Foreign minister says sorry for his airport seizure remark

**Kikiat2009** · 25-12-2008, 03:59 PM

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.

**panama hat** · 25-12-2008, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by Kikiat2009

"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.

How is this ana pology? It is the usual snake-in-the-grass shithead meanderings of a politican who couldn't lie straight in bed

**Panda** · 25-12-2008, 05:04 PM

Funny how the Dems are all for law and order, peace and reconciliation now they have got into power through the criminal activities of PAD.

Oh yea, that was in the past, --- its different now.

**EmperorTud** · 25-12-2008, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by Kikiat2009

I apologise to all Thai people

No apology for foreigners who have been affected by his idiotic criminal actions and comments.

**panama hat** · 25-12-2008, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by Kikiat2009

"I apologise to all Thai people if

No, Tud, you missed the key word in that sentence . . .if. He's not even apologising to Thais

bkkandrew · 25-12-2008, 06:02 PM

^So he might apologise to Thais, given some applicable variables.

I see.

**panama hat** · 25-12-2008, 06:17 PM

Exactly . . . it's the face thing again . . . he can't admit to having been in the wrong or having done the wrong thing so a 'clever' use of words circumvents the need for a an apology, an apology being the admission of wrongdoing.

Slimeball, and a great start to the new bright future of Thailand

**Spin** · 25-12-2008, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by Kikiat2009

"I would like to divide my life into two phases - before and after December 22, the day I was appointed as foreign minister

Good luck with that. The first interview overseas where there are no ball licking journos should be fun for him.

**Muadib** · 25-12-2008, 08:03 PM

Same Shite, Different Day...

Talking heads and spin doctors... Prerequisite for being a politician...

**panama hat** · 25-12-2008, 09:54 PM

It is getting hot for the fool, from the Straits Times:

A foreign minister can't just shoot his mouth off
Only days after assuming the office of foreign minister, Kasit Piromya has learnt more lessons than in all the 37 years of his diplomatic career.
First of all, speech is more powerful than one would anticipate. The second is that taking a political stance is not a comfortable process. All good diplomats know the power of speech.
Former prime minister Chatichai Choonhavan said long ago that "a man is the boss of his words until he speaks". Speech has become the boss from the time it slips from the mouth.

Kasit has paid the price for his speech praising the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD)'s airport protests. He was widely criticised for saying the airport protesters were a lot of fun. The opposition threatened to grill him in Parliament when the new government delivered its policy announcement on December 29 for making such an inappropriate speech.
With strong connections to the PAD, Kasit took the stage in the then occupied Government House and Suvarnabhumi Airport to deliver many speeches, some containing rude words to entertain the protesters.
Kasit said it was unfair using such a speech to criticise him since the political crisis was over before he took office as foreign minister.
Unfortunately, the opposition's Jatuporn Phomphan, who led the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD), did not care much about such fairness. He threatened to trace all of Kasit's words during the campaign against the previous government in order to have material for grilling the minister.
Jatuporn, who is also an MP, said he would analyse all of Kasit's speeches made on PAD stages, to jeopardise the foreign minister's mission.
The opposition MP might be no big deal, but foreign media is another matter because of its influence over the international community.
Foreign journalists have no sympathy for the PAD's aggressive manner against an elected government. Most reports and analysis from foreign media have heavily criticised the reactionary political group.
Many of the PAD's actions, notably the airport seizure, directly hurt foreigners and their interests. For them, a week-long airport closure was no joke. Stranding 350,000 passengers during the season of forgiveness is no fun at all, no matter how excellent the food and music. That's the reason why the Telegraph's report on Kasit's airport protest was so powerful.
As an experienced diplomat, Kasit should know well that PAD's perception of foreign affairs is unrealistic. Thailand cannot afford isolationism, and holding foreign travellers hostage for the group's political benefit is not good for the country's reputation.
The foreign minister was supposed to tell the international community that the airport seizure, for whatever reason, was definitely illegal and occupying the international airport would never achieve democracy. No democratic country on this planet can develop democracy and good government by allowing citizens to close airports for political purposes.
The minister should follow Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's right direction, which made it clear that his government would never let it happen again.
The government has to bring the protest leaders to justice for such actions. The Foreign Ministry must report to the International Civil Aviation Organisation to bar those leaders from air travel since they are a threat to aviation safety.
The foreign minister, if really concerned about the country's foreign affairs, badly needs to take a new political stance, far away from the PAD. Making such a swerve might be painful for an individual, but it is necessary to restore confidence in the country.

A foreign minister can't just shoot his mouth off

**EmperorTud** · 25-12-2008, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by panama hat

Kasit took the stage in the then occupied Government House and Suvarnabhumi Airport to deliver many speeches, some containing rude words to entertain the protesters.

He's Thailand's Jim Davidson.

**chitown** · 25-12-2008, 11:13 PM

No apology here. It is one of those "I am sorry if you feel that way" statements that means nothing. Sorry for how others reacted rather than being sorry for his actions.

**kingwilly** · 26-12-2008, 02:44 AM

Originally Posted by chitown

No apology here. It is one of those "I am sorry if you feel that way" statements that means nothing. Sorry for how others reacted rather than being sorry for his actions.

quite true. almost the same as being sorry for getting caught.

Originally Posted by Spin

The first interview overseas where there are no ball licking journos should be fun for him.

me thinks he'll do a little better than Samak, but not much.

**gjbkk** · 28-12-2008, 01:38 PM

Kasit Answering Questions

Bangkok Pundit has recordings of an interview Friday, December 19 then Foreign Minister in waiting Kasit spoke to a number of foreign journalists, diplomats, and other observers at Chulalongkorn at a forum entitled "A Democrat Party-led Government: Undercurrents and Prospects"

This is a cut and paste from BP:

BANGKOK PUNDIT:

Kasit Answering Questions

In 3rd answer, he is riling against the questioner although why BP is unsure as it is hardly a loaded question. Kasit says Thaksin brought political parties. So how did the Democrats get the Newin faction to join the government?

He says that "they"asked Somchai to dissolve parliaments many times. Who is they here? Democrats or the PAD?] He then said that Somchai's response was to go to Peru [BP: Umm. The APEC leaders meeting was held in Peru.] He talks about the new government being democratic and it is done within parliament, but was this his position previously? When they voted for Samak or Somchai it was not legitimate, but now suddenly it is. He likes the outcome and so hence he views it now as democratic. He also says we have been able to keep the peaceful changes within the parliament? Peaceful? And solely within the parliament?

btw, why when Kasit talks about the PAD does he only refer to them being "housewives and children", what about the PAD guards?

there is more ........

**MisterStretch** · 28-12-2008, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by Kikiat2009

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.

What a lying piece of garbage.

Nothing that was done was for 'democracy'. This guy needs to be purged for this government to have any legitimacy at all.

How does one divide his life in two phases?

Imagine Charles Manson: Yes, I was a mass murderer, but now I believe that Jesus saves and I want to be a pastor in a church.

Utter shite.

Not that this party will be in power long if they call for elections in which each Thai is entitled to vote...but this guy should go now.

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