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July 20 (Reuters) – Thailand’s central bank governor said on Tuesday that tourism had recovered faster than expected after being hit hard by political unrest in Bangkok in April and May.
Tarisa Watanagase also told the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand that consumption and investment had also recovered and she was therefore positive on the economy in the second half. (Reporting by Orathai Sriring; Editing by Alan Raybould)
July 20 (Reuters) – Thailand’s government said on Tuesday it was lifting a state of emergency in three provinces but it would remain in force in others including Bangkok, after being imposed in April to help authorities cope with political unrest.
The government had lifted the emergency in five provinces on July 6 when the initial period came to an end, but extended it for another three months in other areas covering a quarter of the country because it said anti-government elements still posed a threat.
The state of emergency bans political gatherings of more than five people and gives the government powers to censor the media. It also gives broad powers to the security forces, including the right to detain suspects without charge. (Reporting by Pracha Harirasapitak; Editing by Alan Raybould)
SINGAPORE, July 20 (Reuters) -Singapore’s Amara Holdings (AMRA.SI) said on Tuesday it will develop its first hotel in Thailand.
The hotel will have 272 rooms and will be located in Bangkok.
Amara did not say how much the hotel will cost.
(Reporting by Charmian Kok; Editing by Kevin Lim)
Thailand’s cabinet has approved a relief plan, including soft loans and grants, to help businesses and people affected by recent political unrest, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said on Tuesday.
Loans totalling 5 billion baht ($154 million) will be extended to small and medium-sized businesses in Bangkok, Korn told reporters after a weekly cabinet meeting.
They will be offered at low interest rates of 2-3 percent per year over six years with a grace period of two years.
The “red shirt” anti-government protests were broken up by the military on May 19, sparking riots and arson that destroyed part of the country’s biggest shopping mall and closed down banks for two days.
Korn said small businesses that had suffered from arson would each receive a 50,000 baht ($1,543) grant from the government.
The government would offer a 7,500 baht grant to employees and street vendors who had lost income, Korn said.
Affected companies that had retained staff and kept paying them would also receive help, Korn said, adding details on all the measures would be decided later.
(Reporting by Kitiphong Thaichareon; Writing by Orathai Sriring; Editing by Alan Raybould)
Thailand’s cabinet has agreed to extend a night curfew in Bangkok and 23 provinces until May 29, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Tuesday.
Suthep said the curfew, which will be in force between midnight and 4 a.m., was necessary to prevent more unrest, but would not be in place for seven days, as was announced on Monday.
“We have cut the timeframe from seven to four days because we want to limit the impact on the public,” Suthep told reporters.
The curfew was put in place on May 19 after riots and arson attacks across Bangkok and in at least six provinces in the wake of an army crackdown to remove anti-government protesters in the capital.
(Reporting by Pracha Hariraksapitak; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Thailand’s stock exchange will resume full-day trading sessions on Monday, the bourse said in a statement. “Our trading system and those of our members are ready to resume operations,” Stock Exchange of Thailand President Patareeya Benjapolchai said. The exchange was closed on Thursday and Friday following the worst riots in Bangkok’s modern history.
(Reporting by Nopporn Wong-Anan; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
(If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)) Keywords: THAILAND/EXCHANGE
The Thai authorities have extended a curfew in Bangkok and 24 provinces for seven days because of concern about possible unrest, an army spokesman said on Monday.
“We have information that there are groups and individuals who still want to create chaos in some areas,” Sansern Kaewkamnerd told a news conference.
The curfew, from midnight to 4 a.m., must be formally approved by the cabinet at its weekly meeting on Tuesday, he added.
The curfew came into effect on May 19 after riots and arson broke out across Bangkok following an army crackdown to disperse anti-government protesters occupying a commercial district in the capital. (Reporting by Ambika Ahuja; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Alan Raybould)
The body of a 24-year-old man was found on Friday at a shopping mall set on fire during riots in Bangkok, medical rescue workers said, denying earlier reports that nine bodies were retrieved.
An official at the Ruamkatanyu Foundation told Reuters only one body had been retrieved so far at Central World mall and it had stopped the search for the day.
A worker at another volunteer agency, the Poh Teck Tung foundation, also said only one body was found.
Bangkok’s state emergency centre had said it was looking into a report that nine bodies were found at Central World after the military dispersed protesters from their camp in the area in a crackdown on Wednesday that killed 15 and wounded nearly 100.
The Erawan Emergency Medical Centre said a total of 53 people had died and 413 were wounded in the latest wave of violence that began on May 14.
(Reporting by Nopporn Wong-Anan and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Bill Tarrant)
The Thai government is aware of an offer on Tuesday by a group of senators to broker talks with thousands of protesters but has no official position on whether to accept it, a government spokesman said.
“We have no position on that yet. The prime minister has been informed but does not have an immediate position on it,” said government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn.
“Our top priority right now is to end the rioting that traps civilians in the area. But we are not rejecting or accepting the senators’ offer yet.”
A leader of “red shirt” anti-government protesters said on Tuesday they had agreed to participate in talks brokered by the speaker of the Senate in order to prevent further casualties.
At least 38 people have died in the latest flare-up in violence in Bangkok since May 13.
(Reporting by Ambika Ahuja; Editing by Jason Szep)
Bangkok, May 15 (ANI): The violence between Thai troops and anti-government protesters in Bangkok has reportedly claimed 16 lives so far.
According to Sky News, emergency service workers said three foreigners were among the wounded after becoming caught up in the clashes.
The report said the injured nationals were from Poland, Canada and Burma, and are among 141 people to have been hurt in the confrontations, which have continued through the night.
Earlier troops opened fire on demonstrators in their fortified rally site in the heart of the city”s commercial district.
Soldiers have blocked roads and set up checkpoints to seal off the area around the wider protest site.
The protesters, who are trying to bring down the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, threw stones, used slingshots and launched fireworks at the troops as the two-month standoff descended into more violence. (ANI)
Thai anti-government activists showed no signs of ending their two-month protest in downtown Bangkok on Tuesday, despite their acceptance of a proposal to hold an early election in November.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban reported to law enforcement officials early on Tuesday to hear complaints lodged by the families of protesters killed in a clash with troops on April 10, apparently in response to a demand by the “red shirt” leaders.
But it appeared the protesters were not satisfied with Suthep’s action and demanded he be formally charged for allegedly giving the order to use deadly force to quell the demonstration, dashing hopes for a swift end to the stalemate.
IS THE RECONCILIATION DEAL STILL ON THE TABLE?
Officially, the deal is still on, but it is unlikely the government will agree to the latest counter-proposals from the red shirts. An immediate resolution is unlikely and the protest will likely drag on.
Despite the red shirts’ claim they are committed to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s five-point reconciliation plan, their demands have placed the government in a tricky position.
The movement has agreed to a Nov. 14 election but want to ensure the authorities are held accountable for the deaths of 20 demonstrators during the army’s botched attempt to clear another protest site in Bangkok’s historic heart. The red shirt leaders, who are wanted on terrorism charges, say they are willing to face justice, but demand that others involved in the violence must also be brought to book.
WHAT’S THE GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE?
Abhisit on Sunday pleaded with the red shirts to agree to his proposal, which he said was “non-negotiable”. He has not responded to their counter-demand, which a government spokesman said was “unclear”.
Analysts say the demand will likely be ignored since it would humiliate the government, which would incur the wrath of rival “yellow shirt” demonstrators and Bangkok’s middle classes, who have urged it not to cave in to red shirt pressure. Suthep has no parliamentary immunity having quit as a lawmaker due to a conflict of interest. It is highly unlikely charges will be brought against him. The government insists his appearance at the Department of Special Investigation was planned in advance and was not in response to the protesters’ demands.
CAN THE RED SHIRTS SUSTAIN THEIR PROTEST?
Countless times, the government has assumed the red shirts would run out of steam and the protest would fizzle out, but it has been wrong. It has become clear that Abhisit cannot simply wait it out, especially given the immense damage to the economy and the reputation of his government and the army.
The nine-week protest reached its peak in mid-March, with tens of thousands of rural people camping out in Bangkok’s streets. Although the bulk have returned to their farms and villages, the red shirts have tapped into the urban poor in Bangkok. Most are rural migrants — like security guards, cleaners, taxi drivers and labourers — and they are keeping the rally alive.
The numbers may have dropped off since the red shirts pledged to enter the peace process, but the movement has shown it can rapidly mobilise tens of thousands of people in the city and the provinces if it needs reinforcements.
HOW HAVE THE MARKETS RESPONDED?
Traders and investors are optimistic a solution can be reached, but remain cautious. Thailand’s stock market initially jumped over 4 percent after the announcement of a reconciliation process, but the continued standoff and renewed violence at the weekend, combined with a crisis in the eurozone, have curtailed gains.
Foreign investors, who were net buyers for almost seven weeks from late February, drawn by cheap stocks and high dividend yields, have been net sellers for the last four sessions, offloading a combined 14.5 billion baht of stocks ($449 million) suggesting political unease is taking its toll.
“It’s still not clear that all red shirt leaders will respond positively to the government’s reconciliation plan. So far, news flows are mixed and this kind of uncertainty will fuel more foreign fund outflows,” said Warut Siwasariyanon, head of research at Finansia Syrus Securities.
The baht was steady at around 32.28 per dollar in fairly active morning trade on Tuesday. Traders said external factors had an impact more than the domestic political impasse.
(Additional reporting by Viparat Jantraprap; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Singapore soccer chiefs have invited teams from Australia, Hong Kong, Thailand and Cambodia to compete in this year’s Singapore Cup.
South Melbourne, Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC, 2009 runners-up Bangkok Glass and Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Crown will join 12 S.League clubs in Saturday’s draw for the event which kicks off on May 24.
The 2010 tournament is the 13th edition of the Singapore Cup and the champions are rewarded with a place in the regional AFC Cup.
Singapore’s Geylang United won last year’s final 1-0.
(Editing by John O’Brien; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Singapore soccer chiefs have invited teams from Australia, Hong Kong, Thailand and Cambodia to compete in this year’s Singapore Cup.
South Melbourne, Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC, 2009 runners-up Bangkok Glass and Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Crown will join 12 S.League clubs in Saturday’s draw for the event which kicks off on May 24.
The 2010 tournament is the 13th edition of the Singapore Cup and the champions are rewarded with a place in the regional AFC Cup.
Singapore’s Geylang United won last year’s final 1-0.
(Editing by John O’Brien; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Thai riot police pulled back from a barricade erected by “red shirt” protesters in Bangkok’s Silom business district and the protesters also retreated to their camp behind it, a Reuters photographer said on Friday.
Earlier on Friday, tension in the area had risen as hundreds of riot police moved right up to the barrier, demanding it be dismantled. Protesters had climbed onto the barricade, made up mostly of tyres, and poured what appeared to be fuel over it, the photographer said.
A series of grenade blasts in that area killed three people late on Thursday. The government said the grenades were fired from the red shirt protest area. Leaders of the red shirts, who are demanding fresh elections, denied they were responsible.
(Reporting by Vivek Prakash; Writing by Alan Raybould; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Hundreds of riot police moved in front of a barricade erected by “red shirt” protesters in Bangkok’s Silom business district early on Friday and told them to dismantle it, television said.
Television pictures then showed some protesters pouring what a TV reporter said was fuel onto the barricade, which is made up largely of tyres, with sharpened bamboo poles inserted.
A series of grenade blasts in that area killed at least three people late on Thursday. The government said the grenades were fired from the red shirt protest area. Leaders of the red shirts, who are demanding a new election, denied they were responsible.
(Reporting by Apornrath Phoonphongphiphat; Writing by Alan Raybould; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Bangkok, Apr.21 (ANI): Thailand’s ruling Democrat Party is looking at the drafting of a new “people”s constitution” to break the present political deadlock.
While some party senior executives, including chief adviser and former prime minister Chuan Leekpai, are opposed to proposals forwarded by junior coalition members to amend two sections of the 2007 constitution and dissolve the lower house in six months, the Democrats” executive has instead agreed that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban should approach the party”s coalition partners with a proposal to draw up a new charter.
Democrat adviser and former party leader Banyat Bantadtan proposed the idea of drafting a new constitution at a meeting yesterday of party members and the party”s cabinet ministers to discuss the political situation and the proposed charter amendments, a party source said.
Banyat suggested the new “people”s constitution” should be modelled on the 2007 and the1997 charters.
All sectors of society, including the anti-government red shirts, should be involved in the drafting of the new constitution, the source said.
Banyat believed the initiative of a new charter would gain greater public support than the amendment of just two sections of the present constitution. (ANI)
Bangkok, April19 (ANI): Fears of a standoff between the Thai government and the opposition ””Red Shirts”” has prompted the former to deploy hundreds of troops in Silom financial district.
Armed soldiers are patrolling both streets and overpasses with shotguns, assault rifles and riot shields. They have also stacked barbwire on the roadside. According to the acting government spokesman, Panitan Wattanayagorn, “There are several units currently armed to defend themselves from attacks by terrorists who are hiding among the protesters.”
Wattanayagorn, however, declined to comment on whether a crackdown was imminent against the protesters demanding the ouster of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his government. “The plan to retake the area remains, but operational units will analyze how and when to avoid confrontation and clashes,” he said.
This is the first such deployment since a failed crackdown on anti-government protesters on April 10 that left 25 people dead and over 800 injured.
Weng Tojirakarn, the leader of the Reds””, said protesters would not mobilize in the financial district because soldiers would resort to force there. He said they would rather go to the UN office to seek justice and protest peacefully. (ANI)
BANGKOK, April 14 (Reuters) – Thailand’s “red shirt” protesters are to consolidate their base in the capital Bangkok on one site in the city’s Rachaprason shopping district, one of the movement’s leaders, Nattawut Saikua told reporters on Wednesday.
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“We have combined our force for security purposes and to prevent the government from using force to disperse us again,” Nattawut said.
The red shirts currently have two bases in the capital, one in the Phan Pah district near government house and the other in the Rachaprasong shopping district.
(Reporting by Nopporn Wong-Annan; Writing by David Chance; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)
BANGKOK, April 12 (Reuters) – Thailand’s political turmoil may put its sovereign credit ratings at risk if it is extended and there is no sign of an early solution, Bank of Thailand Governor Tarisa Watanagase said on Monday.
Asked if Thai credit ratings faced the possibility of being downgraded, Tarisa told reporters: “Yes, there is a risk and if that happens, it will affect borrowing costs in the private sector.” (Reporting by Boontiwa Wichakul; Writing by Vithoon Amorn; Editing by Alan Raybould)
BANGKOK, April 12 (Reuters) – Thailand’s political turmoil may put its sovereign credit ratings at risk if it is extended and there is no sign of an early solution, Bank of Thailand Governor Tarisa Watanagase said on Monday.
Asked if Thai credit ratings faced the possibility of being downgraded, Tarisa told reporters: “Yes, there is a risk and if that happens, it will affect borrowing costs in the private sector.” (Reporting by Boontiwa Wichakul; Writing by Vithoon Amorn; Editing by Alan Raybould)
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