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Published on December 3, 2007

The new attorney general, Chaikasem Nitisiri, vigorously denies he has a foot in the Thaksin Shinawatra camp, though his name features prominently in the scandals at the new airport.

Since his appointment was confirmed by the National Legislative Assembly on November 14, he has come out strongly to reassure the people he will do his job fairly and without political interference.

Chaikasem vows to be objective in the cases against the former prime minister and his government that are passed on by the Assets Examination Committee (AEC).

If the AEC decides to take action against him over the purchase of CTX bomb scanners for Suvarnabhumi Airport, it must by law file the case directly with the court.

But he believes the AEC will decide not to sue him as he has clarified his position over the scandal. Chaikasem was a board member of Airports of Thailand (AOT) and New Bangkok International Airport (NBIA).

He said his new post did not come under government oversight and that he would do nothing to give any ill-intentioned people the opportunity to derail him.

"An attorney files a case with the court according to evidence and witnesses. It doesn't matter which government is in power. It doesn't affect the cases. Moreover, state attorneys are free to file cases. According to the 2007 Constitution, the Senate appoints and removes the attorney general, the government has nothing to do with it," he said.

Chaikasem dismissed criticism he was promoted by Thaksin.

"I have also heard this suggestion. It might be because I was named in the CTX scanners case. I was a board member of both AOT and NBIA. People think a man holding these two positions must have something special. He must receive support from powerful people in the government or be a government man," he said.

"In fact, I had been a legal adviser to the AOT for 10 years and became a board member by the invitation of the AOT president at that time."

The new attorney general said five principles would guide his subordinates: work quickly with less red tape, be honest, be transparent, take a modern approach and be service-minded.