By THE NATION
Stop 'indicting' minister before legal proceedings completed, says ex-senator
Police might have gone overboard in branding Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya an international terrorist suspect for his involvement in the seizure of Suvarnabhumi Airport last December, former senator Sak Korsaengruang said yesterday.
"In the past, the courts have struck down charges filed by police that were deemed too harsh," Sak explained.
Since police have just issued a summons to question Kasit and had not yet formally indicted him, concerned parties should not draw a hasty conclusion before the legal proceedings are completed, he said.
Sak said he was interested to see if the police would actually file a terrorism charge against Kasit, if the public prosecutors would endorse this report and if the judicial review would rule the airport seizure as an act of terrorism.
Sak ruled out speculation that the attempt to charge Kasit might influence police proceedings against other leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).
"Each case will be based on evidence and pertinent facts. It is unjustified to draw a sweeping conclusion from the Kasit case," he said.
With regard to calls for Kasit to quit his ministerial post, he said there were no legal provisions for a minister to resign while trying to clear his name.
New Politics Party's secretary-general Suriyasai Katasila said he saw no justification in removing Kasit before the outcome of the legal proceedings.
"If the prime minister decides to remove Kasit, then he should have an explanation, since Kasit has not violated any of the nine ethical rules deemed as misconduct," he said.
PAD leaders will be meeting their lawyers tomorrow before reporting to police on July 16 and facing charges similar to those of Kasit, he said.
"The charge of international terrorism is considered trumped up and PAD leaders will fight to the full extent of the law in order to clear their names," he said.
Suriyasai said he was optimistic that none of the suspects involved in the airport seizure would be prosecuted for international terrorism, adding that some investigators had voiced objection to branding rally organisers and protesters as terrorists.
He said the Pheu Thai Party had no cause to demand the resignation of Kasit. Should Kasit be obligated to quit, as claimed by the main opposition party, then a large number of opposition lawmakers also should resign because they have been charged for their involvement in the red-shirt protests, Suriyasai added.
Former foreign minister Noppadon Patama said Kasit should look into his conscience to determine if he still had the credibility to remain in office.
Democrat MP Thepthai Senapong said the Democrat Party would rally behind Kasit's decision to carry on as Foreign Minister.
Source: The Nation
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