After months of political unrest, last month’s military coup d’état has at least brought stability to Thailand, guests and organizers of a charity tennis tournament in Sattahip said.
Bangkok resident Nijaree Parnichreon, who has owned a business in Pattaya for 30 years, set up the May 29 tennis match to benefit Plutaluang’s Ban Khru Boonchu House for special-needs children. She said she welcomed the military takeover of the elected government because, she said, the country was in a vulnerable position that could have gotten worse if no one put a stop to fighting between pro- and anti-government forces.
Thanakorn Ounnasarerk (left) and Nijaree Parnichreon (right) agree that last month’s military coup d’état has at least brought stability to Thailand.
Nijaree said, “Bangkok houses over 7,980,000 people and more than half of them are people with low income who are struggling to earn their living. The political turmoil added more difficulties both with the traffic problems and the decline of the economy. I want peace restored in the country as soon as possible.”
Many at the tennis match shared the same sentiment. Sompong Tantilikhidkul, an English professor at Chandrakasem Rajabhat University in Bangkok, said he thinks political problems have affected every Thai, so he too was glad the military stepped in before more damage was done. Of course, he said, he had to adjust his lifestyle to accommodate the curfew still in effect in the capital.
Thanakorn Ounnasarerk, the owner of a hotel on Bang Saray Beach, said occupancy at his resort had dropped considerably since the political unrest started. He too said he is happy the military has taken control of the government and wanted problems to finally be settled.
Thanakorn said he does not want to see Thai people divided into different-colored camps, as it causes problems in families where members have different views.
