Thread: Canberra Calls In Thai Ambassador Over Coup Concerns

Canberra Calls In Thai Ambassador Over Coup Concerns

MELBOURNE, May 24 (Bernama) -- The Australian Government has expressed grave concerns over Thailand's military coup in meetings with officials in Bangkok and Canberra.

The Australian Associated Press reports that Thailand's ambassador to Australia was called in by the government in Canberra on Friday afternoon.

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade acting secretary Gillian Bird met Maris Sangiampongsa to convey Australia's concerns about the coup at the request of Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

In Bangkok, Australian ambassador James Wise relayed concerns to the permanent secretary of the Thai foreign ministry.

Bishop has expressed grave concerns about developments in Thailand, describing the situation on the ground as volatile.

Meanwhile, Australian travellers and business operators in Thailand are being warned to check travel and business insurance coverage as the Thai army's takeover triggers political uncertainty.

Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop said Australians travelling to Thailand, or already in Thailand, should continue to exercise a high degree of caution and pay close attention to their personal security.

Australian business executives say the military's move will have a wide impact on the commercial climate, at least in the short term.

Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce chairman, Leigh Scott-Kemmis said the military's move to step into the political conflict was seen as positive.

But Scott-Kemmis said the army's involvement would have a wider impact on business contracts and legal issues for investors and traders.

"The concern, though, once martial law is declared there are a whole lot of triggers in commercial agreements that then become an issue. For example, a lot of insurance becomes void," he told AAP.

"Already we're hearing of some contracts where they are calling 'force majeure' clauses so you get all this ridiculous litigation and so forth.

"So that's where our concern is. It's more on the commercial contractual impacts that it can have. We're still trying to get to understand more of that," Scott-Kemmis said.

Australia's bilateral trade with Thailand is about A$16 billion (RM48 billion), with Australian investment in the country at more than A$2.85 billion (RM8.55 billion).

bernama.com