- Title: THAILAND: Bangkok businesses unfazed by martial law
- Date: 21st May 2014
- Summary: AYUTTHAYA, THAILAND (MAY 21, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SECURITY PERSONNEL STANDING NEXT TO ROAD VARIOUS OF SOLDIER CARRYING RIFLE BANGKOK, THAILAND (MAY 21, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT WORLD FOOD EXPOSITION EVENT, 'THAIFEX 2014' MAN TALKING AT FOOD EXPO VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING AT WORLD FOOD EXPO EVENT PEOPLE SITTING DOWN AT FOOD EXPO EVENT MAN TALKING VARIOUS
- Embargoed: 5th June 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Thailand
- Country: Thailand
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAC84HS6XPPZE7W37UEY2MHOWIX
- Story Text: International and local businesses in Bangkok on Wednesday (May 21) said they remain unfazed amid the army's declaration of martial law.
Thailand's army declared martial law nationwide on Tuesday (May 20) to restore order after six months of street protests that have left the country without a proper functioning government
Despite this, Wednesday's food expo in Bangkok still drew crowds.
"At the moment we have not felt the effects from the martial law. We have been in touch with our customers and having early arrangements. Today there's a lot of people here at the expo which is okay," said Saran Sewatadul, the Regional Sales Manager of Ampol Food Processing Ltd.
The sentiment was echoed by international businesses.
"Distributors that we worked with in sort of local agents has been that... no, there's nothing to worry about," said Erik Sgro of Gold Coast Ingredients Inc., a U.S. company.
Thitinan Pongsudthirak, a political analyst at Chulalongkorn University said Thailand needs to resolve the crisis as soon as possible.
"He's taking a lot of risk, General Prayuth, because the imposition of martial law puts him in a very tight spot. This means that the military is in charge, this means he's responsible. So with that responsibility, he has to act quickly. The longer we do not see a resolution, the riskier it will become for the army," he said.
Thitinan added that the army would have to find a middle ground between rival groups, work out a timetable for reforms and the election, as well as getting the key players to cooperate.
Although the military denied Tuesday's surprise intervention amounted to a coup, General Prayuth Chan-ocha appears to be setting the agenda by forcing groups and organisations with a central role in the crisis to meet.
"I'd rather more put it positive and it's very positive to not have a coup - that has to be made very very clearly, separated whether it's a martial law or a coup. A coup would definitely be negative, the martial law is here to put the house in order," said Ferdinand Gyula von der Luehe, the Vice Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
Protesters took to Bangkok's streets in November, accusing the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of corruption and nepotism. Since then, nearly 30 people have been killed in sporadic violence.
Yingluck, the younger sister of ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, was herself removed by a court ruling last week, but her caretaker government remains in place. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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