- Thailand has a long history of civil unrest, with dozens of governments since 1946
- The state of emergency invokes the same powers that were used in the bloody crackdown of 2010
- The 60-day clampdown gives the government wide-ranging powers to maintain public order
- Large investors such as Toyota have said continuing unrest could damage the Thai economy
(CNN) — Thailand is no stranger to civil unrest — just four years ago the same emergency laws brought in this week were used to end political protests that left scores dead and thousands injured.
While this year’s state of emergency may not differ in substance, it is being projected by the government of Yingluck Shinawatra as different in style.
The 60-day clampdown gives the government the power to implement curfews, censor the news media, disperse gatherings and use military force to “secure order.”
Analysts say in this respect it is no different to the law that Suthep Thaugsuban — a former deputy prime minister who is now leading anti-government protests — used in 2010 to bring a violent end to months of protests in the capital Bangkok.
But this time, the government says it has no plans to crack down on the protesters that have disrupted the capital Bangkok for weeks.
Labor Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who will oversee the joint operation between the military and the police, told a press conference this week the government would not use weapons and would not attempt to disperse protesters at night.
In 2010, the military’s attempt to clear protester encampments at night was widely held to have been responsible for the Phil Robertson, Human Rights Watch
“For new foreign investors, the political situation may force them to look for opportunity elsewhere. For those that have already invested, like Toyota, we will not go away. But whether we will invest (further) or not, we are not sure.”
Thailand is the biggest auto market in Southeast Asia and is a production and export hub for car manufacturers such as Honda Motor Company and Ford.
Despite political instability, Thailand has shown formidable economic growth over the past decade and is still attracting foreign investment from small to medium-sized enterprises.
In 2010, the medium-sized design company Design World Partnership decided to remain in Bangkok despite having its office windows shot out during the crackdown.
“We have to take the long view. If you look at the view over the past five to ten years the growth in Thailand has been phenomenal,” Brenton Mauriello, DWP Chief Executive Officer, told CNN.
“Of course it would be better if it wasn’t there and in the short-term our business has been affected but it’s not catastrophic,” he said. “You don’t come to a country like Thailand and invest over a three or four-month period — it’s a long-term commitment.”
He said that his company was expecting the situation to resolve itself and that by April or May it would be business as usual.
“We are now starting to invest back into Australia,” said Mauriello, whose company began in Australia, established itself in Thailand in 1994 and and now has nine offices and 450 staff worldwide. “I think that shows that if we can do it, anyone can.”
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