Thai Foreign Minister Kasit PiromyaFriday, March 20, 2009
BANGKOK (AFP) — Thailand's foreign minister was forced during a censure debate Friday to defend himself against angry opposition attacks over his role in the protests that shut Bangkok's airports last year.
Kasit Piromya is accused of supporting the ten-day airport siege in November-December by members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) that cost the kingdom 8.3 billion dollars and tarnished its tourist-friendly image.
The 64-year-old reportedly said the blockade, the culmination of a four-month street campaign to rid former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's allies from government, was "a lot of fun".
But Kasit played down his role in the protests.
"I am not a core member of the PAD and neither have I taken part in their planning. I was invited to speak as academic," Kasit said, referring to a speech he made at the airport protest site.
"I joined the PAD movement in good faith in order to achieve true democracy, a better society in Thailand and to oppose Thaksin's system," he said.
A stream of opposition lawmakers addressed parliament during the second day of debate ahead of a planned vote of no confidence on Saturday aimed at toppling the three-month-old government.
The censure motion accuses premier Abhisit Vejjajiva and five other ministers from the Democrat Party, including Kasit, of corruption and mismanagement.
"The PAD and Democrats are the same group. Kasit was appointed as foreign minister to repay him for helping to seize the airport," opposition MP Visaradi Techathirawat said.
Another showed video footage of Kasit's previous comments on the protests and accused him of acting like an "international terrorist."
The foreign minister is also accused of ceding territory to Cambodia following renewed military tensions on their disputed border that boiled over into a deadly clash last year.
The opposition accused Kasit of allowing Cambodia to build a road on Thai land in exchange for securing Cambodian premier Hun Sen's attendance at a key regional summit that Thailand hosted last month.
But Kasit said territory had not been lost and defended his conciliatory approach.
"It's easy to fight, but people stand to lose, so we have to rely on peaceful negotiation... we are not losing any territory," he said.
The attacks on Kasit follow a day of debate centred on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva during Thursday's session that concluded in the early hours of the morning.
His Democrat Party is accused of receiving millions of dollars in illegal donations and illegally distributing funds, while it is alleged Abhisit certified false party financial statements and dodged military service.
The move to censure by allies of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra is almost certain to fail but opposition lawmakers hope that the allegations will weaken the ruling coalition.
Abhisit is named in the motion alongside Kasit, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij, his deputy Pradit Patharaprasit, Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul and his deputy Boonchong Wongtrairat.
The debate must finish by midnight Friday in order to allow a Saturday vote.
Oxford-educated Abhisit took office in December after a court ruling toppled the then-ruling party allied to Thaksin. The Democrats subsequently won over parties that were part of the previous coalition government.
Kasit Piromya is accused of supporting the ten-day airport siege in November-December by members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) that cost the kingdom 8.3 billion dollars and tarnished its tourist-friendly image.
The 64-year-old reportedly said the blockade, the culmination of a four-month street campaign to rid former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's allies from government, was "a lot of fun".
But Kasit played down his role in the protests.
"I am not a core member of the PAD and neither have I taken part in their planning. I was invited to speak as academic," Kasit said, referring to a speech he made at the airport protest site.
"I joined the PAD movement in good faith in order to achieve true democracy, a better society in Thailand and to oppose Thaksin's system," he said.
A stream of opposition lawmakers addressed parliament during the second day of debate ahead of a planned vote of no confidence on Saturday aimed at toppling the three-month-old government.
The censure motion accuses premier Abhisit Vejjajiva and five other ministers from the Democrat Party, including Kasit, of corruption and mismanagement.
"The PAD and Democrats are the same group. Kasit was appointed as foreign minister to repay him for helping to seize the airport," opposition MP Visaradi Techathirawat said.
Another showed video footage of Kasit's previous comments on the protests and accused him of acting like an "international terrorist."
The foreign minister is also accused of ceding territory to Cambodia following renewed military tensions on their disputed border that boiled over into a deadly clash last year.
The opposition accused Kasit of allowing Cambodia to build a road on Thai land in exchange for securing Cambodian premier Hun Sen's attendance at a key regional summit that Thailand hosted last month.
But Kasit said territory had not been lost and defended his conciliatory approach.
"It's easy to fight, but people stand to lose, so we have to rely on peaceful negotiation... we are not losing any territory," he said.
The attacks on Kasit follow a day of debate centred on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva during Thursday's session that concluded in the early hours of the morning.
His Democrat Party is accused of receiving millions of dollars in illegal donations and illegally distributing funds, while it is alleged Abhisit certified false party financial statements and dodged military service.
The move to censure by allies of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra is almost certain to fail but opposition lawmakers hope that the allegations will weaken the ruling coalition.
Abhisit is named in the motion alongside Kasit, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij, his deputy Pradit Patharaprasit, Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul and his deputy Boonchong Wongtrairat.
The debate must finish by midnight Friday in order to allow a Saturday vote.
Oxford-educated Abhisit took office in December after a court ruling toppled the then-ruling party allied to Thaksin. The Democrats subsequently won over parties that were part of the previous coalition government.
6 comments:
If you voted for CPP (Cambodian People's Party):
Also known as:
Communist Party of Kampuchea
Khmer Revolution Party
Khmer Rouge Party
Khmer Krorhorm Party - គណបក្សខ្មែរក្រហម
You're support the killing of 1.7 million innocent Khmer peoples from 1975 to 1979 in Cambodia.
You're support the killing at least twelve innocent men, women and children on March 30, 1997 Grenade Attack in Cambodia.
You're support assassination of journalists in Cambodia.
You're support political assassination and killing in Cambodia.
You're support attempted assassination and murder of leader of the free trade union in Cambodia.
You're support corruptions in Cambodia.
You're support murder of Piseth Pilika (Hun Sen's affaire).
You're support Hun Sen Regime burn poor people's house down to the ground and leave them homeless.
Hun Sen, Chea Sim and Heng Samrin was a former Khmer Rouge commanders.
Now, Hun Sen, Chea Sim and Heng Samrin are Khmer Rouge leaders, since their leader (Pol Pot) is dead.
From 1975 to 1979, these Khmer Rouge commanders responsible for killing 1.7 million innocent Khmer peoples in Cambodia.
From 1980 to present, these Khmer Rouge leaders responsible for killing innocent men, women and children on March 30, 1997, assassinated journalists, political assassination and killing, murder of Piseth Pilika (Hun Sen's affaire) and attempted assassinate and murder of leader of the free trade union in Cambodia.
When is the ECCC going to bring these three criminals to U.N. Khmer Rouge Tribunal?
Khmer Rouge Regime is a genocide organization.
Hun Sen Regime is a terrorist organization.
Hun Sen Bodyguards is a terrorist organization.
Hun Sen Death Squad is a terrorist organization.
Cambodian People's Party is a terrorist organization.
I have declare the current Cambodian government which is lead by the Cambodian People's Party as a terrorist organization.
Whoever associate with the current Cambodian government are associate with a terrorist organization.
Khmer Rouge Regime had committed:
Torture
Execution
Massacre
Atrocities
War Crimes
Crimes Against Humanity
Starvations
Overwork to Death
Slavery
Rapes
Abuses
Assault and Battery
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Regime had committed:
Assassination
Murder
Killing
Terrorism
Drive by Shooting
Intimidation
Death Threat
Threatening
Human Rights Abuses
Human Trafficking
Drugs Trafficking
Under Age Child Sex
Mass Evictions
Land Grabbing
Corruptions
Illegal Firearms
Illegal Logging
Acid Attacks
Injustice
Steal Votes
Violate the Constitution
These are the Trade Marks of Hun Sen's Khmer Rouge Regime.
Under Hun Sen Regime, no criminals that has been committed murder and all other crimes within Hun Sen's government ever been brought to justice.
Information change without notice as it become available.
i can see his frustration in the picture above! he's probably thinking "oh no, not again! crap! here we go again! the roller coaster ride!"
I do not know what to say anymore about Thailand. The citizens of Thailand do not understand that their country already provides them with so much wealth, privilege and future. Imagine being a citizen of Cambodia and having to struggle, always being fearful and needing to bend the laws in order to do things. Thailand shouldn't take their government and country for granted. Perhaps they would appreciate it more and not act like a bunch of spoil idiots if they've gone through the Khmer Rouge and the Hun Sen regime.
THAIS Fags are greedy! wonder how much more lands they needs?, they had taken so much aleady, if you looks at khmer empier map!
Hey 12:22AM.
we know that you know how to write but it is too long to read.
No body read yours.
Shorter, everyone like to read.
Thank you.
It is sickening to learn that the Siem leaders use Khmer people as their scapegoat to advance their personal agenda! There are boat loads of problem in Siem land and the Siem leaders never talk about country problem except the Khmer Phrea Vihear temple and the Khmer leaders!
Why the Khmer leaders have to jump when the Siem leaders are saying all the nonsense things!
Siem try and Siem will die!
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