Businesses To Sue Govt And DAAD Over Losses Due To Continuing Rallies By The Red-Shirts

[ianbaggie]

It's absolutely farcical for "businesses" to sue the reds for business loss when actually the closure of the international airport was what damaged most the economy.

Let me explain our personal experience.

Early 2006, our Bangkok office was doing fine. We were even studying the opportunity to move some operation to Bangkok because of its central location in South East Asia and the relatively low cost of doing business there. Then the coup was the beginning of the trouble. We were still able to manage to convince our board and customers that it was business as usual, even if they remained worry by what they can see and hear, especially some particularly irresponsible comments, business wise, by the coup makers.

Then came the closure of the international airport, the straw that broke the camel back. It was a human and logistical nightmare, with staff, customers and goods strand either in or out of Thailand. The inability of the government to control the situation, the totally irresponsible comments of important political figure, that was it. Anybody who was not linked to local operation was immediately transfered, or sacked then replaced in other regional centres. Expansion plans were indefinitely shelved.

The problem is confidence hasn't been restored, nobody knows who is really in charge. With Thaksin, Bangkok would be by now an important regional centre. Now it will take years before confidence is restored. And I'm not even talking about the problems with almost all neighborhood countries.

So I can understand that some people were not very happy with Thaksin policies, but they should realize that they have lost great opportunities of development by supporting the PAD and its backers, and it will still take a couple of more years to repare the dammages done.

Your argument fails completely Jurgen old son when you add in the fact that the Thai economy was BOOMING before the red shirt protest. This is what wrecked it, that is what closed down large areas of the center of Bangkok as it was designed to do by Thaksin Shinawatra and started the day after his 43billion stolen assets were taken back.. Please do some research before you post again - its painful to read Jurgen!

Edited May 23, 2011 by ianbaggie

[ballpoint]

It's absolutely farcical for "businesses" to sue the reds for business loss when actually the closure of the international airport was what damaged most the economy.

Let me explain our personal experience.

Early 2006, our Bangkok office was doing fine. We were even studying the opportunity to move some operation to Bangkok because of its central location in South East Asia and the relatively low cost of doing business there. Then the coup was the beginning of the trouble. We were still able to manage to convince our board and customers that it was business as usual, even if they remained worry by what they can see and hear, especially some particularly irresponsible comments, business wise, by the coup makers.

Then came the closure of the international airport, the straw that broke the camel back. It was a human and logistical nightmare, with staff, customers and goods strand either in or out of Thailand. The inability of the government to control the situation, the totally irresponsible comments of important political figure, that was it. Anybody who was not linked to local operation was immediately transfered, or sacked then replaced in other regional centres. Expansion plans were indefinitely shelved.

The problem is confidence hasn't been restored, nobody knows who is really in charge. With Thaksin, Bangkok would be by now an important regional centre. Now it will take years before confidence is restored. And I'm not even talking about the problems with almost all neighborhood countries.

So I can understand that some people were not very happy with Thaksin policies, but they should realize that they have lost great opportunities of development by supporting the PAD and its backers, and it will still take a couple of more years to repare the dammages done.

The reason why the airport was shut down was because of Thaksin. The government that was unable to control the situation was loyal to Thaksin, and "led" by his brother in law, although we all know that it was Thaksin himself that was ultimately in charge. And yet you are using this as a reasoning to bring Thaksin back? What would he have done differently if he had been here? Have his thugs storm the terminal, looting and burning as they expelled the protestors? There are many businesses starting, or adding to, their investment in Thailand under the current government, so obviously they have confidence. One wonders if the lack of confidence shown by your board is in Thailand itself, or simply in local management choosing a convenient scapegoat to explain its shortcomings? There is a major difference between having your business disrupted for a week, and having it totally shut down for months, followed by having it fire bombed, and then periodically shut down on the whim of a group of people who are led by and paid by the crook you support.

Edited May 23, 2011 by ballpoint

[JurgenG]

It's absolutely farcical for "businesses" to sue the reds for business loss when actually the closure of the international airport was what damaged most the economy.

Let me explain our personal experience.

Early 2006, our Bangkok office was doing fine. We were even studying the opportunity to move some operation to Bangkok because of its central location in South East Asia and the relatively low cost of doing business there. Then the coup was the beginning of the trouble. We were still able to manage to convince our board and customers that it was business as usual, even if they remained worry by what they can see and hear, especially some particularly irresponsible comments, business wise, by the coup makers.

Then came the closure of the international airport, the straw that broke the camel back. It was a human and logistical nightmare, with staff, customers and goods strand either in or out of Thailand. The inability of the government to control the situation, the totally irresponsible comments of important political figure, that was it. Anybody who was not linked to local operation was immediately transfered, or sacked then replaced in other regional centres. Expansion plans were indefinitely shelved.

The problem is confidence hasn't been restored, nobody knows who is really in charge. With Thaksin, Bangkok would be by now an important regional centre. Now it will take years before confidence is restored. And I'm not even talking about the problems with almost all neighborhood countries.

So I can understand that some people were not very happy with Thaksin policies, but they should realize that they have lost great opportunities of development by supporting the PAD and its backers, and it will still take a couple of more years to repare the dammages done.

So you wouldn't have an office in London then, with all the problems they have at Heathrow? Paris must be a pain too, with farmers blocking ports etc whenever they don't get enough subsidies.

There must be a few other cities that give you problems when they have a week of strikes over something or other.

Of course, the airport being shut for a week HAS GOT TO BE WORSE than than protesters shutting down the centre of the city of 2 months, not to mention the innocent bystanders being killed and injured by grenades.

It's a bit hard to restore confidence when protesters threaten to blow up buses and burn down cities. Bringing an armed militia to a "peaceful protest" doesn't help much either.

Thailand's political instability IS a deterrent to doing business here, but the airport being shut for a week is only a very small part of the problem.

Small part ? It was a major inconvenience for airlines, travel agents, import-export companies ... Have you any idea of the cost per hour of a stranded aircraft ? All included the costs was probably in billions of bahts.

In an other thread "educated" members said they had no idea who the head of the IMF was before he made the headlines a few days ago. No wonder they have absolutely no understanding of the cost of closing an international airport, even if it's only for one week ...

Edited May 23, 2011 by JurgenG

[JurgenG]

Of course, the airport being shut for a week HAS GOT TO BE WORSE than than protesters shutting down the centre of the city of 2 months, not to mention the innocent bystanders being killed and injured by grenades.

Thailand export a lot of fresh products. After a couple of day of waiting in a warehouse, everything has to be destroy. For your downtown grocery store, that should represents more than a couple of years of sales. Your downtown grocery store employ maybe 2-3 employees. For an international fresh product company, it's hundreds of people in the country side plus the truck drivers, the warehouse, the office workers ....

In term of everything, closing an international airport even for a couple of days is much worse that closing a downtown centre for a couple of weeks

[Thai at Heart]

I good move, no matter how long it takes. Also could provider an injunction to stop the incessant ralies any time a propitious date comes up. There are plenty of lagre spaces where no damage to others happens in the city L:ump[in Park quickly comes to mind. The Reds choose a place that REALLY disrupts commerce and the nation. Over 1,000 hotel rooms from the last rally alone....

Interestingly they are suing the Reds from disrupting their business AND the government for not running them off fast enough, or simply allowing them to do it repeatedly. Fairplay. In both cases those that suffered didn't have a dog in the fight, but suffered none the less, or actually the most.

I recommend a little piece of contentious land on Rachada. I hear it is has a pretty chequered history with ownership that should make it pretty appropriate. Pretty good access, close enough to town, but just out of the way. It can be become "Protesters Garden" with attached food halls, shopping, bespoke stage and the such. An enormous speakers corner.

In fact, I am surprised someone like Chuwit hasn't suggested it.

[whybother]

Small part ? It was a major inconvenience for airlines, travel agents, import-export companies ... Have you any idea of the cost per hour of a stranded aircraft ? All included the costs was probably in billions of bahts.

In an other thread "educated" members said they had no idea who the head of the IMF was before he made the headlines a few days ago. No wonder they have absolutely no understanding of the cost of closing an international airport, even if it's only for one week ...

Correct. It was a major inconvenience ... for a week. Then things got back to normal.

The red shirts stopped some businesses from operating for 2 months, and are continuing to effect those businesses every month. For Central World, it's been a little bit more than a major inconvenience. For the hotel businesses, it's been a little bit more than a major inconvenience.

Having the airport shut down is a major inconvenience.

Having continual protests affects peoples and business confidence.

[metisdead]

An inflammtory post and a reply have been removed.

Posters are reminded to stay on topic and to refrain from comments concerning the character of other posters.

[ianbaggie]

Of course, the airport being shut for a week HAS GOT TO BE WORSE than than protesters shutting down the centre of the city of 2 months, not to mention the innocent bystanders being killed and injured by grenades.

Thailand export a lot of fresh products. After a couple of day of waiting in a warehouse, everything has to be destroy. For your downtown grocery store, that should represents more than a couple of years of sales. Your downtown grocery store employ maybe 2-3 employees. For an international fresh product company, it's hundreds of people in the country side plus the truck drivers, the warehouse, the office workers ....

In term of everything, closing an international airport even for a couple of days is much worse that closing a downtown centre for a couple of weeks

Whats a "downtown centre" You obviously mean Rachprasong - the center of Bangkoks commercial and retail hub. Thailands industry byu the way relies on "fresh produce to provide 0.1375% of its total GDP.

Hardly a significant factor - much like your other ramblings!!

[JurgenG]

You're back ? I didn't expect you so soon ...

Anyway, I'll follow cdnvic avises on this one and pass.

[dunkin2012]

You're back ? I didn't expect you so soon ...

Anyway, I'll follow cdnvic avises on this one and pass.

hum?...............

never argue with a moron?

haha..........

[ianbaggie]

Election in Thailand – so what!! Why would any educated westerner care?? We pay taxes to the Thai state, we don’t get to vote!! We are subjected to a 2 tier payment system for everything from food to toilet paper to books to kitchen cabinets – Ive even seen Thais try to charge more for petrol than the pump prices say for foreigners. We cant own land or more than 49% of a business or house!! Were just ATM machines to be extorted and sent home – compare this to the western attitude to foreigners.

However, electing a wanted criminal on the back of a vote bribe just proves that Thais can be bought VERY cheaply – ask yourself why??. Nowhere else can a political party openly buy a vote for 10 pounds (14$) !!! So go ahead Thailand, bring Thaksin back, then he can pillage the country again like he did 5 years ago and the village people in Isan who’ve by and large never seen the inside of a classroom can have a new cow with the 3000 baht they get in 4 instalments!!

The civilized world has just managed to escape from financial and inflation disaster, so what does this wanted criminal suggest – “bring in credit cards for those unable to payback”, that’s his major policy. He talks about making Thailand “a hub: the same as Dubai – Dubai has had to be bailed out by Saudi 14 times in the last 3 years and remember, unfortunately Thailand doesn’t have a big Arab brother to bail it out!!. This man will destroy Thailand and it will never recover. After Pheu Thai are elected, the next time a street beggar asks you for money, tell him in Thai “Not my job any more - Thaksin will take care of you now!” Thailand WILL become the laughing stock of the whole world if they allow a wanted criminal to buy his way into their countries Premiership, but I fear that Thais are so greedy, that that’s exactly what will happen !! And they’ll call it democracy!!!!!

[whybother]

<snipped OT post>

I'm sure there are a few other unrelated threads you could cut and paste this to.