The anti-government rally on Saturday is unlikely to have any negative impact on the country's investment climate as long as there is no violence, the secretary-general of the Board of Investment, Atchaka Sriboonruang Brimble, said on Friday.
“The rally should not hurt the confidence of Thai or foreign investors as people have the constitutional right of peaceful assembly.
''Several other countries have faced anti-government protests without any violence,” Mrs Atchaka said.
She said the security law was invoked to prevent possible unrest.
“It is better than failing to invoke the law and possibly allowing unrest to occur, as that woul severely affect investor confidence,” she said.
Wallop Wittanakorn, secretary-general of Thai Garment Industries Association, took the same tone. He was confident that if the rally stays democratic, free of violence and is not prolonged then investors will not be worried.
''The economy is picking up and if there is no political turmoil, foreign investors will return to Thailand,” Mr Wallop said.
Somchai Sajjapongse, director of the Fiscal Policy Office, said if the red-shirts peacefully disperse at midnight on Saturday as promised by leaders of the United front for Democracy against Dictatorship, the rally would not have any effect on the economy.
“But if the demonstration turns violent and is prolonged, foreign investors will delay their investment plans in Thailand, which would affect economic recovery,” Mr Somchai said.
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- Writer: BangkokPost.com
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