Jakrapob defends over allegations

He accused the country's oldest political party of resorting to "oldstyled politics" of making false allegations against its enemies "when they can find nothing better to do".

Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat and opposition leader, recently called on Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to remove Jakrapob from his Cabinet for having "a dangerous attitude".

Jakrapob yesterday accused Abhisit of resorting to oldstyle politics "while our country has seen a lot of political progress".

"In the long run, time will tell between me and Abhisit, who is more loyal to the monarchy. Who is using the institution as a tool and who is lowering down the sky?" he said.

He also challenged Abhisit to a public debate on the matter. "I am ready to face him in any forum. I will see how long he will be able to use this tactic."

Jakrapob yesterday explained himself against the allegation that his speech made at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand in August last year contained messages in contempt of the monarchy. In his speech, Jakrapob, then part of an anticoup movement, talked about patronage in Thai politics.

Jakrapob said "there are no reasons" for him to resign.

The minister said that from yesterday he had began a sevenday leave of absence and would spend the time considering public and media responses to his explanations, and "make a further decision" if there is no better public understanding about the matter.

"A person like me can resign easily. But will that be responsible or just laziness?" Jakrapob said, adding that a politician with no party clout like himself had no reason to retain his seat.

Jakrapob was speaking to the media at his press conference at Government House. The onehour session was broadcast by the staterun NBT. He also spent half the period answering questions from reporters.

He said that his English speech was easily distorted by his accusers because it was made in English with no prepared script. A detailed explanation was needed for the audience members who were foreigners with no background in Thai politics, and it was purely academic.

He said he made the speech openly in front of the cameras. "So I was particularly careful to make it academic and trying to make the foreigners understand."

Jakrapob insisted on his loyalty to the monarchy, saying that many men in his family, including his grandfather, father and brothers, served in the armed forces. He also had worked in many projects involving members of the royal family.

He said the Thai translations of his speech provided by the Democrats and by Pol Maj Wattanasak Mungkitjakarndee, who filed a lese majesty police complaint against him, contained misleading terms and meanings he did not intend.

Jakrapob also distributed to reporters yesterday copies of his original speech and its Thai translation, as well as the versions by his accusers. The electronic version of his translation is available on www.thaigov.go.th, www.opm.go.th, and www.pantip.com.