Private sector, again, urges for talks to end Thailand's political strife

BANGKOK, December 2 (TNA) - As tensions have continued around ฺBangkok's Government House since last weekend in response to anti-government protesters' attempts to besiege the government seat, local business operators have urged that all parties concerned discuss solutions to stop ongoing domesic political strife. Payungsak Chartsutipol, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), told journalists that the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking invited representatives of major business organizations which play important roles in the Thai economy to a meeting in Bangkok on Monday, including those from the Tourism Council of Thailand and the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations, aimed to discuss the ongoing political situation in the country. The participants then expressed their hope that all concerned parties will solve political problems through negotiations, along with adhering to laws and regulations and national interest. Paiboon Nalinthrangkurn, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations, acknowledged that the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) has declined by 100 points since political demonstrations started last month, as investors have sold their shares to reduce risks. Paiboon said if there is a quick way out of the ongoing political deadlock, he believes the SET index will rise. Meanwhile, tensions continued around the Government House and all roads leading to the Government House and the Parliament were blocked, while protesters were trying to break through police’s barricades to seize the government seat and other demonstrators tried to seize the Metropolitan Police Bureau in the vicinity of the Parliament but they were dispersed with tear gas. The Ministry of Public Health reported, on the other hand, that during clashes in front of Ramkhamhaeng University on November 30-December 1, three people were killed and 127 others were wounded, 26 of them remained in hospitals on Monday morning and 56 others suffered from tear gas. An official investigation of the violent case is underway.(TNA)