Songkhla business reps plead for martial law repeal

[webfact]

Songkhla Business Reps Plead For Martial Law Repeal
By Khaosod English

SONGKHLA – Business owners in Songkhla province are calling on Thailand's military junta to repeal martial law because of its grave damages to the tourism industry.

"Fifty percent of tourists are gone," said Somchart Pimthanapoompon, chairman of Haat Yai - Songkhla Hotel Association. "It is especially because the martial law that the government has retained for political and stability reasons. Business people understand there is still underground movement that may cause chaos, but foreign tourists are fearful of the martial law."

Somchai explained that many tourists are not coming to Thailand because their insurance agencies refuse to cover their trips because of the law, which exempts security officers from liability over any damages caused while the law is in place. The 100-year-old law also permits the army to to break up any protests, detain individuals and search home without warrants, censor the press, and "burn any house or thing which may be useful to the enemy."

The number of tourist arrivals in Thailand this year has already been hampered by the sporadically violent anti-government street protests that paralyzed the nation’s capital for six months beginning in November 2013. The military dispersed protesters after staging a coup in May, but the declaration of the martial law has failed to significantly reverse the trend.

Somchai expressed concern that prolonged imposition of martial law will affect tourism in Songkhla province during its annual "High Season," which runs from November to late March.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1414046603


-- Khaosod English 2014-10-23

[clockman]

The golden goose, has been dying for some time!

[bangkokfrog]

Is there something about the Thai language that makes every Somchart a Somchai ???

[WhizBang]

I don't suppose all the terrorist activity in the south could have anything, if not more, to do with the declining tourist numbers?

[ToddinChonburi]

Blame it on Marshal Law instead of there own corruption. Way to go guys.

[weegee]

I just hope the Military Dont lift the Martial law....Songkhla Town?...after dark, streets are blocked with Barbed Wire and Gun Posts erected....Why?, anyone with brains knows why. Never seen this 15yrs ago....

Keep doing it, and use a quote from Canada "We will not be intimated"...If you want Thailand to be Thailand, actions are greater than words....

Keeping the lid on the pressure pot, stops the mess on the stove......

[PaullyW]

Is there something about the Thai language that makes every Somchart a Somchai ???

Pretty confident that Somchai means human

[toybits]

When the protests were going on (that is before the declaration of Martial Law) were the tourism figures much better then? I wonder if the very same Songkhla business owners were also cheering/jumping with joy when the Coup kicked out Yingluck?

[englishoak]

Gotta be honest Martial Law is imo more needed in the deep south than any other part of the country.There, Pattani and Yala

Hes right about this though ....many tourists are not coming to Thailand because their insurance agencies refuse to cover their trips because of the law,

[jesimps]

Songkhla Business Reps Plead For Martial Law Repeal

By Khaosod English

SONGKHLA Business owners in Songkhla province are calling on Thailand's military junta to repeal martial law because of its grave damages to the tourism industry.

"Fifty percent of tourists are gone," said Somchart Pimthanapoompon, chairman of Haat Yai - Songkhla Hotel Association. "It is especially because the martial law that the government has retained for political and stability reasons. Business people understand there is still underground movement that may cause chaos, but foreign tourists are fearful of the martial law."

Somchai explained that many tourists are not coming to Thailand because their insurance agencies refuse to cover their trips because of the law, which exempts security officers from liability over any damages caused while the law is in place. The 100-year-old law also permits the army to to break up any protests, detain individuals and search home without warrants, censor the press, and "burn any house or thing which may be useful to the enemy."

The number of tourist arrivals in Thailand this year has already been hampered by the sporadically violent anti-government street protests that paralyzed the nations capital for six months beginning in November 2013. The military dispersed protesters after staging a coup in May, but the declaration of the martial law has failed to significantly reverse the trend.

Somchai expressed concern that prolonged imposition of martial law will affect tourism in Songkhla province during its annual "High Season," which runs from November to late March.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1414046603

-- Khaosod English 2014-10-23

For "Underground movement" read "Political opposition".