Thailand's Foreign Minister Reports to Police Over Airport Siege

Thailand's foreign minister reported to police Monday to hear charges related to his involvement in the mass demonstrations that climaxed with the seizure of Bangkok's airports last year.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and thirty five other leaders of the "yellow shirt" protest movement face criminal charges including terrorism, illegal assembly, attempts to stir unrest, and breaches of aviation law for the eight-day siege of Bangkok's 2 airports in November and December.

They were summoned to report to police on July 16th to hear the charges, said Police Lt. Gen. Worapong Chiewpreecha. But Kasit reported on Monday because he will be on official duty abroad on the scheduled date, Worapong said.

Kasit declined to comment on the allegations.

The charges brought a controversy surrounding Kasit's appointment as foreign minister to the forefront as opposition members in Thailand's Parliament called for his resignation.

"The charges are very serious. How could he represent our country as a foreign minister? He has no credibility left," said Prompong Nopparit, spokesman of the opposition Phuea Thai Party.

Kasit spoke at several rallies by the protesters, who sought to topple the previous government allied with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. They accused Thaksin, who was toppled in a military coup in 2006, of massive corruption and abuse of power.

The protesters occupied the prime minister's office compound for three months and shut down Bangkok's airports. Kasit later hailed the blockade — which stranded more than two hundred and fifty thousand travelers — as an "innovation in public protests."

On Sunday, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Kasit will remain in office while he fights the charges.

"There is no reason for him to resign at this point. He was only summoned to hear charges and at this stage, he is only a suspect," Thepthai Senpong, Abhisit's spokesman, said Monday.

Jatuporn Phrompan, a member of Parliament from Phuea Thai Party, said the lack of immediate response from the government "sends a signal that they do not take these charges against the yellow shirts seriously."

Thailand was destabilized by months of protests by both supporters and opponents of Thaksin.

Abhisit's government took control in December after a court ruled the previous pro-Thaksin ruling party was guilty of election fraud. The court decision prompted protesters to abandon the airports siege.

Abhisit's six month-old Government has since faced street protests by Thaksin's supporters, known as the "red shirts," this year. Rioting in April left two dead and more than one hundred and twenty injured.