Local TAT Head blames media for “destroying tourism”

Perhaps prefers “Head in Sand” Policy

by Kittisak Khamthong

TAT Region 3 Head Sethapan Buddhani raised the ire of the local media by blaming the press for tourists skipping Pattaya and patronizing other tourist destinations.

Sethapan Buddhani, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Region 3, Pattaya (second from right) on the day be made the accusation that the Pattaya media was destroying tourism.

The Head of TAT Region 3 made his disparaging remarks at a meeting of the Environmental Improvement Department on November 5 at Pattaya City Hall, called by the Winner Media Company Ltd.

Sethapan told the assembly that although pipe laying in the city was being done to improve Pattaya, the media had attacked the city and said that the work was causing tourists to stay away in large numbers.

Members of the media at the meeting took umbrage when Sethapan made this statement, as the press knows only too well that the project was for the improvement of the city. But the facts were, at the time of the reporting, Pattaya’s tourism was indeed being affected by the inconvenience the messy and unorganized work was causing. Traffic was almost at a standstill and both residents and tourists were complaining to the media.

The situation became so bad that the public organized public demonstrations. Dust was causing lung and sinus problems for everyone in the city. The roads were full of dangerous potholes.

Tourism was truly suffering and visitors were leaving for other destinations in Thailand or other parts of Asia.

Media members took considerable umbrage at Sethapan blaming the media for any problems with tourism. Local reporters had merely done their jobs and reported the facts without sensationalism.

Media members knew that not reporting the facts would not have improved the situation, as the public was hopping mad and the tourists were fleeing anyway.

Media members feel they were merely doing their job of being ‘watchdogs’ and reporting on a problem in society as it happened. Reporters also wanted the Samprasit Company to know the opinions of the public. Rather than exacerbating the problem the reporters were hoping to help find a solution.

There was no intent to ‘destroy tourism’ on the part of the media.

After Sethapan finished speaking, the atmosphere became tense and members of the media began leaving one by one. They gathered outside the meeting room to discuss Sethapan’s statements.

The consensus was that Sethapan Buddhani, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand, Central Region 3, had shown disrespect for the media. He had also accused them of malicious intent when they were merely doing their jobs and stating fact.

Media members feel that this is destructive rather than constructive. It is extremely deleterious to the relationship between the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Pattaya media.

The Media Association of Pattaya made the decision to submit a letter to Seri Wangphaijit, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. This letter requests Seri consider moving Sethapan to another post, far away from Pattaya.

The Media Association will also schedule a special meeting at the beginning of December. At this meeting, the Pattaya media will discuss ways to protect itself from such damaging statements. Chanyuth Hengtrakul, Head of the Pattaya Media Association, will chair this fact-finding meeting.

Sethapan Buddhani has made damaging statements about the media on many occasions. He is probably aware that the rift between he and the local media is impossible to solve.

At present, Sethapan holds all news conferences concerning the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Pattaya in Bangkok or other places. He invites only the national media to cover the events.

The last conference, concerning the ‘Amazing Thailand Grand Sale’ was held in Sriracha. No reporters from Pattaya were present.

Thai-Austrian Tech Fair

The exciting Thai-Austrian Tech Fair was held from November 13-15 at Sattahip Technical School. The school is a joint project of the Thai and Australian governments.

Mr. Jarun Choolap (left) and Mr. Christian Hasenbichler, Advisor to the Austrian Embassy in Thailand, join in opening the Thai-Austrian ‘Tech Fair 98’.

Students at the school learn various technical vocations. The school has produced many excellent machinists, technicians and other wizards in the field.

This fair featured a show of various state-of-the-art technical equipment, a contest for the best technical project and lectures by experts.

Gold thievery on the rise

Wearing gold not safe

Thailand has had a western style banking system for less than a hundred years. In the past and today, most of the local population ‘saves’ money by buying ornaments made of pure gold. This is their ‘money in the bank’. When necessary, this jewelry may be quickly turned back into cash. The majority of the rural Thai people still do not trust the banking system and buy gold when they have extra cash.

Brothers Supoj and Patana Seenual were remanded to custody after stealing gold off the neck of a walking victim.

Gold is often ‘pooh-poohed’ by many financial experts dealing in macro-economics, but now that the Thai currency has lost much of its value, old wisdom is being proven true in the most distressing of fashions. The people’s faith in gold is justified so much that possessing it puts one’s life in danger.

In Thailand, whenever the economy is down, gold theft goes up. Not from banks or financial institutions but by mugging ordinary people and stealing their gold. This metal often becomes the sole target of muggers.

On November 10, more professional ‘gold grabbers’ were caught. Mr. Soonthorn Boonchu, 29, was walking to collect his children at school when two men on a motorcycle drove up and ripped his one ounce solid gold chain from his neck.

Mr. Soonthorn told Pattaya Police officers the motorcycle had an Ayuthaya province license tag. Jotting down the number of the tag, which Mr. Soonthorn had memorized, police sent a squadron of officers to comb the area.

Efficient work and providence enabled police to apprehend the two men on Soi Bua Khao.

Supoj Seenual, 27, and his brother Patana, 23, denied all charges while Mr. Soonthorn maintained that these were the two who stole his gold. The brothers said they didn’t know Mr. Soonthorn and had never seen him before. They were at a bit of a loss as to what to say when officers asked how Mr. Soonthorn knew their license tag number.

The brothers told officers that someone else may have stolen Mr. Soonthorn’s gold and he, seeing them on their motorcycle, decided to blame it on them.

Officers were unimpressed and charged the brothers with robbery.

Police round up four speed dealers

Break up local drug ring

Tourist Police arrested a major amphetamine dealer on November 16. The drug merchant was selling the tablets at the Center snooker hall in Pattaya.

Intense investigations led to the arrest of four speed dealers last week.

Officers used a ‘sting’ operation with a plainclothes policeman posing as a buyer. Other officers stationed themselves in and around the snooker hall, waiting to pounce.

Two men were seen whispering suspiciously at one of the benches inside the snooker hall. One of them, Supoj Vankheundee, 54, had a small packet in his hand.

Officers accosted the men and, searching the contents of the bag, found 195 tablets of the illegal methamphetamine.

At the police station Supoj confessed to being a methamphetamine merchant. He said he had received the drug from Mr. Sangad Wongmuangkham.

Obtaining a search warrant, officers searched Sangad’s home in South Pattaya. Searching his pick up truck, police found 1 tablet of ‘speed’. Sangad confessed to all and took officers to the home of Mr. Suchart Thisala, 25, and found 57 tablets of methamphetamine in his trousers. Suchart took them to the Pattaya Apartment, the residence of Mr. Samruay Meukdaeng 21. There, officers found 500 tablets of ‘speed’ in a toffee bag.

Police arrested Supoj, Suchart, Samruay and Sangad, and confiscated the speed. The total amount was 708 tablets.

The four were charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell.

Thais still helping Thais

Donations to economy to be made

Pattaya Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat told reporters that on Monday, November 23, at 18:00 hrs. there will be a ceremony honoring ‘Luang Ta Maha Bua’, a revered monk of Pha Pa Temple in Udornthani Province. The sermon given will be ‘The Mahaskul Fund for All the People of the Land.’

Offerings will be made in US Dollars, many other foreign currencies, solid gold and baht. This will be put into a fund to help the nation.

This offering ceremony and sermon will be held at The Kanjanaaphisek building of the Phosamphanpitayakarn School on Pattaya-Na Klua Road in Pattaya City, Chonburi.

All Buddhists, tourists and benevolent souls are invited to help the country in its time of economic woe. Donations will be used to help the country’s economy get back on its feet again. Moneys will go into the ‘Luang Ta Maha Bua’ Fund.

‘Luang Ta Maha Bua Yanasampanno’, a Buddhist monk who earned the name ‘Phrasupatiphanno, which means ‘a monk who should be revered as a model of the Buddhist faith’ is respected by Buddhists throughout Thailand.

When crisis hit the country, the revered monk would help the populace by establishing this fund. After collecting the monies, he gave it to the government to help the economy. This began a tradition which is still observed today to honor the revered monk. The monk’s holy followers still observe this tradition by holding ‘Pha Pa’ ceremonies and gathering money.

The monk has been a respected figure ever since.

Convicted drug dealer murdered

Police surmise result of vendetta

A Thai man with a criminal record of methamphetamine and Marijuana sales was murdered on November 16.

An unknown informant called Banglamung Police and told them he had found the body on Khao Thong Temple Road.

Police discovered the body of Mr. Amarin Uthit, 23, lying on the road. He had been shot twice. Officers checked the registration of the motorcycle he was driving and found it belonged to Mr. Athit Anan, 20.

Mr. Athit told police that Amarin had borrowed the vehicle the previous day. When he went to collect it, Mr. Amarin was not at home.

Amarin was released from prison 3 months previous to his murder and police surmise that the murder was due to a vendetta.

The body was sent for autopsy.

Bowling for charity

Local dignitaries turn out for good cause

The Lion’s Club Charity Bowling tournament was held at the OD Bowl on November 15. Mr. Sansak Ngarmphiches, Head of the Parliamentary Committee on Tourism graciously presided at the opening of the benevolent tournament.

Sansak Ngarmphiches, Head of the Parliamentary Committee on Tourism, rolls the ceremonial first ball in the Lion’s Club Charity Bowling tournament last week.

The Lion’s Club of Phra Tam Nak, Pattaya, MP Chansak Chaovalitanititham, Lion Pratheep Chantaphakdee, the President of Region 310C, Lion Viphatwalli, President of the Lion’s Club Phra Tam Nak, Pattaya and the organizing committee welcomed Mr. Sansak at the OD Bowl on Phra Tam Nak Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi.

The bowling tournament had 4 aims:

1. To raise funds for the Center for the Development of Young Children, which has been under the patronage of the Lion’s Club Phra Tam Nak Pattaya since 1989.

2. To raise funds for the ‘Doctors on Wheels’ program. This program is to look after the health of those in Pattaya and Banglamung.

3. To raise funds for those with eye problems requiring surgery in the Pattaya and Banglamung areas.

4. To raise funds to help with those undergoing treatment for drug addiction in Pattaya and Banglamung.

This tournament received much cooperation from businesses, clubs and the public in Pattaya and Banglamung. The tournament had many entrants. It did raise a certain amount of money to use for the purposes stated above.

“Towering Inferno” fire drills held

Hope for the best but prepare for the worst

Mr. Preecha Rakkhit, Deputy Head of the Governing Committee, presided over a meeting to finalize arrangements for the practice in ‘dousing fires in tall buildings’, which was held on November 16-19, 1998 at the Pattaya Park Beach Resort. Sujarit Pajchimanan, Governor of Chonburi, Pairat Suthithamrongsawat, Mayor of Pattaya and a host of others were in attendance.

Local firefighters practice putting out conflagrations in tall buildings.

This was done in response to the disastrous Royal Jomtien fire of August 11, 1997. This fire, which took 91 lives, did almost irreparable damage to Pattaya’s reputation. Tourists and hotel workers lost their lives by the dozens and millions of dollars in damage was wreaked by the conflagration.

It also caused both Thai and foreign tourists to totally lose confidence in the safety of their lives and belongings in Pattaya.

The government, not wanting the country’s image to suffer or tourism dollars to be lost, decided to implement fire safety regulations and fire drills in all hotels.

The Asian Games is another factor, as Thailand will be hosting Asia’s best athletes from December 6-20, 1998. Pattaya will be host to six of the events and during that time there will be many athletes, officials and tourists in town.

To prevent accidents and help tourists and athletes feel safer, a major fire drill was carried out in a conspicuous manner.

The situation of the staged fire drill was that of an exploding gas tank to duplicate the cause of the fire at the Royal Jomtien.

Sixteen fire units from surrounding areas put out the fire. Units came from Pattaya, Laem Chabang Municipality, Sriracha Municipality, Chonburi Municipality, Phanat Nikom Municipality, Monthol Thaharn 14, the Navy Rescue Squad, the Rescue Squad of the National Airborne Police, The Sawang Boriboon Foundation Rescue Unit, Pattaya, The Chonburi Central Hospital, The Banglamung Hospital, the Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital and many other units from nearby areas.

This was the largest fire drill ever held in Chonburi, as it was not just for the Asian Games but for any fire which may occur. The drill stressed speed and efficiency so there will be as little damage as possible.

Complications re-emerge for industrial waste treatment

Rayong treatment company subject of protests

The Reporters Association of Thailand held a meeting in Bangkok to discuss ‘The Expanding of Industry in the Pluak Daeng Area’ and ‘Policy on the Use of Land.’

Ms. Chutima Buranarachada, President of the Reporters Association of Thailand, chaired the meeting. There was great interest from all present, due to the protests by the people concerning the building of Industrial Waste Treatment Plants by the GENCO Company.

After the protests, the company built the plants inside the Mab-Ta-Phut Industrial Estates in Rayong province.

The estates contain oil refineries and chemical plants which give rise to considerable amounts of toxic waste, which led to major investment in treatment plants by Thai and Singaporean investors. After searching for suitable sites for over three years, the investors decided that the Pluak Deang area was a proper site for the treatment plant. They proceeded to buy land in the area upon which to build.

One thousand rai were purchased at the cost of 100,000 baht per rai. The land was bought from various land holders in the area.

Just before construction began, the investors were approached by a major land agent. The agent told them that there was land for the factory at the cost of 300,000-350,000 baht per rai. The investors told the agent that it was not necessary as they had already purchased land, which was sufficiently large for the factory.

This caused the powerful estate agent to become resentful.

Machinations went into motion and residents of the Pluak Daeng area were drafted into protesting the construction, as it would cause water pollution in the area. The public averred that two reservoirs, the source of the flow of drinking water in the area would be polluted.

The people actually did believe that this was the truth and kept up strong protests.

This protest grew until several politicians lost their lives in various ways in their fight to keep the plant from being built. The leaders of the protesters lost control of the group, which had become a mob.

The Thai and Singaporean investors yielded and built the GENCO plant inside the Industrial Estates.

The mob activity ceased and there were only a few complaints from residents regarding fumes and gases.

The GENCO company must now enlarge the plant to treat increasing emissions. The company is now looking at the former property, which they did not use due to pressure from the locals.

GENCO is interested in buying land, formerly a sugar refinery situated on 8,000 rai. GENCO is interested in buying 2,000 rai of the land. The refinery moved its operations to Prajinburi province long ago.

This news reached the instigator of the violent protest, who has begun agitating again.

Who stands to gain advantage from these protests is unknown. We must wait and see. What we do know is that the treatment plant is very necessary to control pollution.

At this time, The Ministry of Industry and the Industrial Estates has opened bidding to any company which wishes to build the plant.

Asian Games flag to relay through Chonburi

Mr. Somchai Khunpleum, Mayor of Saen Sukh Municipality in Bangsean, told reporters that as Thailand will be hosting the Asian Games from December 6-20, 1998, there will be a flag bearing ceremony which will pass through Saen Sukh Municipality on December 1st.

The first person to receive the flag will be Mr. Sawat Hormpleum, Sub Mayor of Saen Sukh. He will receive the flag in front of the Military Building No. 12, in order to give it to the mayor of Saen Sukh. The second relay will be from the mayor of Saen Sukh. The flag will be borne to the PTT gas station at Thida Mahanakorn in order to relay it to Mr. Somchart Khunpleum, Sub Mayor of Saen Sukh. It will then be relayed to the front of the Bangkok Bank to be sent on to Chonburi City.

Municipally committees, heads of municipalities, and the Bangsaen Running Club, which has approximately 50 members, will relay the flag. All are invited to this event to welcome the flag into Saen Sukh Municipality on December 1st at 8:00 a.m. Those interested in joining in the run should go to the places indicated above in order to be part of the group.

Australian - Thai Chamber of Commerce

Each year the Australian - Thai Chamber of Commerce (ATCC) takes on some sort of community service activity - giving something back to the people of the country where we live and work. In some years this might be a major project, in others it is smaller scale. The ATCC’s last major project was a library building at Sai Yok Community School in Kanchanaburi Province to commemorate the 50th anniversary of His Majesty the King’s ascension to the throne. This year the ATCC is continuing to support that school library by way of provisions of books and English language training for the students.

However, the ATCC does have another significant community service project on the horizon in 1999, to commemorate His Majesty’s 6th Cycle Birthday. This project will be another library building, but this time in Rayong Province. While Australia and the Chamber have long-standing links with Kanchanaburi Province, they are also cognizant that Rayong is the site of many Australian businesses and significant Australian industrial investment. It is for that reason that the ATCC has chosen Rayong as the site of their next library project.

Why another library? It is a tangible donation to a local institution that benefits not just the students, but the local community as well. It is a contribution to something that is vital to the future of Thailand - education.

The Community Services Sub-Committee visited several schools in Rayong before submitting Ban Khao Huai Mahad for approval by the Chamber Committee. In doing so, it considered size, location, level of assistance from other sources, and the general level of affluence of the various schools. The aim was to choose one where there is a genuine need but also where the ATCC, with their limited resources, can make a significant impact.

Ban Khao Huai Mahad School fits that bill. It is located at Ban Chang, just off Highway 3. It caters for approximately 120 children - sons and daughters of factory workers hailing from the Northeast and 100 local families. Classes extend from Pre-elementary up to Prathayom 6 level. It has almost nothing. Other larger, better located schools receive considerable assistance from local corporations. This one receives very little, yet it still makes an effort to educate the children of people who work for local corporations. The school is relatively small, but is in genuine need of assistance - and the assistance ATCC can give will make an obvious difference to the students.

What ATCC seeks now is assistance in realizing this project. Obviously the Chamber will be contributing some funds from general resources, and funds from the AFL and Ball raffles will go towards it. But this is a Chamber community service project and requires a Chamber community effort. ATCC needs donations in cash or kind and seeks support in making a commitment to that now.

ATCC will make an official visit to the school in December, in conjunction with ATCC’s Eastern Seaboard Sundowners, when the Australian Ambassador will also be present. ATCC hopes to commence construction in March next year, with completion scheduled for September and an official opening around the time of His Majesty’s Birthday in December.

This is a project worthy of everyone’s support. ATCC already has some commitments, but will need more. For further information or details, contact Kathy Lindsey at the Chamber, tel. (2) 210-0217-8, fax: 210-0218.

A look at Pattaya through “Freundin” eyes

"Freundin" Magazine, one of the biggest and most reputable women magazines in Germany, recently published a 5-page report about Thailand. Pattaya was mentioned as one of THE tourist attractions. Pattaya Mail, who helped journalist Ms. Nicola Hahn and her photographer Hadrian Zett to discover the ‘real’ Pattaya, translated part of the report for our esteemed readership:

Nicola Hahn with her husband.

"Look! There is a bright-red rubber boat flying!" This is not a joke, but one of the newest attractions on Pattaya’s beaches. Those who are tired of surfing, sailing, tennis, golf or paragliding will choose this new adventure to fly over the soft surge of the Gulf of Siam. Around DM 20 is the price for this 15 minutes fun. For the same amount of money, I helped myself to one of the traditional Thai massages, to soften and stretch my office-clenched muscles.

Relaxed, I am going to enjoy all of what Jomtien Beach offers: blink in the shadow of the trees out to the sea and the island of Kho Larn, watch the other people doing all kinds of sports - and get every wish anticipated from my eyes. That’s Sood’s job. Zealous, he places the sun-beds in the best position, opens umbrellas, gets drinks and delicious, spicy snacks from nearby cook-shops and keeps "his" part of the beach spotlessly clean.

Clean - this is now the magic word of Pattaya, which does everything to get rid of - with success - it’s murky image. Millions of dollars were invested to reach this target. Nowadays, Pattaya has the first complete waste-water canalization in Thailand - and it is very proud of several environment prizes it has achieved worldwide.

Complete roads in the center were flattened; most of the in-famous girlie-bars (except a few "Reeperbahn" places) had to give way to elegant shopping centers, facetious pubs, restaurants and bars. Even Broadway Shows are now entertaining in Pattaya. The price for one of those shows is only DM 40, including a sumptuous dinner. The most famous pub of the native ‘jet-set’ is the Moon River Pub on North Pattaya Road, where one of the best and most well-known bands of Thailand daily rock’s and pops.

If we like to discover the normal daily Thai life, we catch one of the baht busses and will ride - for DM 2, to Naklua, with its colorful markets, shops and cook-shops. Especially delicious are the crabs at the houseboat restaurant "Shell Tangkay" at the harbor. If we like to find piece, we can do so at the charmingly created Natural Park at Wat Jang, where the image of a giant golden Buddha is carved into the rocks with laser. A restful, romantic bamboo hut is still to be found at Sunset Village with its own beach. Yet, for the same amount of money (app. DM 40 per night or 1 week incl. flight and breakfast with TUI for DM 1299), one can stay in air-conditioned bungalow rooms, surrounded by a tropical garden, at the Thai Garden Resort - including "insider" tips from Marion and Michael Vogt, the managers. Without them - and Pattaya Mail - we wouldn’t have been able to enjoy Sood’s beach service and such a truly fantastic vacation."

Vikings Vamp for Vittles

The concert by the ‘Tin Roof’ jazz band at the Royal Garden Hotel was quite a success. The Danish hep cats, who have played in their native country, in clubs and on the airwaves, treated Pattaya residents to an evening of good ‘old fashioned’ jazz

.Erik Madsen on piano, Phillip Jendal on bass, Eddie Pless on trombone, Jørgen Rasmussen on drums and the droll Bjørn Vollbrecht on trumpet all had the chance to get in some hot licks in the various numbers.

This charity concert was for a very good cause. All proceeds went to the Banglamung Home for the Aged. Mr. Suphadit Maneeratcharatsri, Managing Director of the Royal Garden Plaza, explained that the funds would be used to purchase supplementary food for the senior citizens at the home. Such a good cause should have produced a much larger turnout than it did.

This concert was sponsored by the Royal Garden Resort, the Coca-Cola Corporation, Carlsberg beer, the Pattaya Mail newspaper and the Pattaya International Ladies Club.

The Royal Garden provided a very nice buffet, which seemed to be of great interest to audience members. At one point during the concert, various listeners with serious cases of the munchies were asked to please come in an listen to the music.

The band opened their first set with ‘Beautiful Dreamer’, ‘Tea for Two’, and ‘All of Me’, into which other tunes, such as ‘Hello Dolly’ were woven in subtle counterpoint.

During the intermission, Elfi Seitz, Marketing Manager of the Pattaya Mail gave a short and pithy speech, thanking the band members and telling the audience that she hoped the music ‘Makes you purr like a cat on a hot tin roof.’

That said, the concert continued, with continued forays for food foraging by audience members.

The Danish quintet treated us to ‘Tin Roof Blues’, ‘Bye-Bye Blackbird’ and a jazz arrangement of a Danish pop or folk tune.

The most enjoyable piece of the evening was cryptically introduced by Bjørn, who told the audience that no one knew the title but the band members.

This original tune made us want to hear more of the band’s own compositions.

The evening ended with couples jiving and dancing to the music.

Everyone who participated in the organization of this concert should be praised for looking out for our senior citizen’s welfare.

PILC “Guide to Living...” donates 200,000 baht to Redemptorist School for the Handicapped

The team from "A Guide to Living in Pattaya and Rayong", along with other members of the Pattaya International Ladies Club presented 200,000 baht to the Redemptorist School for the Handicapped on Monday, October 5. The money will be used to sponsor students attending the school.

The Guide has been a keen supporter of the Handicapped School since its first edition was published in 1994. We have sponsored a total of twenty-seven students over the last four years. Eight students are currently still enrolled and the donation will be used to pay for their final year. These students work very hard in computer training and computer business and many go on to work for major companies after graduation. A few students stay to become teachers at the school as well. In fact, the majority of the teachers are former graduates.

It is the hope that better education will bring about a better life for the physically challenged people of Thailand. Without support from sponsors, these individuals would not have the opportunity to learn the valuable skills needed to secure a stable job. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped with the 3rd Edition of the Guide.

Emma Malone, Editor Edition 4

It Will be Dark Later on this Evening

The very active British Chamber of Commerce Bangkok hosted another of its informative meetings at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort last weekend. The subject explored was given the foreboding title - Thailand’s Economic Recovery - If and When.

Christopher Bruton.

Addressed by Christopher Bruton, the Director for Thailand and Indo-China, and Asia watcher for over thirty years, the meeting was very well attended by the Eastern Seaboard members.

Graham Macdonald of the BCCB’s local chapter introduced Mr. Bruton, describing him as a specialist in Entry Strategies, although Bruton himself said that Exit Strategies have been more to the point recently.

Following a discussion group meeting comprising of 100 managers in Thailand, Mr. Bruton had what he felt were some very up to date thoughts on the current economic woes. He stated initially that we "must look outwards" but then spent the rest of the meeting looking inwards in minute details.

Presented to the BCCB members were arrays of statistics ranging from indicators of Japanese economic growth (-3% estimated) to the (un)expected impact of the Y2K syndrome. Positive factors towards local recovery were given as Foreign Investment, a stronger Baht, Implementation of Legislative Reforms, a decrease in interest rates and the favourable cost environment for businesses here in Thailand. Negative factors proposed were doubts on the survival of the coalition government, opposition to the proposed bankruptcy and foreign business laws, commercial debt crisis and transparency and bureaucratic reform being too slow and reluctant.

The "recovery curves" postulated (the ‘Nike’ curve or the ‘Bathtub’ curve) looked to be modeled on the infamous ‘J’ curve on which Australian Treasurer Paul Keating lost his credibility some years ago.

Mr. Bruton did concede that there was no "If" for Thailand’s recovery - it was just a question of "When?" but said that his best and worst case scenarios showed a recovery time of between 2 - 5 years. He also mentioned that some companies were already showing signs of recovery, whilst others were talking about a 10-year-long haul to recovery.

The "official" Baht exchange for the next six months was given as between 36 - 39.5 while Mr. Bruton felt that it could weaken to fall to the 42/43 level.

In his closing address he did say that, "Compared to other South East Asian countries, Thailand looks good (for recovery)" but felt that Foreign Investment will need reform of the Foreign Business Laws.

His final words were that the general consensus of his managerial group was that 1999 would be "poor" and the year 2000 "moderate".

Undoubtedly, Mr. Bruton presented both sides of the coin on that evening, but one was left to toss for the answer ones self.

The meeting could be summed up by the words of one wit at our table who muttered, "It will be dark later on this evening, but it will lighten up by tomorrow morning!"

The next Eastern Seaboard meeting will be the Xmas party on December 17th, as long as Thailand has not sunk before then!

Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand 
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
Created by Andy Gombaz, assisted by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.