Beefed-up security hits businesses

[Lite Beer]

Beefed-up security hits businesses
Chanon Wongsatayanont
The Sunday Nation

Large LCD screens at the Victory Monument show pro-military footages.

BANGKOK: -- Customers seem to be avoiding the Victory Monument and Ratchaprasong areas for fear of conflict

The Victory Monument and the Ratchaprasong intersection, which had been the epicentre of the anti-coup protests and military supervision in the past weeks, seems to be avoided by many people fearing conflict. As a result, businesses of all kinds are taking a hit, despite the junta's best efforts to create an atmosphere of reconciliation.

At first glance, both areas seem to open for business as usual on a Saturday afternoon, but most stall owners are wearing a frown on what should be their most profitable day. From clothes shops to public transport van service, they said their customer numbers had dwindled by at least a half as a result of the past unrest.

Late last month, soldiers had closed off Victory Monument following a stand-off between soldiers and anti-coup protesters, which ended with an Army Humvee being vandalised. Many shopkeepers believe this was why their businesses were most badly affected.

Chalong Wongkamchan, 40, said that the demand for his public transport van service at Victory Monument had dropped severely. Before the protest, he had around 180 customers a day but since then, he could only find 80. His transport service to Chon Buri was also down from 200 customers to just 100 at peak time.

A clothes vendor at Victory Monument, who refrained from giving his name, said he could usually sell 50-60 pieces of clothing a day before the protests but afterwards, he could only sell around 15 a day. "These days, the vendors look around at each other's stall to see who is going to survive," he said.

He suspects that people are scared off by the Army's presence, as there are about a 100 soldiers and policemen who come to guard Victory Monument every evening.

Yesterday was no different. But in addition to that, there were pro-military images being shown on all the LCD screens around Victory Monument at 5pm, coupled with pro-military and reconciliation music being played on loudspeakers. Even if soldiers and policemen were just standing guard, shoppers and passers-by looked tense.

As part of the first phase of the NCPO's road map to election, the junta began the "Returning the Happiness to the People" campaign, organising musical concerts, free food, drinks, as well as a barber service at Victory Monument. The objective is to create a ground for the polarised society to reconcile and also improve the image of the Army.

However, the vendors in the area had a cool response to this. A bag vendor, who gave her name as 'Ning', said that the Army had blocked the entrance to her stall so she had very few customers that day. The clothes vendor also said that lots of people came to the event but no one visited his shop.

The Army is paying less attention to the Ratchaprasong area when compared to Victory Monument. But McDonald's at Amarin Plaza that was the gathering point for anti-coup protesters two weeks ago, remained wary. They posted a notice on their door prohibiting politically related activity in the restaurant, but had no plans to close the restaurant today despite rumours of another anti-coup rally.

Business near the Ratchaprasong intersection was also affected, including vendors selling flowers and joss sticks near the Erawan Shrine, a famous site for worshippers and tourists.

Aomjai Maneesup, 29, was one such vendor, who said far fewer people visited the shrine or bought flowers. She said people came to pray at the shrine and left the site quickly, as they were scared of the Army and a potential conflict.

"The Army officials control the area now so it's safe, but it doesn't help business. The street is still quiet all the same," she said.

-- The Nation 2014-06-08

[Lite Beer]

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[The stuttering parrot]

Free food free drinks concerts and even a barber service!

What happened to the banning of groups of 5 or more or has this been lifted?

[EricBerg]

As the authorities now are providing security and stability, business for the vendors soon will be back to normal. Customers will come back. Like the ricefarmers the vendors only need to hang on a bit longer. For them it's only a matter of a few weeks tops.

Edited June 8, 2014 by EricBerg

[city]

Yesterday was no different. But in addition to that, there were pro-military images being shown on all the LCD screens around Victory Monument at 5pm, coupled with pro-military and reconciliation music being played on loudspeakers

This reminds me of somewhere

[noitom]

The sheeple will come if you build it.

[BillyBobThai]

Free food free drinks concerts and even a barber service!

What happened to the banning of groups of 5 or more or has this been lifted?

How many would like to see the parrot put back in his cage??

[Gunna]

Free food free drinks concerts and even a barber service!

What happened to the banning of groups of 5 or more or has this been lifted?

How many would like to see the parrot put back in his cage??

Or wring it's neck.

[davejones23]

Free food free drinks concerts and even a barber service!

What happened to the banning of groups of 5 or more or has this been lifted?

Groups of 5 or more haven't been banned at all. Only groups gathered for political purposes are banned, as far as I understand.

[kratiam]

Free food free drinks concerts and even a barber service!

What happened to the banning of groups of 5 or more or has this been lifted?

Five or more for POLITICAL reasons.........

[Robby nz]

Could it possibly be that the reason for the beefed up security is what has hit the businesses.

If there was no reason for the security to be there it would not be there.

Take away the reason, threat if you like, and there would be no security presence.

[fab4]

Could it possibly be that the reason for the beefed up security is what has hit the businesses.

If there was no reason for the security to be there it would not be there.

Take away the reason, threat if you like, and there would be no security presence.

What threat would that be then, criticism?

[Lancelot]

At the first sign of soldiers/police, I leave the area. Its not my country or concern and I'm determined not to become involved, even by accident

Edited June 8, 2014 by Lancelot

[joshstiles]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Free food free drinks concerts and even a barber service!

What happened to the banning of groups of 5 or more or has this been lifted?

How many would like to see the parrot put back in his cage??

He already is in his cage!

[tomross46]

I would rather have beefed-up security, than a burning business, as happened after the Red Shirt demonstrations.

[maxme]

Free food free drinks concerts and even a barber service!

What happened to the banning of groups of 5 or more or has this been lifted?

How many would like to see the parrot put back in his cage??

This just shows that some posters just aren't mature enough to conduct a constructive discussion or debate, despite their age.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[fab4]

I would rather have beefed-up security, than a burning business, as happened after the Red Shirt demonstrations.

It appears that the Thai people who actually own businesses in the area concerned, differ in their opinion to some westerner with an agenda posting on an internet forum, strangely enough.