Kasit vows to fight until the end

The embattled minister turned himself in to police yesterday to acknowledge charges levelled against him over his alleged involvement in the temporary closure of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports.

He voiced his sentiments on Channel 11's "Khui Nok Tamniap" (Talk outside the House). He also denied the al-Jazeera news report quoting him as saying he would definitely step down.

Kasit told the media in an interview on February 23 that if he were one of the People's Alliance of Democracy (PAD) leaders facing arrest, he would quit his ministerial post as a show of respect for the justice system.

He made this comment at a time when the chief investigator, Pol Maj-General Amnuay Nimmano, was seeking arrest warrants for 21 PAD leaders. Kasit's remarks made the headlines in several newspapers the very next day.

Pol Lt-General Wut Puawes, assistant chief of the National Police Commission, said Kasit denied all charges while being questioned by investigators at Thung Song Hong police station yesterday. The Foreign Minister also requested he be allowed to submit written statements in his defence in the next 30 days and said he would be available to give additional statements as and when requested.

Kasit was among 35 PAD leaders summoned by police earlier this week.

Chavanont Intornkomalsut, secretary to the Foreign Minister, said Kasit was not concerned about the charges, because he had taken part in PAD rallies as a speaker, not as a rally leader.

Democrat Party spokesman Thepthai Senpong said the party would allow Kasit to exercise his own judgement and would not discriminate against him. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva earlier said the government would let the case proceed in a straightforward manner and not interfere.

"The party will decide whether to let him continue in the post should the prosecutor decide to indict him and file the case in court," he said.

Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit insisted Kasit should step down, saying the Foreign Minister was the country's face and that with Kasit facing serious terrorism charges, it would be unsuitable for him to host the next Asean meeting.

"Abhisit should not trade Thailand's face and integrity now that the foreign minister is a suspected terrorist. He should act to protect the interests of the country, not of his party or his ministers," he said.