Thailand's business and military leaders call
for compromise and end to PAD's airport protest

By Jon Fernquest

Thailand's business leaders met with military leaders yesterday to discuss the current political impasse.

They agreed that dissolution of parliament was the best way to end the crisis.

Business leaders called on both sides (anti-Thaksin PAD and pro-Thaksin government) to reach a compromise for the sake of the nation but both sides rejected their pleas.

There is a lot of good vocabulary in this article.

(Stranded tourists in photo to right join PAD in their protest at the airport)


Here is the article in full:
        
POLITICS

Business backs a dissolution

New government could rebuild the economy
POST REPORTERS
Thursday November 27, 2008

Business leaders expressed support for army chief Anupong Paojinda's call for the dissolution of the House as a means to end the standoff between the government and the People's Alliance for Democracy.

Military leaders, technocrats and business representatives met yesterday to debate possible solutions to the deadlock between the PAD and the government.

Kongkrit Hiyanyakit, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said all parties agreed a general election was the best answer, considering that the government was no longer able to enforce the law.

The seizure of Suvarnabhumi airport by PAD protesters had directly damaged both the economy and the country's image, he said.


Pongsak Assakul, vice chairman of the Board of Trade, said that when executives in the private sector failed to properly manage a business, shareholders had the right to choose a new management team.

The compromise solution calls for the PAD to withdraw from the airport once new elections are called. Both the government and PAD leaders have rejected the proposal.

Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, dean of the National Institute for Development Administration, said sacrifice was needed by all parties if any solution was to work.

"The government now lacks stability and cannot rebuild confidence. We hope that a new government would be able to manage the situation and rebuild the economy," he said.

Apisak Tantiworawong, chairman of the Thai Bankers' Association, agreed, adding that the political crisis was only adding to the country's economic woes even as the global economic crisis continued apace.


The private sector wanted both sides - the government and the PAD - to sacrifice in order to solve the current problems, he said.

Two senior economic policymakers also lent their support for a compromise solution.

Finance permanent secretary Suparut Kawatkul and Tarisa Watanagase, the governor of the Bank of Thailand, both said the political crisis was directly affecting the economy and that all parties needed to cooperate to ease the tensions.

Santi Vilassakdanont, the chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, said political risk would remain high unless the prime minister stepped down.

He urged the government and PAD to sit down and negotiate.

"The news has spread worldwide. [Foreigners] are probably wondering how the government could allow protesters to seize the country's international airport. This crisis is a humiliation for all Thais," he said.

Ninnart Chaithirapinyo, vice-chairman of Toyota Motor Thailand (TMT), agreed that fresh elections were the best option for the current conflict.


"I think there is no other way to stop the conflict. The country is moving backwards, and we need to do something before we pass the point of no return," he said.

Kan Trakulhoon, president of Siam Cement Group, said all parties should stop playing political games.

"Would you mind passing my words on to anyone who looks only for political purposes right now?

"Please stop doing this. All of you acknowledge how severe the damage to the Thai economy due to the political crisis has been, so please, for the country's sake, stop," Mr Kan said.

Posted by Jon Fernquest at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)