UPDATE : 4 June 2010A top executive of Central World, the shopping mall severely damaged by an arson attack during the red-shirt riots, expects it can reopen in six months.Managing Director of Central Pattana or CPN Kobchai Chirathiwat said the company still has not been able to evaluate the extent of damage to Central World but he expected the insurance company will release its estimation in two or three weeks.

Kobchai said the collapse of Zen department store that shares the same building structure with Central World will have no effect on the latter as Zen covers only 10 percent of the 500,000 square meters of Central Worlds total space.Kobchai expected Zen to reopen in 14 months while Isetan, on the other side of Central World, will reopen in a month. The rest of Central World should reopen in six months.The CPN executive revealed the reconstruction at Central World will begin this month and its vendors can tenants can set their shops in two or three months.He also disclosed Central Worlds office building, the Centara Grand Hotel and the Bangkok Convention Center has resumed services since June 1.

via Thai-ASEAN News Network.

Bangkok is now recovering from 10 weeks of anti-government demonstrations that shut down much of the city.

More than 1,400 entrepreneurs and others who suffered losses totaling Bt2.7 billion inThailand’s recent political violence registered to receive assistance from the government from May 21-23.Chaired by PMs Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey, the newly-set up committee tasked with helping entrepreneurs and other individuals affected by political violence will meet Monday at Government House.