1. Puea Thai don't actually want Kasit to resign as he is a millstone around the government's neck. While they may call for him to resign, secretly they hope the longer he stays, the more it hurts the government.
2. What is Kasit guilty of? Bad judgment or a criminal offence? There may be sufficient evidence that some PAD leaders or supporters committed a terrorist act, but did Kasit? Proving that someone committed a terrorist act is very difficult. We haven't been told specifically what did Kasit say before the airport takeover? Is he been accused of directly committing a terrorist act? Conspiring to commit a terrorist fact? (Section 135/2) Or being an accessory or supporter? (Section 135/3). So far we know he did speak on the PAD stage after the airport had been taken over, but it would be a slippery scope if merely speaking on a stage constitutes conspiracy or being an accessory. Hopefully, we will see more details on this.
3. There is talk that Kasit may resign after the ASEAN summit in Phuket next week. Abhisit himself has mentioned that the ABAC poll, where 60% of people agreed that Kasit should resign, that a majority thought he should do so after the ASEAN Summit (46% said immediately whereas 54% said after the ASEAN Summit as per the poll). Abhisit was almost signaling that Kasit may resign after the Summit. Now, since Thailand is the Chairman of ASEAN and the Summit is being held next week, it seems reasonable to argue that it would be disruptive if he would resign this week. However, if he is actually going to resign after the Summit, why not even more directly hint at this or specifically state so now? That he hasn't resigned is a political issue which will just drag on. The question on whether he will resign no longer seems to be if, but rather when so say now.
4. It almost seems to BP that because he has been summoned over terrorism charges, he doesn't want to resign, but to stay put and "fight" whereas if he had been merely charged with a lesser offence he may be less combative and resigned.
New: Pravit’s dictionary of lese majeste
1 hour ago
1. True
2. Bad judgement
3. After ASEAN surely his position will be untenable
4. It does indeed seem like that. Surely all the yellow and red charges shoudlbe criminal charges rather than over poltical ones like terrorism or even treason. The yellows now stand accused odf far more serious charges than the reds. Maybe that will change soon too.
Occasional. On whether bad judgement or not, am open to either. So far haven't seen he has done something beyond bad judgement, but will wait to see and hear what he did or said.
But why not announce it now?
On 4, charges like terrorism should not be thrown about lightly.
BP. Re 3. On a technical level I doubt he would announce his resignation for after ASEAN just before ASEAN> It would open up the lame duck stuff and possibly wesaken his/Thailand's bargaining position in any discussions, and I assume a few things will be talked about.
Please note this is not a defence of Kasit who I personally think should resign now if not before!
Did you see the Nation's accusation, slipped into a Political Desk report today that claims Kasit is being ganged up on by not just the reds, army and Suthep, but Suthep in league with Thaksin, who he is said to have met in Cambodia with Thaksin flying in from Fiji. That's the implication of their comment. Maybe just one of the Nation crazies at work?
Reg
1. Agree
2. At the least he is guilty of illegal assembly. The terrorism charges seem to be more about where the actions took place, rather than the actions themselves. Kasit was more than someone who got on a stage, as he had been a designated spokesman for PAD in the past (FCCT).
3. A difficult question is when he should resign. I thought he should have resigned immediately on return from Bahrain, That way he would have spared the Prime Minister from having to make a choice.
I also totally disagree with Kasit petitioning the chief of police to drop the terrorism charge. As a private citizen he has that right, but not as a cabinet minister. To much opportunity for conflict of interest.
4. I get the feeling that PAD were expecting the terrorism charge, but they fully expected it to be an arrest warrant rather than a summons, which they could then possibly get dismissed by the court, thereby weakening the case. (Similar to what they did with the insurection charges).
Having the summons, means that they have to appear and except the charge, or face an arrest warrant for failure to answer a summons or acknowledge a charge. What the charge is related to, maybe be judged irrelevent.
Whether Kasit is just visiting the stage or actually urging people are two different things, but under a respectable justice system. He is innocent until proven guilty. There is no legal reason to call on him to resign, but there's ethical reason.
When your party campaigned so hard to bring down a former competitor base on ethical ground, it kind of negate your whole ideology...
Hi,
I can't figure out why a singer/actor are arrested for showing up on UDD stage whereas a PAD leader/sympathiser who "commit" the same thing can wander freely and even hold a minister position ...
I can't see in the news the desperate calls for his resignation as during Samak Kitchen's gate ...
Double-standard seems to be the new standard in LOS...