Bangkok Post
PHNOM PENH : Thai businessmen in Cambodia fear the diplomatic stand-off between the two countries will have a disastrous effect on trade.
Amaraporn Pakarat, a member of the Thai Business Council of Cambodia who has operated a tourism business in the country for 11 years, yesterday said some Thais doing business in the Cambodian capital were concerned the situation would worsen if the two countries fail to quickly mend relations.
"I still remember the incident in January 2003. I had to catch the last flight to Bangkok on that day," she said, referring to the anti-Thai riots that erupted in Phnom Penh. The Thai embassy and many Thai firms were torched, looted and vandalised.
Thai business people dealing with their Cambodian counterparts fear the Thai government will eventually order the closure of border checkpoints.
Preeda Samkaeo, managing director of PD Intertrade 92 Co, told a seminar at Thammasat University it was very likely the diplomatic dispute would escalate to the point that the Thai government could order the border closed, which would be disastrous for trade.
Mr Preeda, who has 10 years of experience in exporting consumer products to Cambodia, said he wanted to ask the government to reserve border checkpoint closures as a last resort in its efforts to pressure Cambodia.
Border closure would also affect the employment of Cambodian workers by Thai industry, he said.
Cambodians had begun to stock oil, dry and canned food and drinking water as though they were preparing for war. "Nobody wants a war to take place," Mr Preeda said.
"Thailand has never got involved directly in a war, and it should not get involved in one. A war is dangerous for the country and also the people."
Thai Business Council of Cambodia chairman Somsak Rinrueangsin echoed Mr Preeda at the forum saying border closures should be a last resort.
PHNOM PENH : Thai businessmen in Cambodia fear the diplomatic stand-off between the two countries will have a disastrous effect on trade.
Amaraporn Pakarat, a member of the Thai Business Council of Cambodia who has operated a tourism business in the country for 11 years, yesterday said some Thais doing business in the Cambodian capital were concerned the situation would worsen if the two countries fail to quickly mend relations.
"I still remember the incident in January 2003. I had to catch the last flight to Bangkok on that day," she said, referring to the anti-Thai riots that erupted in Phnom Penh. The Thai embassy and many Thai firms were torched, looted and vandalised.
Thai business people dealing with their Cambodian counterparts fear the Thai government will eventually order the closure of border checkpoints.
Preeda Samkaeo, managing director of PD Intertrade 92 Co, told a seminar at Thammasat University it was very likely the diplomatic dispute would escalate to the point that the Thai government could order the border closed, which would be disastrous for trade.
Mr Preeda, who has 10 years of experience in exporting consumer products to Cambodia, said he wanted to ask the government to reserve border checkpoint closures as a last resort in its efforts to pressure Cambodia.
Border closure would also affect the employment of Cambodian workers by Thai industry, he said.
Cambodians had begun to stock oil, dry and canned food and drinking water as though they were preparing for war. "Nobody wants a war to take place," Mr Preeda said.
"Thailand has never got involved directly in a war, and it should not get involved in one. A war is dangerous for the country and also the people."
Thai Business Council of Cambodia chairman Somsak Rinrueangsin echoed Mr Preeda at the forum saying border closures should be a last resort.
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