Protesters swarm shopping district

[Flashermac]

Thaksin appreciates traffic blocking

 

 

Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has praised the red shirts for blocking Ratchaprasong intersection today, saying they were sacrificing for the sake of democracy.

 

In his about 30-minute video-link address to the gatherings of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) both at Phan Fa Bridge and the intersection tonight, Thaksin described the UDD’s movement as a way of “building the future of the nationâ€Â.

 

[color:red]He also called on more supporters of the UDD to come out and join the protesters at both protest sites.[/color] :happyeaster:

 

 

Rink

[Flashermac]

Business leaders count cost of closures

 

 

 

Business leaders roundly condemned the move by the anti-government red shirts to shut down Thailand's largest shopping area.

 

Losses from the closure of the country's top shopping malls and hotels could range into the hundreds of millions of baht per day, executives said.

 

[color:red]Thananvath Phonvichai, director of the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, estimated losses from the rally at 200 to 300 million baht from the closure of shopping malls at the Ratchaprasong intersection.[/color]

 

Businesses in the area have definitely been affected, but the long-term impact on the economy would be small if the protests ended quickly, he said.

 

The Ratchaprasong intersection is home to some of the capital's most exclusive malls and hotels, including Siam Paragon, CentralWorld and Gaysorn, as well as Siam Centre, Siam Discovery and Central Chidlom. All closed operations yesterday as traffic access to the area was completely blocked.

 

Pornsil Patchrintanakul, the deputy secretary-general of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the escalation by the red shirts was "truly unacceptable".

 

Economic losses, including events, tourism and other business, could reach 500 million baht per day from the closure of the Ratchaprasong area, he said.

 

"If the protest is prolonged there will be even greater damage because Ratchaprasong is one of Bangkok's key locations," Mr Pornsil said.

 

"The government and the protesters must negotiate to settle their problems as soon as possible."

 

Mr Pornsil said key industry groups, including the Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Thai Industries, would meet tomorrow to discuss the losses suffered from the political protests.

 

Phaibul Kanokvatanawan, a senior executive vice-president of The Mall Group, estimated the losses at luxury shopping mall Siam Paragon at 60 to 70 million baht yesterday alone.

 

He said a prolonged protest would cause major damage to businesses, and called for a rapid resolution to the conflict.

 

Santi Vilassakdanont, the chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, said the closure of a major commercial thoroughfare in Bangkok would cause everyone to suffer.

 

[color:blue]"It's clearly a move [by the red shirts] aimed at pressuring the government, similar to the seizure of Suvarnabhumi airport by the yellow shirts," Mr Santi said, referring to the 8-day blockade of the country's main airport in December 2008 by opponents of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.[/color]

 

[color:blue]"The fact is that everyone loses. Hotels in the area already are reporting considerable damage, as their guests are unable to travel because of the road closures," he said.[/color]

 

Mr Santi said in any case, the government should continue to negotiate for a peaceful solution.

 

"The red shirts have a right to protest under the constitution. But they should return to the Phan Fa intersection. This move only damages everyone," he said.

 

The Fiscal Policy Office last week estimated that the Thai economy could grow by 4.5% this year, thanks to the improvement in the global economy. But protracted protests forcing a change in government could result in growth dropping to just 2.7%, as key public spending programmes are delayed. The Thai economy contracted 2.3% in 2009.

 

Tom Paiboon Nalinthrangkurn, the chairman of the Securities Analysts Association, said he did not believe that the protests would have a lasting impact on the market or investor sentiment.

 

"We could see some selling when the stock market opens on Monday, but I think that may be more due to a correction from the recent rally," he said.

 

The Stock Exchange of Thailand has been one of the best performers in the world this year, with a 9% gain since January. The index closed on Friday at 801.15 points.

 

"Personally, I don't think we will see either a dissolution of parliament nor a protracted protest [at Ratchaprasong]," Mr Paiboon said. "But there would be a considerable impact if a major political change occurs."

 

 

Rink

[Flashermac]

UDD, govt may reach compromise

 

 

In special live telecast this morning, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced that the government and the UDD protesters are reaching a possible compromise after an intensive talk that should avoid the conflict from escalating to the regret of everyone.

 

Mr Abhisit thanked the people in Bangkok for showing patience and giving moral support to the government.

 

He called on the UDD to continue its peaceful assembly as allowed by the constitution to demand the government addressing their problems and for democracy, but not to hurt the country's economy as nobody wins but the country loses.

 

 

Rink

[Flashermac]

PM: Protesters must leave Ratchaprasong

 

 

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called on the red-shirt protesters to abide by the constitution, leave Ratchaprasong intersection and return to their main protest venue at Phan Fa Bridge.

 

"Staging a mass demonstration in the middle of the road violates the rights of others and is unlawful," Mr Abhisit said in a live television broadcast on Sunday morning.

 

[color:red]He said the government will not use force to disperse the protesters after its peacekeeping operations centre announced that people will not be allowed to converge on Ratchaprasong, one of Bangkok's main business and shopping districts.[/color]

 

The premier said he had assigned the deputy police chiefs to hold talks with core members of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) in an effort to open up the intersection.

 

[color:red]Blockading the intersection has caused a serious impact on the public as there are hospitals, schools and shopping malls there.[/color]

 

"The government respects the rights of every group of people and this is the first time for me, as prime minister, to listen to the red-shirt leaders' problems.

 

"We [the government] understand the UDD's demands but there are many other people who don't agree with them. We have to listen to all sides," Mr Abhisit said.

 

He also insisted that his government was as legitimate as governments in foreign countries.

 

"I'm not attached to the post of prime minister -- I have offered the UDD leaders to reduce my term in office. The government is ready to seek ways to solve the political crisis and all sides are invited to work together to make the country move forward," he said.

 

 

Rink

 

[Flashermac]

Part of road at Ratchaprasong opened

 

11:07am

 

 

Red-shirts agreed to open one lane around Ratchaprasong intersection to allow some traffic, after senior police negotiated with group leaders on Sunday morning.

 

The opening of part of the road came almost 24 hours after tens of thousands of red-shirts occupied the intersection and adjacent areas to pressure Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to call new election.

 

One lane of traffic from Rama I Road to Ploenchit intersection, and one lane from Saladaeng intersection to Pathumwan intersection are open.

 

 

Rink

[Flashermac]

CAPO to seek court order on protest

 

 

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Sunday he has assigned the legal team of the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) to seek permission to order the anti-government protesters to retreat from Ratchaprasong intersection.

 

The legal team will go to court on Monday to seek the order, he said.

 

Mr Suthep criticised the red-shirt movement, saying that gathering at the tourist district is not to show their political objectives but is a threat to the country's economy.

 

The protesters will not be protected by the constitution because what they have done has damaged the country.

 

He also urged protesters to withdraw from the area and return to their rally site at Phan Fa Bridge.

 

 

Rink

[Bangkoktraveler]

Thaksin, what a jerk!

[Bangkoktraveler]

Where is the hit squad?

[BelgianBoy]

where is Thaksin ?

[Flashermac]

Back in Dubai, probably having barbecues as usual and sending messages from his a/c condo whilst his disciples sweat in this gawdawful heat. I just walked back from the market and I probably sweated off a kilo.

 

 

Meanwhile ...

 

 

Reds may move in the afternoon

 

 

Red-shirt protesters may move to another location on Sunday afternoon but group leader Natthawut Saikua refused to say where.

 

"In the afternoon, if we see the necessity to march to another place, then we will," he told reporters.

 

He also said that the protesters occupying the Ratchaprasong intersection would not go anywhere until Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolves the lower House.

 

Meanwhile, Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, spokesman for the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order said the centre has received reports that protesters might move to the Silom area. He insisted that authorities would not allow the protesters to occupy the area as they had on Saturday.

 

 

Rink

 

 

p.s. Maybe they'll move to Hua Hin. Hun Sen has arrived there now and they can sererade him with moh lam.

 

p.p.s. When Abhisit sees Wun Sen at Hua Hin, he should punch him in the mouth!