Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama succumbed to mounting political pressure over his act regarding the issue of Cambodian temple Preah Vihear, announcing resignation from the Cabinet on Thursday.
His resignation has toned up anticipation about an imminent cabinet reshuffle after a series of legal blows to the government led by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.
Noppadon made the announcement at a press conference Thursday afternoon at the Foreign Ministry. He said he resigned to take responsibility after an earlier Constitutional Court ruling found his act of signing the Thai-Cambodian Joint Communique on June 18,which endorsed Thai government's support for Cambodia's bid to list the Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site, as in breach of the Constitution.
Though he respected the court ruling, said Noppadon, he insisted he and the Foreign Ministry had done nothing wrong regarding Thailand's stance on the temple issue.
The Communique would not undermine Thailand's territorial integrity as accused by critics, as it did not involve overlapping border areas yet to be demarcated near the temple, said Noppadon.
"I'm not the traitor. I've done no harm to the country," Noppadon reiterated at the press conference, defending against bad names political opponents had branded him.
He blamed political opponents for instigating nationalist sentiment in the country and hatred between Thai and Cambodian peoples, which has boiled the issue with emotion rather than common sense.
He said he decided to resign because national unity and reconciliation is more important than his sacrifice his political position. His resignation would take effect next Monday, July 14.
Noppadon had just returned to Thailand on the morning from a trip to Quebec, Canada where he tried in vain to postpone the UNESCO World Heritage Committee's consideration of Cambodia's bid, among other countries' applications during a meeting.
The Committee approved to put the temple on the World Heritage List on Monday, without Thailand's support.
Noppadon made the trip after the Constitutional Court ruled on Tuesday that the Joint Communique, which Noppadon signed with Deputy Prime Minister Sok An to endorse Thai government's support for Cambodia's bid, was in violation of the 2007 Constitution.
The court cited that the Communique was regarded as an international treaty that could affect Thailand's territorial sovereignty and thus required prior approval by the parliament before being signed, which Noppadon failed to do.
The temple dispute has dragged Noppadon under heavy fire by the opposition Democrat party and the civil anti-government coalition People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in their political campaign to bring down the five-month-old government led by prime minister Samak Sundaravej.
Historically, both Thailand and Cambodia has claimed ownership of the centuries-old Khmer-style Hindu temple located in the Thai-Cambodian border. The International Court of Justice in 1962 ruled that the temple belonged to Cambodia.
The cabinet endorsed a new map of the temple prepared by Cambodia on June 17, and Noppadon signed the communique on the next day, which expressed Thailand's "active support" for Cambodia's World Heritage bid.
Opponents said government's endorsement could undermine Thailand 's interest in future border demarcation, which the government strongly denied.
The Democrat and PAD also alleged that Noppadon, who was formerly known as the lawyer of the ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has rushed to sign the communique in exchange for protection of business interests of Thaksin in Cambodia.
On Thursday, just before Noppadon made the resignation announcement, Democrat Party MPs filed an impeachment motion with the Senate against Noppadon. The motion could be dropped since their target has thrown the towel.
The opposition whip also planned to seek impeachment of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, on the grounds that he should take responsibility for the act of the Foreign Minister.
The PAD called Noppadon's resignation their victory, and insisted they would continue the anti-government rallies, which started from May 25 in central Bangkok, until the government steps down.
Noppadon was the third member in the Samak-led cabinet since it took office on Feb. 6 to fall under judicial pressure.
Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsup has lost his job in the cabinet as the Constitutional Court on Wednesday disqualified him for failing to declare part of his wife's assets within deadline.
On May 30, Prime Minister's Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair resigned after police investigation found him guilty of lese majeste over an English speech he made last year at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand.
The government is believed to be brewing a cabinet reshuffle, which could take place in days.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee said Thursday that the reshuffle is unavoidable as the two ministerial posts vacated by Chaiya and Noppadon need to be filled.
He said that dissolving the parliament and calling a snap election, as some suggested, would not be the best way out because it would cause disruption to the government's work.
Source:Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article