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NCPO 'needs to reveal motive for bombings'
Business reporters
The Nation

Private sector calls for True picture as incident occurred during martial law

BANGKOK: -- The private sector yesterday urged the government to reveal the real reason for Sunday's bombing of the skybridge to the upscale Siam Paragon shopping complex for fear that investor confidence and tourism could be seriously set back if the attack was repeated.

"Nothing is clear at the moment regarding the motive of the culprit and we will have to wait and see what the motive for such an action is," said Stanley Kang, chairman of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce.

The minor explosion from the homemade device would not frighten foreign investors or ruin investment sentiment, but the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has a duty to clearly explain to the international community what is going on.

"But since the incident happened when martial law is still in effect, the NCPO must clearly clarify and explain to foreigners about the current political situation and the ongoing investigation to maintain visitors' confidence," he said.

Whenever there is such an incident in Thailand, the tourism industry is the first to feel the impact. It was fortunate that no one was seriously hurt, he said, but the government still has to explain what is really going on.

Supant Mongkolsuthree, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, said he believed the government would be able to control the situation.

Supant, who made the remark on the sidelines of the 23rd meeting of the Thailand-Japan Joint Trade and Economic Committee, said he is still waiting to see how things pan out and will follow developments very closely.

Isara Vongkusolkit, chairman of the Board of Trade of Thailand, said he thought the government could control the situation. The private sector will keep watching the situation.

He said he was still waiting to see what was the real cause of the incident. First it was said to be a transformer exploding but then it was reported to be a bombing, so he is still waiting to see what the real cause was.

If this kind of thing happens again, it might impact the investment climate. At the moment, the investment climate is not affected and one could say the political situation in Thailand is calm, he said.

Thanavath Phonvichai, director of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce's Economic and Business Forecasting Centre, said that with the cause of the bomb blast in Bangkok unclear, it would only raise concerns among Thais for a short time.

The disturbance would only affect foreign tourists for a short spell if nothing happens again, while Thais may be more wary about travelling in crowded areas.

However, if the incident is repeated, it would destroy consumer confidence and create greater uncertainty about the political situation, which would weigh on the country's growth in the long run, he said.

No specific comment

Siam Piwat Co, operator of Siam Paragon, said in a statement that the incident occurred on Sunday night outside the mall area, but management does not want to make any specific comment about the issue.

"Our security measures have been normally intensified, and we will maintain such intensive measures continuously," said the statement.

The shopping mall will be open as usual and the situation will be evaluated day by day, it said.

Anat Arbhabhirama, spokesman for Bangkok Mass Transit System, said the company has put a high priority on security over the past 15 years of operating the Skytrain, and intensive security measures have been launched to ensure that all passengers will be safe during their transport by the BTS system.

"From a business point of view, we don't have any serious concerns as passengers are still confident in our mass transit system and the strict security measures we have implemented all the time," he said.

The Skytrain serves 700,000-750,000 passengers a day during the week and 600,000-650,000 passengers a day on weekends.

The security measures include checks by officials of all bags and baggage handled by passengers, metal detectors at all entrances and more than 1,000 closed-circuit television cameras throughout the Skytrain system.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/NCPO-needs-to-reveal-motive-for-bombings-30253241.html


-- The Nation 2015-02-03

[thesetat2013]

Sure it won't hurt tourist confidence. Every tourist wants the chance to get blown up while they are out shopping. The next thing they will say is that tourism has been boosted in this area. What a bloody joke these people are.

[NongKhaiKid]

Reveal the true reason, already, well the private sector isn't asking for much.

The incident was only on Sunday and is still being investigated. No one has claimed responsibility and probably won't.

BIB may have suspects but the CCTV footage may simply be used to justify the claim they do and all they have to do now is identify and arrest which may or may not happen.

If the true motive is ever identified it may be sanitized before being made pubic depending on which version is fit for purpose.

[siampolee]

This is a cut and paste of a post I made in another thread concerning this matter,.

All through the various bombing campaigns London suffered over the years the matter of tourism was hardly ever mentioned, tourist figures remained the same and life carried on . the comments made here regarding tourism in truth actually start to project a negative image.

That image clearly displays a total disregard for human life and the worship of money, the welfare of any tourists foreign or domestic not actually being of any importance or concern to the T.A.T. or the irrelevant authorities.

Whether these latest bombings were or are politically, religiously, judicial (anti graft) or perhaps a business related grudge matter or even possibly a black flag matter (although personally I somehow doubt that) remains to be seen.

Rest assured that the truth if it is ever found to be anti government or anti establishment will indeed be hidden away from the public lest it should cast the those aforementioned entities powers in a bad light.

As the prosecuting counsel said, ''I rest my case Me Lud'

[cougar52]

Isara Vongkusolkit, chairman of the Board of Trade of Thailand, said he thought the government could control the situation. The private sector will keep watching the situation.

He said he was still waiting to see what was the real cause of the incident. First it was said to be a transformer exploding but then it was reported to be a bombing, so he is still waiting to see what the real cause was.

Isara maybe you need to fine a new job, and learn to read. It was reported by the authorities to have been two Time Bombs

[peptidebomber]

'Strict security measures on the BTS' ???

The MRT have a couple of people who stand there for show and are useless and the BTS doesn't even bother with that. Absolutely anyone could take anything they wanted to on the BTS!

[bkkjames]

Why do they need to reveal a motive?

[toybits]

NCPO Needs to reveal motive for bombing? Why? Were they responsible for it?

[tx22cb]

I thought the "motive" was very clear - to create instability. Luckily, Martial Law is a God-send (Army-send?) option that we have in Thailand.

Finding the culprits will be easy, 'cos the PM promised quick arrests.

Finding the real culprits .... don't be silly, there'll be confessions and re-enactments.

[maidee]

anybody find it odd, that the general talked abuut inforcing more martial law

and a few days later, they seem to have "found" a reason

[rickirs]

"(NCPO) has a duty to clearly explain to the international community what is going on."

The Junta doesn't have to explain "diddly squat." It is the law of the land. Who is going to make it explain anything? The Junta's only duty is to maintain its power and a well-timed bombing might scare the public into insuring there is no pressure against that power.

[NoshowJones]

'Strict security measures on the BTS' ???

The MRT have a couple of people who stand there for show and are useless and the BTS doesn't even bother with that. Absolutely anyone could take anything they wanted to on the BTS!

That is true, but unfortunately, there is no other answer. Does Thailand have their own version of the CIA?

[Strangebrew]

Simple even Stevie Wonder can see it wasn't planted buy a person taking Skytrain but now a cab? well it did explode close to cab stand and cab drivers are so porly paid now since they been caught with there no meter scam.

[Thai at Heart]

Who has that most to gain by proving that martial law cannot be removed because the situation is still problematic?

Hence why there will be no acceptance of responsibility.