ID :
10791
Wed, 06/25/2008 - 14:25
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/10791
The shortlink copeid
Thai PM lashes out at Opposition party leader in censure debate
BANGKOK, June 25 (TNA) - Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej
Tuesday expressed his frustration with Opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva who had launched relentless barrages upon him during his two-hour censure debate at Parliament.
The premier said he considered Mr. Abhisit's verbal attacks ''far removed from reason,'' but that he had sufficient patience.
Addressing the House of Representatives, Mr. Samak said he had not
anticipated such unrelenting spates of verbal attacks from the opposition leader, but maintained that he could stand up to the barrage of attacks launched against him during the censure debate.
"I have been insulted by this man in his forties on groundless charges.
His claims were too harsh," said the 73-year-old premier.
Mr. Samak commented that it was not quite fair to his coalition government and to himself to come under stern criticism because he had just run the country for a four-months time so far. The Democrat Party should have shown more patience by allowing the government to perform instead of initiating a censure debate at this time.
Meanwhile, the premier cautioned that the Democrats' criticisms regarding the government's handling of the Preah Vihear controversy might affect the state relations between Thailand and Cambodia.
"I don't know why some people are blowing the case of Preah Vihear
entirely out of proportion," Mr. Samak said. "It tarnishes Thai-Cambodian relations."
Mr. Samak said Thailand had lost the world-renowned ancient temple complex to Cambodia under a World Court ruling in 1962 and had peacefully co-existed for 45 years until the Democrats dug up the controversy lately.
Thailand had clearly insisted that Cambodia, which planned to register
Preah Vihear temple as a world heritage with United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) next month, must not annex any piece of disputed land around Preah Vihear as part of the temple.
The resurrected international issue needed to be handled with the utmost care, and bilateral relationships between Thailand and Cambodia are to remain intact, the premier said.
Mr. Samak said that some Thai nationals currently living in Cambodia were so worried about the matter that they asked him whether or not it might lead to the evacuation of all Thais from the neighbouring country.
In other areas, the opposition lawmakers will question the other ministers regarding mismanagement and inefficiency.
The two-day debate will end with a no-confidence vote on Thursday.
Tuesday expressed his frustration with Opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva who had launched relentless barrages upon him during his two-hour censure debate at Parliament.
The premier said he considered Mr. Abhisit's verbal attacks ''far removed from reason,'' but that he had sufficient patience.
Addressing the House of Representatives, Mr. Samak said he had not
anticipated such unrelenting spates of verbal attacks from the opposition leader, but maintained that he could stand up to the barrage of attacks launched against him during the censure debate.
"I have been insulted by this man in his forties on groundless charges.
His claims were too harsh," said the 73-year-old premier.
Mr. Samak commented that it was not quite fair to his coalition government and to himself to come under stern criticism because he had just run the country for a four-months time so far. The Democrat Party should have shown more patience by allowing the government to perform instead of initiating a censure debate at this time.
Meanwhile, the premier cautioned that the Democrats' criticisms regarding the government's handling of the Preah Vihear controversy might affect the state relations between Thailand and Cambodia.
"I don't know why some people are blowing the case of Preah Vihear
entirely out of proportion," Mr. Samak said. "It tarnishes Thai-Cambodian relations."
Mr. Samak said Thailand had lost the world-renowned ancient temple complex to Cambodia under a World Court ruling in 1962 and had peacefully co-existed for 45 years until the Democrats dug up the controversy lately.
Thailand had clearly insisted that Cambodia, which planned to register
Preah Vihear temple as a world heritage with United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) next month, must not annex any piece of disputed land around Preah Vihear as part of the temple.
The resurrected international issue needed to be handled with the utmost care, and bilateral relationships between Thailand and Cambodia are to remain intact, the premier said.
Mr. Samak said that some Thai nationals currently living in Cambodia were so worried about the matter that they asked him whether or not it might lead to the evacuation of all Thais from the neighbouring country.
In other areas, the opposition lawmakers will question the other ministers regarding mismanagement and inefficiency.
The two-day debate will end with a no-confidence vote on Thursday.
