Thai Experts React to Acquittal of Prime Minister.

Aug. 4--The split Constitutional Court decision favouring Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will help clear political uncertainty and enable the government to fully carry out its policies to revive the economy, according to economists and businessmen.

However, they were also divided in their views on whether the economy would improve significantly, if at all, given a variety of other factors.

Mr Thaksin, speaking after the victory, said the uncertainty clouding the country during the past several months had cleared, and both local and foreign investors would no longer be hesitant in making their decisions.

However, Poosana Premanoch of the Institute of Social and Economic Policy noted: "Psychologically, the premier's victory greatly improves the situation. However, the fundamentals remain unchanged." Janinthorn Wongse-thongdee, an executive at the property company Pacific Assets, was among a few businessmen who expressed disappointment at the court decision. "Where is the justice in society? I think that if someone is wrong, they have to accept it," he said.

"A decision like this can only discourage the country's independent institutions in the future. I pity the National Counter Corruption Commission." Sungsidh Piriyarangsan, an economics lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, said the narrow 8-7 decision could not help clear up doubts among those who believed Mr Thaksin was guilty.

Chieanchuang Kalayanamitr, an electronics entrepreneur and an adviser to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said that the seven judges ruling against Mr Thaksin were more senior than the eight voting in his favour.

"However, the uncertainty has gone and now we can go ahead under the government's policies," he said.