In front of Yoeng Beauty Salon, Yaowarat

The Cabinet has agreed to install surveillance cameras in public areas around Bangkok in response to the deadly bomb blasts on New Year's Eve.

Representatives of the Board of Trade, the Federation of Thai Industries and the Thai Bankers' Association have also vowed to step up security measures.

The installation of CCTV cameras would be a top priority among measures to prevent future attacks, government spokesman Yongyuth Maiyalarp said.

The moves follow the killing of three people and injuries to almost 40, including nine foreigners, in eight bomb attacks around Bangkok on Sunday night.

The Internal Security Opera-tions Command (ISOC) would be responsible for the procurement and installation of the cameras, while the ICT minister would oversee any malfunctioning in cameras already installed in several official buildings, Yongyuth said.

The Cabinet also discussed possible production of 'jammers' - equipment that can cut the signal of a bomb detonator. Local production of these devices could be five to 10 times cheaper than imported versions, Yongyuth said.

Another security measure would be transparent trash bins to prevent explosives being hidden, he said.

The Cabinet also planned to set up a "Centre for Safe Transport" with the cooperation of the Ministry of Transport. This would promote safe travel for passengers at public transport terminals.

The government would also boost the number of security officials at all public places that are usually crowded with people.

An umbrella group of Thai

private-sector associations yesterday called on its members to step up security measures by themselves instead of waiting for government support after the bomb blasts.

Pramon Suthivong, chairman of the joint standing committee on commerce, industry and banking, said after an urgent meeting yesterday that, "the meeting concluded that the private sector should be more aware of the situation, look after itself and tighten up surveillance systems".

The committee, made up of the three most powerful private sector bodies - the Board of Trade, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) and the Thai Bankers' Association - met for more than an hour yesterday afternoon to discuss how the business community could help to control the security situation.

The blasts in Bangkok caused the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index to fall by 3 per cent on the first day of business yesterday as investors worried about the economic impact of the attacks. The SET composite index was down 20.59 points to 659.25.

SET president Patareeya Benjapolchai said the SET planned to talk with companies on how to tighten up security in the building.

In regard to the SET index's fall, she said that despite of the drop, there was a net sale to the tune of Bt200 million yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Thai baht held firm, closing at 36.9036 to the dollar and 47.4585 to the euro, against Friday's 47.3760.

Pramon said the meeting of the three private associations was not meant to estimate the level of damage caused. The more immediate issue was how the private sector could control the situation.

In regard to overseas investors, the private sector would try to create a system to communicate better with foreigners, to ask about any concerns they have and ensure they understand the local situation.

Santi Vilassakdanont, the FTI chairman, said the Federation had yet to estimate the damage caused by the attacks. But he believed that if the situation returned to normal in one or two weeks, it should not affect foreign investors' decisions to invest in Thailand, especially those who planned long-term investments.

He said he had talked to foreign business partners and they told him they had experienced similar incidents in their countries.

"But I admit that the tourism sector will certainly feel the pinch, as tourists may think Thailand is unsafe to visit," he said.

The retail sector was also hurt by the bomb attacks as sales at major department stores in central Bangkok on New Year's Day dropped by 30 to 40 per cent compared to the usual figures. Upscale department stores in the capital are usually buzzing at this time of the year, but were quiet on New Year's Day, retailers said.

"The blasts in the city had a psychological impact on the mood of local shoppers as well as foreign travellers," said Dr Nattakit, Tangpoonsinthana, executive vice president of marketing for Central Pattana Plc, which operates CentralWorld.

Finance Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula urged the Council for National Security to find the culprits behind the coordinated bomb blasts quickly to restore investor confidence both locally and internationally.

Pridiyathorn said the blasts should not adversely affect the overall economic picture due to strong fundamentals in terms of exports, tourism and investment. But he conceded they would have a short-term impact on tourism.

"If the CNS concludes the investigation quickly, it will be a good sign to bring back investors' confidence," he said.

Piyabutr Cholvijarn, deputy industry minister, said the impact would be felt immediately in the tourism sector.

Asked if he planned to conduct a campaign to explain the situation to foreigners, he said: "I don't think it's necessary to do so. It would be like we were making an excuse."

In regard to the Children's Day celebration this Saturday, Education Minister Wijit Srisa-an said the planned events would continue but with tightened security.

"Everything will go ahead as planned, as we want to make everyone feel that we can continue our way of life as normal - but we will not be careless. We believe the event venues will be thoroughly under surveillance," Wijit said.

Piyanart Srivalo,

Chalida Ekvitthayavech

The Nation