Businessmen welcome the court verdicts

The business community yesterday hailed the Constitution Court's rulings disbanding the three coalition parties as the beginning of the end of the ongoing crisis.

They expected the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to leave the two Bangkok airports as the Somchai Wongsawat government is now out of office.

Thai Chamber of Commerce chairman Pramon Sutivong supported the court rulings, saying this would pave the way for the formation of a new government.

He said other parties should be given a chance to form the government and that a new government should reduce political conflicts.

"The private sector wants all conflicts to end soon and expects the PAD to come its senses, now that the [Somchai] government has been  unseated," he said.

The PAD now has no reason to continue its protests at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, following the dissolution of three coalition parties, Vitoon Kamolnaruemet, secretary-general of the Federation of Thai Industries in Khon Kaen, said after the ruling.

He said that if the PAD tried to control the airports and demanded a new political regime, it would instigate their red-shirted rivals to stage protests.

"Conflicts would never end then and the situation could worsen," he said.

Anusit Phuwaset, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce Northern Region, admitted that it was unclear if the rulings would put an end to the political conflicts. He believed that the current politicians would still be able to get together and form a new government.

He said that if the politicians care for national interest, they should sacrifice. Now that they cannot rule, they should step back.

He added that as far as the private sector was concerned, once Somchai is out of office or Parliament is dissolved, the PAD had no reason to continue its siege of the airports.

A telecom industrialist said he was concerned about the impact on the economy from the siege of Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Pornsilp Pacharintanakul, deputy secretary-general of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, was sceptical and said he did not think the tense situation would ease after the Constitution Court's ruling.

He said he wanted the Democrat Party to be given a chance to form the government.

An executive from a foreign brokerage firm, who did not want to be named, believed the dissolution of the three parties will not change the political situation nor benefit the overall market. He said the most appropriate way out was a dissolution of the House. But that was unlikely as most MPs will not allow it, he said. In addition, the PAD might continue its protests, which will negatively affect the overall situation next year, particularly tourism and investment. Currently, most foreign investors have recommended to underweight the Thai market due to the airport protest.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand Index ended down 0.92 per cent or 3.60 points at 387.32 points.

Another local broker said that investors are still worried about the politics, as the six coalition parties have said they would form a new government, which would lead to further protests from both pro- and anti-government groups.

Nathee Vadtanakovint, president of Thai Car Rental Association (TCRA), said the political conflict will end when the Democrat and the three dissolved parties agree to form a national government and appoint a neutral person as the premier.

Kobchai Chirathivat, president and chief executive officer of Central Pattana, said the political image would improve following the Constitution Court ruling yesterday.

Kobchai added that business outlook would get better when the political tension is solved, which has affected the economy for long.

"Businessmen are calling the government to hold the general election soon in order to restore the private sector," he said.

Prasarn Trairatvorakul, Kasikornbank's chief executive, said the verdict of the Constitution Court was only one step in the legal process, while the conflict in the society still continued. The more important thing to consider was the composition of the new government and its policies. He said because of the global financial crisis, Thailand should have the next government soon and it should be stable.

Tawatchai Yongkittikul, secretary-general of the Thai Bankers' Association, said that after the Constitution Court had dissolved the three parties, the violent atmosphere in the country decreased, while the People's Alliance for Democracy also had no reason to continue their siege of the airports. He said if they would like to keep fighting, they should find other ways.

Paiboon Wattanasiritham, former deputy prime minister, suggested that there should be a caretaker government comprising all political parties to deal with the political mess. The national government should lay the groundwork for the next election in a year and a half.

Narong Phetprasert, political economist at Chulalongkorn University, believed that the PAD would end the airport closure before Friday, HM the King's birthday. After the court verdict, the rivals would have a truce, but chaos may be back in the next five or six months, said Narong.