Thai business groups renew talks offer: Political deadlock

[webfact]

POLITICS
Groups renew talks offer
Petchanet Pratruangkrai,
Bamrung Amnartcharoenrit
The Nation


Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra gets an enthusiastic welcome from police during her inspection of increased security measures at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- Business leaders will step up their role as mediators to try to find a solution to the political deadlock by hosting a meeting of all parties from the private and government sectors - in the next two days.

The move came after news that the economy has been hit with a loss of US$120 billion or one percentage point of GDP.

The Thai baht continued to plunge yesterday, falling to 33.12 per US dollar - the lowest level since February 2010. Although foreign buyers returned to the stock market, with net-buys of nearly Bt2 billion in the first three working days of this year, they dumped Thai bonds worth more than Bt3 billion.

"It has been shown that all sectors have agreed that Thailand is in need of reform. But, we need to talk about what kind of reform and when it should be done," Isara Vongkusolkit, chairman of the Joint Private Standing Committee, said yesterday.

"Private enterprises would like to see solutions soon, as the conflict has created a huge impact on all sectors," he said.

The meeting will be held on behalf of seven private groups - the Tourism Council of Thailand, the Thai Bankers' Association, the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Thai Industries, the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organisations, the Stock Exchange of Thailand and the Thai Listed Companies Association.

Isara said many businesses need to prepare for the threat to occupy Bangkok, with a plan for a "quick win" to ensure their business can carry on. "But we do hope that solutions can come out soon, and every party needed to talk about this.

After the joint private standing panel meeting, Payungsak Chartsutipol, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, said the "Shutdown" next week would immediately create a huge impact on small businesses, as they have low financial liquidity.

He said political instability had already affected the economy and would continue. Asean economies had grown by 5 per cent, but the Thai economy had dropped by 1 per cent already.

"All concerned parties need to raise foreigners' confidence and ensure no turbulence", he said.

The Joint Private Standing Committee comprises the three most powerful private groups - the Federation of Thai Industries, the Board of Trade and Thai Chamber of Commerce, and the Thai Bankers Association.

Pornsil Patchrintanakul, vice chairman to the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said enterprises needed to carefully prepare for the Shutdown as it could disrupt transportation and logistics. In case of some difficulty for marine shipment, enterprises may need to use air freight, which would make costs higher.

In the meantime, airlines will reduce the number of flights to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Tourism will be one of the first industries to be hit hard by the prolonged political fight, but government and business chiefs are prepared for repercussions.

Yongyut Lujintanon, sales and marketing manager for Thailand and Myanmar of Cathay Pacific Airways, said the airline has cut 16 flights from Hong Kong this month, from some 63 a week. The change is aimed at coping with falling demand from Hong Kong after the city-state issued travel warning about the Thai crisis.

This is for the first time the airline has done this, but follows a month of mounting political tension. However, December was a good month for the airline with many travellers for the New Year plus regular business travellers.

Advanced bookings for the Chinese New Year have continued without cancellations at this stage. The firm is closely watching the plan to shut down Bangkok from next week. All information about this will be collected in order to help evaluate the situation and make decisions about flights next month.

Tassapol Bijleveld, chief executive of Thai AirAsia, the country's biggest low-cost carrier, said the firm had kept its operation as usual. However, the firm has monitored the situation more closely.

He acknowledged that the number of passengers, especially from China, has dropped slightly. This was partly due to the political crisis and a travel warning issued by the Chinese government, which makes people hesitant to fly here.

December was a good month for the airline, even with the political tension.

He urged both sides to step back and talk to seek a peaceful solution. The conflict posed risks to tourism, which was associated with various businesses in the country.

"Clearly, the country has a bitter experience from the closure of airports before. For this part, that is still in the mind of foreign tourists. That makes them worry about trips here. They may shift their trip to other nations and this would make it difficult to call them back when the situation returns to normal. Possibly, they may fall in love with that other country already,'' he said.

But if the situation ended soon, he believed that tourism would rebound in 45 days, driven by the private sector.


-- The Nation 2014-01-07

[Robby nz]

Good.

Somebody now needs to be decisive and step in and take over and show leadership.

These people have been hit in the pocket so now they are coming out of the woodwork, lets hope they can be the ones who can start a meaningful reform process that will lead somewhere.

There is no way anyone can be trusted to reform after they are comfortably in power after an election, particularly if reforms don't suit their agenda.

Suthep has done a great job of raising awareness and getting people out to dump the amnesty bill, forcing PT to dissolve parliament and now ensuring an election at this stage can never be won.

However I agree with a commentator elsewhere that he has now gone about as far as he can go and it needs someone else to step in and take the lead to bring about real change for the better.

There now needs to be clear and concise guidelines of what needs to be done then a plan put in place to do the job...... Before an election.

[ramrod711]

All those nice policemen are smiling, for two reasons really, 1. they are all on overtime, 2. they are not rice farmers.

[rreddin]

Good.

Somebody now needs to be decisive and step in and take over and show leadership.

These people have been hit in the pocket so now they are coming out of the woodwork, lets hope they can be the ones who can start a meaningful reform process that will lead somewhere.

There is no way anyone can be trusted to reform after they are comfortably in power after an election, particularly if reforms don't suit their agenda.

Suthep has done a great job of raising awareness and getting people out to dump the amnesty bill, forcing PT to dissolve parliament and now ensuring an election at this stage can never be won.

However I agree with a commentator elsewhere that he has now gone about as far as he can go and it needs someone else to step in and take the lead to bring about real change for the better.

There now needs to be clear and concise guidelines of what needs to be done then a plan put in place to do the job...... Before an election.

An offer of talks is meaningless unless the several business groups have serious proposals for discussion. Business issues are only a part of the problem. There are political and social issues that have to be resolved before a mutaly acceptable consensus can be reached. Hopefully, these business groups will be the catalyst that starts the process, but finding a lasting and meaningful solution will not be quick. Some aspects, such as ending the endemic corruption in Thailand, will take decades.

[Ulic]

A waste of time Suthep will only accept total capitulation. It his turn to feed at the trough, and he is hungry.

[rickirs]

"Business leaders will step up their role as mediators."What a farce. It was okay for them to play politics through Suthep's unconstitutional acts and political antics to throw the Pheu Thai Party out of power. But when their wealth becomes seriously threatened by the reality of a prolonged shutdown of Bankok and commerce without Yingluck's administration abdicating before the elections, it doesn't look so fun anymore. They fear Suthep will become more radical each day closer to election day and quite possibly beyond that economic damage to their businesses will become inevitable and irrepairable. There is no reaons for Yingluck to give these "leaders" anything more than lip service.

[khunken]

"Business leaders will step up their role as mediators."What a farce. It was okay for them to play politics through Suthep's unconstitutional acts and political antics to throw the Pheu Thai Party out of power. But when their wealth becomes seriously threatened by the reality of a prolonged shutdown of Bankok and commerce without Yingluck's administration abdicating before the elections, it doesn't look so fun anymore. They fear Suthep will become more radical each day closer to election day and quite possibly beyond that economic damage to their businesses will become inevitable and irrepairable. There is no reaons for Yingluck to give these "leaders" anything more than lip service.

Yes, all Thais of whatever groupings should keep quiet and allow TV posters' expertise to ensure that nothing is done to improve the country.

Why shouldn't any group that the current crisis affects be allowed to make suggestions? There is a very good reason for Yingluck to listen to them because some groups contain PTP suporting businesses. The problem is not getting Yingluck to hold talks - it's getting the real power broker to give her the power to negotiate.

[fab4]

"Business leaders will step up their role as mediators."What a farce. It was okay for them to play politics through Suthep's unconstitutional acts and political antics to throw the Pheu Thai Party out of power. But when their wealth becomes seriously threatened by the reality of a prolonged shutdown of Bankok and commerce without Yingluck's administration abdicating before the elections, it doesn't look so fun anymore. They fear Suthep will become more radical each day closer to election day and quite possibly beyond that economic damage to their businesses will become inevitable and irrepairable. There is no reaons for Yingluck to give these "leaders" anything more than lip service.

Yes, all Thais of whatever groupings should keep quiet and allow TV posters' expertise to ensure that nothing is done to improve the country.

Why shouldn't any group that the current crisis affects be allowed to make suggestions? There is a very good reason for Yingluck to listen to them because some groups contain PTP suporting businesses. The problem is not getting Yingluck to hold talks - it's getting the real power broker to give her the power to negotiate.

Yes indeed, business groups should be allowed their say - like perhaps the Silom Business Group and the National Institute of Development Administration but they're going to be quite busy arranging their rally sites at Lumpini Park and Asoke Intersection respectively, doing their best to stymie any kind of progress at all.

Edited January 7, 2014 by fab4

[tx22cb]

Thai Biz leaders are revealing how self-serving they are. Last month they gave their tacit (or was it explicit?) support to Mr Suthep, as it was NITBY (not in their back yards).

I really hope that the whistlers set up at least 1 large camp at Silom, preferably along the whole of Silom.

And another slug in Sathorn.

Suthep reaped millions from Biz supporters when he was on one of his pilgrims last month.

Let's see how patient these businesses are when their customers/suppliers cannot commute there.

When Suthep's crowd were at Ratchadamnern Ave, they promised to compensate the businesses there for loss of income due to the prolonged occupation. I don't know if that promise was fully kept.

I wonder whether Suthep will make similar promises to the businesses in the 20 (?) new rally sites .....

[khunken]

"Business leaders will step up their role as mediators."What a farce. It was okay for them to play politics through Suthep's unconstitutional acts and political antics to throw the Pheu Thai Party out of power. But when their wealth becomes seriously threatened by the reality of a prolonged shutdown of Bankok and commerce without Yingluck's administration abdicating before the elections, it doesn't look so fun anymore. They fear Suthep will become more radical each day closer to election day and quite possibly beyond that economic damage to their businesses will become inevitable and irrepairable. There is no reaons for Yingluck to give these "leaders" anything more than lip service.

Yes, all Thais of whatever groupings should keep quiet and allow TV posters' expertise to ensure that nothing is done to improve the country.

Why shouldn't any group that the current crisis affects be allowed to make suggestions? There is a very good reason for Yingluck to listen to them because some groups contain PTP suporting businesses. The problem is not getting Yingluck to hold talks - it's getting the real power broker to give her the power to negotiate.

Yes indeed, business groups should be allowed their say - like perhaps the Silom Business Group and the National Institute of Development Administration but they're going to be quite busy arranging their rally sites at Lumpini Park and Asoke Intersection respectively, doing their best to stymie any kind of progress at all.

'Stymie any kind of progress'? Rubbish - just the opposite.

The groups dead against any progress or cleanliness are PTP & the red shirts in the main with a few others quite happy with the status quo.

Read the Op again - NIDA and the Silom Business group were not one of the 7 mentioned.

Is this another 'but, but Abhisit... ' type of troll?

[khunken]

Thai Biz leaders are revealing how self-serving they are. Last month they gave their tacit (or was it explicit?) support to Mr Suthep, as it was NITBY (not in their back yards).

I really hope that the whistlers set up at least 1 large camp at Silom, preferably along the whole of Silom.

And another slug in Sathorn.

Suthep reaped millions from Biz supporters when he was on one of his pilgrims last month.

Let's see how patient these businesses are when their customers/suppliers cannot commute there.

When Suthep's crowd were at Ratchadamnern Ave, they promised to compensate the businesses there for loss of income due to the prolonged occupation. I don't know if that promise was fully kept.

I wonder whether Suthep will make similar promises to the businesses in the 20 (?) new rally sites .....

Pity you have to twist facts in order to make your point.

The business groups gave no tacit or otherwise backing to Suthep or PTP - they offered to mediate which the anti-Suthep brigade seem to think is support.

They have already had a fairly large protest in Silom - did you not follow the news?

'Suthep reaped millions' in your worst fantasy.

I'm sure Suthep will compensate businesses for losses just like Thaksin did in 2010.

Sorry but picking on one bogeyman when there are far richer, more corrupt & more power crazy ones around is pissing into the wind.