government \ Anti Thaksin people realize that PAD are just trying to destabilize the country because they are bitter that PPP are in power. Or because of their ties to Thaksin.

If they really have something to say then wait for the next election and get your election victory. Let the government do what it was voted to do. PAD is just causing the investment and economic growth of Thailand to go down the drain again like after the last Coup. Thaksin maybe isn't a saint, but he did a lot for Thailand in terms of exposure and foreign relationships. He made foreign investment easier and Thailand was considered stable during his leadership. Now investment has been damaged significantly because Thailand is no longer considered stable thanks to PAD and its supporters. The coup did nothing but put Thailand back a few years. Thailand's neighbors such as Vietnam and Cambodia will be the only ones who will benefit from these negative PAD rallies to divide the country. PAD can't get over the fact that the majority of Thai's support the amendment of the Charter and have voted for the government to do what the government promised.

Let the government do a referendum on the charter as it has the right and then be quiet and accept the results stop being so bitter that the majority didn't vote your way. The government is doing its best to govern. Off coarse there are issues with members, that is with any government anywhere its normal, but causing Coups is not normal in the democratic world and that's what PAD is trying to do again. Thailand is a democracy so PAD should do things democratically! And not by turning Thais against each other and causing a divide and military coups.

[Old Man River]

Without a coup, the Thaksin government would have eventually been pressured to amend the 1997 Constitution. Thakin's popularity would have fallen and the TRT might not have been voted back in. As it is, the people have spoken and you can not deny the majority their choice. This mess is the result of a weak system of government that allows the military too much power.

It should be noted that it has been strongly rumored that Thaksin was about to declare a State of Emergency which the coup pre-empted. If this was the case then there would have been no pressure on Thaksin to do anything.

What is it about the 1997 constitution that you think Thaksin should have amended?

[Plus]

The government is doing its best to govern.

Lots of people see that it does nothing but stir up shit with their constitution plan.

Just drop the matter, go back to dealing with pressing issues, and all political troubles will disappear overnight.

Now they want referendum. In order to have that referendum they need new referendum law, new law will take time so they want to use old laws, or issue exectuive degree, bypassing the parlament. That will most certainly be challenged in the courts - it's not government's job to issue laws.

That, and the referendum, and subsequent rewrite going through all the motions, and new elections - it will take more than a year, and the chances that it will save Chart Thai and PPP from dissolution are slim to none.

The parlament, in the meantime hasn't done absolutely anything in three months, they only have Democrat sponsored laws in process.

So yes, why don't they forget the constution fight and get to business instead, get to governing the country.

If they are commited to rewrite, btw, the goverment will be in the interim mode until after new elections.

Investor confidence - forget about it.

[hammered]

In my opinion I think a lot of the anti-government criticism about the Amending the charter is not really about the charter, but it goes back to PPP being victorious in the last election. Don't all you anti-government \ Anti Thaksin people realize that PAD are just trying to destabilize the country because they are bitter that PPP are in power. Or because of their ties to Thaksin.

If they really have something to say then wait for the next election and get your election victory. Let the government do what it was voted to do. PAD is just causing the investment and economic growth of Thailand to go down the drain again like after the last Coup. Thaksin maybe isn't a saint, but he did a lot for Thailand in terms of exposure and foreign relationships. He made foreign investment easier and Thailand was considered stable during his leadership. Now investment has been damaged significantly because Thailand is no longer considered stable thanks to PAD and its supporters. The coup did nothing but put Thailand back a few years. Thailand's neighbors such as Vietnam and Cambodia will be the only ones who will benefit from these negative PAD rallies to divide the country. PAD can't get over the fact that the majority of Thai's support the amendment of the Charter and have voted for the government to do what the government promised.

Let the government do a referendum on the charter as it has the right and then be quiet and accept the results stop being so bitter that the majority didn't vote your way. The government is doing its best to govern. Off coarse there are issues with members, that is with any government anywhere its normal, but causing Coups is not normal in the democratic world and that's what PAD is trying to do again. Thailand is a democracy so PAD should do things democratically! And not by turning Thais against each other and causing a divide and military coups.

That is an extremely questionable point when they dont even have the parliamentary committees set up after a bunch of months. They may be doing their best to ammend the constitution which is their right, but as for looking at the economy little to nothing has been done. It is this as much as anything that causes consternation in potential investors. It can also be argued that it is the duty of the government in power to wind the rhatoric down and get on with running the country, which is also waht a governnemtn are elcted to do. Many many countries governments run the countries effectively and dont resort to blaming basically powerless extra-parliamentary democratic demos for problems. Still in Thailand it seems everything is turned 180 degrees. Certainly if the PAD or anyone else like the Chiang Mai farmers burning effigies of Mingwan want to demonstarte about a government not doing what it was elected to do, ie take care of the interests of all the people of a country - not just a the sizeable minority that voted for them - then surely that is part of a democratic process and it is up to those elected to pull up their socks and do a beter job if of course one wants to look at things in terms of democracy.

[hammered]

The government is doing its best to govern.

Lots of people see that it does nothing but stir up shit with their constitution plan.

Just drop the matter, go back to dealing with pressing issues, and all political troubles will disappear overnight.

Now they want referendum. In order to have that referendum they need new referendum law, new law will take time so they want to use old laws, or issue exectuive degree, bypassing the parlament. That will most certainly be challenged in the courts - it's not government's job to issue laws.

That, and the referendum, and subsequent rewrite going through all the motions, and new elections - it will take more than a year, and the chances that it will save Chart Thai and PPP from dissolution are slim to none.

The parlament, in the meantime hasn't done absolutely anything in three months, they only have Democrat sponsored laws in process.

So yes, why don't they forget the constution fight and get to business instead, get to governing the country.

If they are commited to rewrite, btw, the goverment will be in the interim mode until after new elections.

Investor confidence - forget about it.

If one wants to be cynical keeping the charter ammendment debate and the rather ugly face of Mr. "no freedom of the media allowed here" all over the front page of newspapers and in the main TV and radio news spots does keep the appalling economic news that the government are ignoring away from these critical news spots.

[Old Man River]

Actually, I agree with the comment that this government is doing its best to govern. The problem is that its best is horrible. Not surprising really when Samak referred to it as being ugly right from the start.

[Ijustwannateach]

I think the unproductive "for us/against us" dialectic which is unfortunately starting again in this thread is the heart of the problem itself. People (including the politicians) have forgotten the reasons for governance and seem to think they are in a football match cheering for their favourite team.

[jayjayjayjay]

The government is doing its best to govern.

Lots of people see that it does nothing but stir up shit with their constitution plan.

Just drop the matter, go back to dealing with pressing issues, and all political troubles will disappear overnight.

Now they want referendum. In order to have that referendum they need new referendum law, new law will take time so they want to use old laws, or issue exectuive degree, bypassing the parlament. That will most certainly be challenged in the courts - it's not government's job to issue laws.

That, and the referendum, and subsequent rewrite going through all the motions, and new elections - it will take more than a year, and the chances that it will save Chart Thai and PPP from dissolution are slim to none.

The parlament, in the meantime hasn't done absolutely anything in three months, they only have Democrat sponsored laws in process.

So yes, why don't they forget the constution fight and get to business instead, get to governing the country.

If they are commited to rewrite, btw, the goverment will be in the interim mode until after new elections.

Investor confidence - forget about it.

I always thought he road to democracy for Thailand was 20years long. I could see issues of government officers having to gain returns on "their" investments. ie promotions don't happen based on skill and application to a task, this is at the root of Thailand system of public administration. So, will investors cease to invest, NO, they will continue, will the have confidence, who cares, investors invest to make a buck. The real issue here is will the public service ever operate as we know it in the west? I doubt it! So we end up with a stale mate, steveromagnino's rubbish that TRT stifled growth, the Democrates may have seen growth if they had been in power from 2001 to 2006, but I doubt you could prove they would have achieved the same grass roots growth as TRT did!

[Seneque]

The government is doing its best to govern

I agree they are doing the best they can do ... we can see/read everyday where it leads : nowhere !

[steveromagnino]

The obvious solution would be to let me run things and everyone else to take a load off, after all I know I am better than 109 of the 111 banned, and certainly better than probably all or almost all of the current cabinet.

Basically, and without putting too fine a point on it.....I am awesome. They suck.

At the end of the day, I don't think any serious business person has any faith with bozos like Mingkwan; they were skeptical of Somkid but at least he did something instead of talking about full moon party trademarks and rice cartels!

[Old Man River]

The obvious solution would be to let me run things and everyone else to take a load off, after all I know I am better than 109 of the 111 banned, and certainly better than probably all or almost all of the current cabinet.

Basically, and without putting too fine a point on it.....I am awesome. They suck.

At the end of the day, I don't think any serious business person has any faith with bozos like Mingkwan; they were skeptical of Somkid but at least he did something instead of talking about full moon party trademarks and rice cartels!

Ok, you're hired!

I agree on Somkid. You said 109 of the 111. Assuming you are putting Somkid in a higher than thou category, who is the other one? If not Somkid, then who are the two?

[Plus]

So, will investors cease to invest, NO, they will continue, will the have confidence, who cares, investors invest to make a buck.

For twenty years, when political stability was guaranteed no matter who came to power or how, including coups, ivestors had confidence as everything was predictable.

The latest challenge to the order of things scared them off, when they realised that Thaksin didn't have backing from upstairs, and I don't mean monarchy, there are other people who are above the politicos of the day, like Prem's network, for example. Pissing him off apparenlty elicited oohs and ahhs not only among Thais or FCCT crowd. Investors sat back and waited for the dust to settle for almost two years.

Current government recieved their blessings and initially it appeared to go along with everybody, but now they are on the war path again and no one knows why. They've been told time and time again that they should avoid political cofrontation if they want to see business confidence back, and what have they done?