Tesco compounding failure to listen with lawsuits

To me, Tesco Lotus is acting as if it were, say, in London, and thus it considers only the legal aspects of the case - which are, of course, important. But the moms and pops are concerned about their livelihoods; the journalists are worried about the rising unemployment, etc, that might result if mom-and-pop shops were displaced. These concerns are of equal importance to the case and society as a whole.

By suing both Business News and Krungthep Turakij for Bt100 million each, Tesco Lotus is following the example of ex-premier Thaksin, who sought damages seemingly not to punish but to annihilate critics. If that is its aim, then it deserves the same contempt Thaksin got for his actions. More to the point, even if it won all its cases, its victory would come at a huge cost, for the cases are already garnering the chain a lot of attention - all negative - from British authors, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Thai society.

I hold that the long-term interests of Thai consumers as a whole are paramount, not those of any small group, but minority interests must be protected. Thus, mega-retailers hurt mom-and-pop shops precisely to the extent that they benefit consumers as a whole. This is why the masses, and especially the middle- and low-income groups, have voted with their pocketbooks as to which type of retailer is benefiting them more. So, they should be allowed to expand, but they must not be allowed to form oligopolies/monopolies within a given market area.

It is in the mega-retailers'own long-term interests to be good corporate citizens and engage in dialogue with locals before expanding.

Help train locals on how to meet your export standards, then buy their products to sell overseas. Minimise traffic jams around your shops. Work with local schools to train service-minded, professional salespeople (not just order takers). Help the mom-and-pop shops you displace earn a living, eg via subsidised rental spaces around your stores, or soft loans so they can set up franchises near your shop. In the case of Tesco Lotus, its UK mother firm has an excellent reputation for taking care of the environment, and presumably those policies are followed here, too.

Had Tesco Lotus been carrying out the above steps all along, the chain would have  ample proof to deny the journalist's charge that "Tesco doesn't love Thailand". This would be far more beneficial for Tesco Lotus, the journalists being charged, and, most importantly, Thai consumers. Tesco, drop the charges and listen, please.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

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Closer look at Duang reinstatement welcome

It will come as small consolation to the widow of a certain police officer, but the setting up of a review panel to consider Duang Yoobamrung's application for reinstatement into the Army is still to be welcomed.

Obviously, the decision will provide a clear indication of the value the Army places on its own good name vis-à-vis the reputation of one politician's family.

The committee will doubtless ponder long and hard over the desirability of submitting any proposal for royal endorsement.

Citizen Jane

Bangkok