ID :
37178
Wed, 12/24/2008 - 18:12
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/37178
The shortlink copeid
Thai PM dismisses call to jettison foreign minister
Thai PM dismisses call to jettison foreign minister
BANGKOK, Dec 24 (TNA) - Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday brushed aside a call for him to dismiss his protest-linked foreign minister, saying the minister's remarks were made before he was appointed and may have been misinterpreted by the media.
The premier commented after a leading member of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) on Tuesday demanded that Mr. Abhisit rescind his appointment of Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, as Mr. Kasit had joined in the shutdown of Suvarnabhumi Airport in late November.
Jatuporn Prompan, a party-list member of parliament for the Puea Thai Party and also host of a television political talk show, demanded that the prime minister remove Mr. Kasit from the ministerial post after he was quoted by foreign media as saying the seizure of the airport by People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) supporters from November 25 to December 3 was "a lot of fun".
Mr. Jatuporn said the remarks made by Mr. Kasit, who officially began working at his post on Tuesday, were considered as "challenging the feelings of people nationwide" and that the action had severely damaged the country's economy, and therefore Mr. Kasit should not be given the ministerial post.
The premier defended Mr. Kasit's past role as a PAD guest speaker, saying he had exercised his constitutional right in expressing his own politicial opinion.
It is not a cause for concern if the opposition party brings the issue to the parliamentary debate as Mr. Kasit would be able to defend himself, the premier said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kasit spoke to reporters on his first day in office on Wednesday that his remarks might have been quoted out of context and that might have caused misunderstanding.
"What I said and did before I officially took office on December 22 was meant for the sake of democracy and ethical politics in Thailand.
"However, I apologise for any misunderstanding that my statement might have caused or have been misinterpreted with ill-intention to cause damage to Thailand's reputation," said the former career diplomat. (TNA)
BANGKOK, Dec 24 (TNA) - Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday brushed aside a call for him to dismiss his protest-linked foreign minister, saying the minister's remarks were made before he was appointed and may have been misinterpreted by the media.
The premier commented after a leading member of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) on Tuesday demanded that Mr. Abhisit rescind his appointment of Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, as Mr. Kasit had joined in the shutdown of Suvarnabhumi Airport in late November.
Jatuporn Prompan, a party-list member of parliament for the Puea Thai Party and also host of a television political talk show, demanded that the prime minister remove Mr. Kasit from the ministerial post after he was quoted by foreign media as saying the seizure of the airport by People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) supporters from November 25 to December 3 was "a lot of fun".
Mr. Jatuporn said the remarks made by Mr. Kasit, who officially began working at his post on Tuesday, were considered as "challenging the feelings of people nationwide" and that the action had severely damaged the country's economy, and therefore Mr. Kasit should not be given the ministerial post.
The premier defended Mr. Kasit's past role as a PAD guest speaker, saying he had exercised his constitutional right in expressing his own politicial opinion.
It is not a cause for concern if the opposition party brings the issue to the parliamentary debate as Mr. Kasit would be able to defend himself, the premier said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kasit spoke to reporters on his first day in office on Wednesday that his remarks might have been quoted out of context and that might have caused misunderstanding.
"What I said and did before I officially took office on December 22 was meant for the sake of democracy and ethical politics in Thailand.
"However, I apologise for any misunderstanding that my statement might have caused or have been misinterpreted with ill-intention to cause damage to Thailand's reputation," said the former career diplomat. (TNA)
