FM Kasit grilled
By The Nation, March 20, 2009
Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya came under heavy attacks from opposition MPs on Friday for his involvement with the seizure of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport late last year.
On the second day of censure debate, younger MPs from the Pheu Thai Party unleashed their criticisms and allegations against the former ambassador. They said he was unsuitable for the job of foreign affairs minister.
The Friday's attack was a follow-up from Thursday night's onslaught on Kasit, when opposition MPs questioned his qualification and accused him of being responsible for Cambodia's recent "encroachment" into a disputed border area near Phra Viharn (Preah Vihear) temple ruins.
MP Visaradee Techathirawat (Pheu Thai-Chiang Rai) said that Kasit's tainted backgrounds and behaviours made him an unsuitable choice to become the foreign minister. She accused him of being belligerent and often involved in disputes with colleagues while serving as a diplomat.
She also criticised Kasit for taking part in the takeover of the Suvarnabhumi airport by the People's Alliance for Democracy. She said it was improper for him to describe the event as "having excellent food and music".
The opposition MP said the airport seizure brought about a seriously negative image for Thailand and that it would take a long time to restore the country's reputation.
Visaradee drew protests from female Democrat MPs Supatcharee Thammaphet and Rangsima Rodrassamee, who accused her of reading out from a prepared statement.
"If you take away that piece of paper, she won't be able to debate. It's because she is not speaking from her brains," said Rangsima.
Her remark led to protests from several opposition MPs who demanded that Rangsima withdraw her remark, which they found to be offensive. The Democrat MP later agreed to withdraw her remark after the meeting chair insisted.
Thitima Chaisang, a Pheu Thai MP for Chachoengsao, later rose to question Kasit's qualifications to serve as the foreign minister.
During her debate, the MP also played audio and video recordings of Kasit during his participation in the PAD protest at the airport.
Jatuporn Phrompan, another Pheu Thai MP, said on Friday during the censure debate that Kasit's involvement with the PAD and his earlier hostile stance against Cambodia made him awkward when having to deal with that country's leaders.
The opposition MP said that Kasit did not immediately protest Cambodia's road construction in the disputed area near Phra Viharn but that he waited until after the recent summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Jatuporn alleged that the foreign minister delayed the protest because he wanted to ensure that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen would take part in the summit hosted by Thailand.
Jatuporn also said that the airport seizure caused many Thai Muslim pilgrims to miss their flights for Mecca. The allegation led to exchanges of argument between Muslim MPs from the government and the opposition.
Democrat MP Somkiat Pongpaiboon, who is a PAD leader, rose to defend the group and Kasit. He said that the description of the PAD as "terrorist" for its rally at the airport was "groundless". It did not make physical harm to passengers and did not hijack any airplane, he explained.
By The Nation, March 20, 2009
Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya came under heavy attacks from opposition MPs on Friday for his involvement with the seizure of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport late last year.
On the second day of censure debate, younger MPs from the Pheu Thai Party unleashed their criticisms and allegations against the former ambassador. They said he was unsuitable for the job of foreign affairs minister.
The Friday's attack was a follow-up from Thursday night's onslaught on Kasit, when opposition MPs questioned his qualification and accused him of being responsible for Cambodia's recent "encroachment" into a disputed border area near Phra Viharn (Preah Vihear) temple ruins.
MP Visaradee Techathirawat (Pheu Thai-Chiang Rai) said that Kasit's tainted backgrounds and behaviours made him an unsuitable choice to become the foreign minister. She accused him of being belligerent and often involved in disputes with colleagues while serving as a diplomat.
She also criticised Kasit for taking part in the takeover of the Suvarnabhumi airport by the People's Alliance for Democracy. She said it was improper for him to describe the event as "having excellent food and music".
The opposition MP said the airport seizure brought about a seriously negative image for Thailand and that it would take a long time to restore the country's reputation.
Visaradee drew protests from female Democrat MPs Supatcharee Thammaphet and Rangsima Rodrassamee, who accused her of reading out from a prepared statement.
"If you take away that piece of paper, she won't be able to debate. It's because she is not speaking from her brains," said Rangsima.
Her remark led to protests from several opposition MPs who demanded that Rangsima withdraw her remark, which they found to be offensive. The Democrat MP later agreed to withdraw her remark after the meeting chair insisted.
Thitima Chaisang, a Pheu Thai MP for Chachoengsao, later rose to question Kasit's qualifications to serve as the foreign minister.
During her debate, the MP also played audio and video recordings of Kasit during his participation in the PAD protest at the airport.
Jatuporn Phrompan, another Pheu Thai MP, said on Friday during the censure debate that Kasit's involvement with the PAD and his earlier hostile stance against Cambodia made him awkward when having to deal with that country's leaders.
The opposition MP said that Kasit did not immediately protest Cambodia's road construction in the disputed area near Phra Viharn but that he waited until after the recent summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Jatuporn alleged that the foreign minister delayed the protest because he wanted to ensure that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen would take part in the summit hosted by Thailand.
Jatuporn also said that the airport seizure caused many Thai Muslim pilgrims to miss their flights for Mecca. The allegation led to exchanges of argument between Muslim MPs from the government and the opposition.
Democrat MP Somkiat Pongpaiboon, who is a PAD leader, rose to defend the group and Kasit. He said that the description of the PAD as "terrorist" for its rally at the airport was "groundless". It did not make physical harm to passengers and did not hijack any airplane, he explained.
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