Kasit Says He'll Quit if Charged

Kasit: Respects the judicial process

"I will have to resign to fight under the judicial process," he told Jamuk Mod, the morning news programme on Channel 7, when asked what he should do if he was charged over his PAD involvement.

"I respect the judicial process. I will not hang on to the ministerial position," he said.

The minister made his position clear amid reports he is among PAD leaders and allies facing arrest warrants for participating in the rallies, which culminated in the occupation of Government House and the blockade of Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports.

Mr Kasit appeared on the PAD stage on several occasions.

Police could seek arrest warrants from the courts without summonses for any case considered to seriously affect the country or public.

On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban told reporters police would ask the Criminal Court this week for warrants for the arrest of 21 leading PAD demonstrators.

But the police plan reportedly had to be delayed indefinitely because the officers directly responsible for submitting the evidence in the cases to the court were on overseas assignments.

Mr Suthep yesterday denied the government was trying to influence the police to delay seeking the arrest warrants.

The government would not interfere in police work and would not defend Mr Kasit, he said.

"The rally took place before Mr Kasit joined the government. If he has to fight the case, he will have to do it. The government will not help or interfere," the deputy prime minister said.

Mr Kasit's resignation is one of the demands made by the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) , which wants to see him dismissed from the government due to his involvement in the PAD demonstrations.

Other demands are for the prosecution of PAD leaders for the seizure of Government House and the two airports, and the passage of the charter amendment draft proposed by Confederation of Democracy leader Weng Tojirakarn before dissolving the House to pave the way for a new general election.

The UDD has scheduled a major rally for today to pressure the government to bow to its demands. But it promised to leave the PM's Office untouched and allow officials to go in and out as usual. The protest will start at Sanam Luang before moving on to Government House.

The protesters will not encounter any ministers today as the weekly cabinet meeting will be held in Cha-am, apparently to avoid a stand-off, although Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the venue change was to allow his ministers to review the preparations for the Asean summit. The regional talks among Asean leaders will start on Friday and last until Monday.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau estimated up to 30,000 UDD protesters would show up today and probably remain on the streets for three days.

The UDD will face 3,000 police officers and 750 soldiers deployed to maintain tight security inside Government House and nearby areas.

Mr Abhisit expressed confidence that there would be no use of force to disperse protesters like that during the Somchai Wongsawat government.

Newly-appointed city police chief Vorapong Chiewpreecha said riot police would be equipped only with shields, batons and tear gas grenades.

Pol Lt-Gen Vorapong yesterday discussed final security measure preparations with Mr Suthep and said: "We believe there will be no violence during the protest."

Metropolitan Police deputy chief Jakthip Chaijinda would supervise the situation.

Pol Maj-Gen Jakthip said he had ordered police to be on stand-by at other state-run agencies.

The army had set up a war room to monitor the rally by the red-shirted UDD demonstrators at the First Army headquarters with deputy army chief Gen Jiradet Khotcharat and army chief-of-staff Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha in charge.

An army source said if the UDD-led rally spiralled out of control, Mr Suthep would go to the war room to discuss the situation with army generals and work out ways to solve the problems.

First Army commander Khanit Sapithak denied soldiers wearing red shirts would be sent out to mingle with UDD demonstrators, saying it was just a rumour aimed at discrediting the army.

Pol Maj-Gen Veerapat Tansrisakul, chief of Traffic Police, said main roads around Government House, including Luk Luang, Ratchadamnoen Nok, Nakhon Sawan; Rama V road from Panitchakarn intersection to Luk Luang, and Nakhon Pathom road from Sri Ayutthaya road to Lukluang, would be made off-limits to traffic.

Democrat party spokesman Buranat Samuttharak said the UDD chose to stage a mass rally ahead of the coming Asean summit because it wanted the foreign media to broadcast images of political conflict in Thailand to the international community.

Source - The Bangkok Post