Thai minister and others face charges over airport closure
Thailand foreign minister Kasit Piromya and leaders of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have been summoned by the police for their alleged involvement in the shock closure of Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang international airports, late last year.
Media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul, retired general Chamlong Srimuang and Somsak Kosaisuk, leaders of the People’s Alliance of Democracy were also among those asked to report to police on July 16th.
The siege of the airport which was carried out between Nov 26th and Dec 3rd stranded more than 350,000 travelers, disrupted trade flows and caused massive damage to Thailand’s vital tourism industry.
The summons came at a critical time for Thailand as it tries to redeem its battered pride by hosting the ASEAN Ministerial meeting and the ASEAN regional forum in Phuket from July 17th and 23rd, where Kasit Piromya will chair meetings involving 26 countries, with dignitaries, including United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The PAD, which led massive rallies in the capital, that led to the military ouster of then-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in September, 2006, took to the streets again in May, last year, after Thaksin’s allies won the December, 2007 general election.