PM stands by Kasit over airport allegations

PM stands by Kasit over airport allegations
52 ordered to report to police by July 16

POST REPORTERS

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya (photo) will remain in office as he fights charges in connection with the closure of Suvarnabhumi airport, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says.

The prime minister's position came after Mr Kasit was identified by police as one of 25 people facing criminal charges, including terrorism, over the Suvarnabhumi closure.

Another 27 people face charges related to the siege of Don Mueang airport. Of all 52 names, 16 were involved in the closure of the two airports from Nov 25 to Dec 2 last year.

All have been asked to report to police by July 16 when authorities will officially inform them about the to face the charges, which include attempts to stir unrest. Those at the Suvarnabhumi siege will also be charged with disrupting aviation.

Mr Kasit is the only cabinet member identified by police among the group.

The prime minister said yesterday it was not time to talk about the fate of Mr Kasit as he should have a chance to defend himself in accordance with the law. He had discussed the issue with the foreign minister, Mr Abhisit said.

The issues would be handled by police and public prosecutors with no interference, he said.

But Mr Abhisit said he would probably make a suitable decision on the minister in the future without the need to wait for an indictment.

He said the decision would be based on the facts and the law.

Mr Kasit could not be reached for comment yesterday.

His secretary, Chavanond Intaradhkomalyasut, said the minister would prepare engage a lawyer to fight all charges to be filed by police and would not resign from his post.

Mr Chavanond said the charges on him and other protesters were too severe and groundless. They had showed no act of terrorism not engaged in acts of terrorism and Mr Kasit had only been a speaker at the rally, he said.

Mr Kasit would not report to police on July 16 because of an overseas visit and would meet police himself before then, he said.

Mr Kasit has scheduled a visit to Egypt from July 14 to 18. He will be in New Zealand from July 7 to 12.

Rajathewa police in charge of Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang police sent letters to those charged on July 1 Wednesday asking them to report to authorities (on July 16).

Suriyasai Katasila, secretary-general of the New Politics PartyNPP, said all PAD members summoned would meet police as scheduled because they were confident of the innocent intentions of their demonstrations to oust the government led by the People Power PartyPPP. The PPP was considered by the PAD to be a proxy of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Mr Suriyasai said the siege of the two airports was an exercise in constitutional rights to stage rallies peacefully to oppose the government that had lost its legitimacy and no demonstrators had damaged the premises or assets of the airports.

Mr Suriyasai said the charges of terrorism against PAD leaders were surreal and as baseless as the charges of treason that nine PAD leaders faced previously. The treason charges were dismissed by a court and the PAD did not file a countersuit against police as it had hoped police ``would have learned a lesson'', he said.

He claimed the police plan to charge the PAD leaders was a politically motivated tactic.

If the government planned to undermine the New Politics Party, which is the political arm of the PAD, the government would find it difficult to stay in office, warned Mr Suriyasai, who is also the PAD coordinator.

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