Japanese firms suspend operations, business trips amid Thai unrest

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TOKYO, April 12 Kyodo -
Japanese firms are suspending operations and restricting their employees from
taking business trips to Thailand amid unrest in Bangkok caused by clashes
between antigovernment protestors and security forces.
But Japanese automakers and electronics makers with manufacturing and export
bases in Thailand said they have so far seen limited impact on production
levels with protests breaking out ahead of a three-day New Year's holiday
starting Tuesday.
Isetan Co., a unit of Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd., closed its store
''Bangkok Isetan'' located inside a shopping center in central Bangkok on
Saturday.
''We want to resume operations as soon as security is restored, but we do not
know when at this point,'' an official at Isetan Mitsukoshi said.
Convenience store chain operator FamilyMart Co. also said it closed its outlet
in an area where the demonstrations took place from Saturday evening to Sunday
morning.
While stopping short of suspending operations, companies like textile
manufacturer Teijin Ltd. are prohibiting their employees from traveling to
Thailand, while NEC Corp. is also considering a similar measure.
''We pray that conditions will return to normal as quickly as possible,'' said
Fujio Mitarai, chairman of the Japan Business Federation, commonly known as
Nippon Keidanren, adding that about 7,000 Japanese firms have entered the Thai
market.
Japanese tourist agencies like JTB Corp. are also addressing concerns about
travel to Thailand by altering their packages to exclude the area in Bangkok
where political violence has taken place.
==Kyodo