New Thai government urged to lift martial law

BANGKOK, August 26 (TNA) - The Thai private sector has called for the new government, headed by Army and National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, to revoke the martial law to boost domestic tourism. Sanan Angubolkul, Deputy Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, made the call on Tuesday at a seminar in Bangkok, entitled "AEC:Together is Power”, which was jointly organized by the Thai Ministry of Commerce's Department of Business Development and the Board of Trade of Thailand, Sanan said that the private sector, through Thai trade associations, has confidence in the new government and believes the Prayuth administration, expected to be formed soon, can ensure national progress. Sanan, thus, urged the new government to restore confidence in Thailand, especially with the United States and Europe, by lifting the martial law. Sanan also predicted that the value of Thai exports should grow by at least 5 per cent next year if the domestic situation returned to normal and trade and investment confidence was restored. Sanan assessed, however, that Thai exports might increase by only 2 per cent this year. (TNA)