Gaybutton Posted December 25, 2008 Posted December 25, 2008 The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Great Food and Music - Pity about the Closures By: THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL Published: 25/12/2008 at 12:00 AM Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya yesterday apologised to the public for his controversial remarks about the airport closures. He said the statements he made before joining the government would stay on record and admitted that some sentences might be misinterpreted or mistaken. He told participants, including diplomats and foreign journalists, in a seminar at Chulalongkorn University last Friday, that the protest rally led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to close the two airports was "a lot of fun. The food was excellent and the music was good". "I have to apologise to the people if I said something that caused misunderstanding or misinterpretation. I do not have any malicious intent or want to discredit Thailand," Mr Kasit said after paying homage to the statue of Prince Devawongse Varoprakarn, the country's first foreign minister who was later known as the "Father of Thai Diplomacy," on his first day in office. Mr Kasit was in the spotlight after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva picked him to be his foreign minister. Some members of the Democrat party were opposed to him being in the cabinet amid fears he would become a target of people loyal to convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as the former career diplomat was a regular speaker during the PAD protest rally, which culminated in the blockade of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports on Nov 25 and 26 respectively. At the time he strongly supported the airport blockade, calling the demonstration an "innovation" among rallies. Shutting down the airports led to complaints by business groups as it severely affected the economy and eroded international confidence. Tourists cancelled their plans to come to Thailand and exports and imports were damaged. Mr Kasit said what he had said or done before becoming a minister was because of his intention to promote democracy in Thailand. "I have been part of the democratic support for Thailand and fought for the transparent democratic society in Thailand," Mr Kasit said. The prime minister defended his foreign minister over his remarks about the airport closure, saying Mr Kasit wanted to convey a message that there was no violence in the protest. "But when it was reported, it made people feel he approved of the airport shutdown," he said. Mr Abhisit said there was no need to change the foreign minister as Mr Kasit's comments had been made before his appointment to the cabinet. The foreign minister was from now on obligated to observe nine requirements laid down for the cabinet ministers to follow to ensure good governance, the prime minister said. ____________________ The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Foreign Minister Says Sorry for his Airport Seizure Remark By Supalak Ganjanakhundee The Nation Published on December 25, 2008 Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya yesterday apologised to the Thai people over his controversial speech on airport closures, saying he had not intended to harm the country. "I apologise to all Thai people if what I said has resulted in misunderstanding or misinterpretation. It was impossible for me to have any intention of harming the country," he said. He was speaking after paying homage to the statue of HRH Prince Devavongse Varopakarn for his first day in office. Kasit is quoted by The Telegraph that he enjoyed the airport closures by protesters led by People's Alliance for Democracy because the food was good and the music was excellent. According to The Telegraph, Kasit told an audience of astonished diplomats and foreign journalists last week that the protests were "a lot of fun." "The food was excellent, the music was excellent," Kasit was quoted as saying. He did not deny outright to the media that he did not make the statements. He just gave a "yes" nod when asked by reporters to confirm his statement. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva defended his foreign minister saying the comment was reported inaccurately. "His comments were made before the royal command appointed him as minister," Abhisit told reporters. "He merely wanted to convey the message that there was no violence during the occupation, but the way the media reported it amounted to him endorsing the shutting down of the airports," the Prime Minister said. Kasit reiterated that what he said or did was for democracy, for the good of Thai society, and for the enhancement of Thai politics. "I would like to divide my life into two phases - before and after December 22, the day I was appointed as foreign minister. I don't want to erase or defend what I said before December 22. However there were attempts to misinterpret it," he said. "(By now) my work and behaviour will be under the leadership of the premier. The government has set up measures for the ministers. I will follow them and do my best," Kasit said. The former career diplomat was an active participant in the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD)'s street protests. He took the stage at protests at the occupied Government House and the Suvarnabhumi Airport when the group rallied against the previous two governments. The opposition has threatened to grill him in Parliament when the government delivers its policy announcement on December 29. Having the outspoken former diplomat as foreign minister was not a good asset but a liability, it said. Kasit said he is ready to answer all questions in Parliament when the government delivers its policy statement next week. He said he understood his remarks would affect the government's performance. Quote
