Deputy PM Suthep dismisses PAD threats to sue govt

He denied criticism the government planned to remove Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya in order to hurt the New Politics Party.

The PAD earlier threatened to sue Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the government for falsely accusing it of terrorism.

If it is sued, the government will appoint a legal team to fight the case, Suthep said. He said he was in charge of the national police, so the complaint should be against him instead of Abhisit if the PAD really wanted to sue.

Police issued a summons to question PAD leaders and Kasit on their alleged involvement in last year's seizures of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports. The complaint from Airports of Thailand charged the PAD with suspicion of invasion, destruction of property, inciting unrest and an act of terrorism.

Speaking on the impact if Kasit were removed before this month's Asean Ministerial Meeting, Suthep said: "There is no political reason for Kasit to be removed."

The deputy prime minister said the government was not prepared to replace Kasit with anyone, because it was not easy to find someone suitable. Meanwhile, the legal process for another case against Kasit - allegations that his wife holds shares in a company related to state concessions - will take a long time.

Suthep brushed aside poll results that said Kasit should be removed after the ministerial meeting. He said the government did not administer the country in accordance with opinion polls.

Commenting on reports that Kasit had attacked ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and some foreign countries for being paid in exchange for honouring Thaksin's passport, Suthep said Kasit was only doing his job and that it would not hurt the government.

Suriyasai Katasila, secretary-general of the New Politics Party and coordinator for the PAD, said the latter group's plan to sue those involved in making false charges against it was aimed at setting a norm for the justice system, so that the system was reliable and fair to all.