Magazines Archives - 2010 June

Black May sends Bangkok’s retailers reeling
Story 10 - News Feature

A TOTAL OF 88 people died during a series of clashes between government soldiers and thousands of antigovernment red-shirted protesters from May 14-20 in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand.

The severe casualties stunned the nation as millions of viewers across the world saw live images on satellite televisions showing soldiers backed by tanks firing at protesters in the capital’s business and tourist districts.

The Ratchaprasong intersection is home to some of the biggest names in Thailand’s retail sector, including Central World, Siam Paragon and Mah Boon Krong (MBK) Center.

On May 19, protest leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship announced that they would halt the street protest at the Ratchaprasong intersection and surrender to the authorities. But angry supporters, unhappy with the call, went on a rampage, setting fire to 36 buildings and shopping centres.

Central World, the second largest shopping mall in Asia, was gutted in the fire, together with Siam Theatre at Siam Square, Big C and Centre One at the Victory Monument.

To view full story, get a copy of Retail Asia. To subscribe, please download the subscription form from http://www.retailasiaonline.com/subscription.html