1		2	Thai, foreign minister, Kasit, airport, lawsuit

The Bangkok Post:

Thai Airways International has filed a civil suit against 36 people, including Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, demanding 575 million baht in damages for the People's Alliance for Democracy's blockades of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports from Nov 24 to Dec 3 last year.

Lawyer Bampen Sappasri, who was appointed by THAI president Piyasvasti Amranand, filed the lawsuit on Nov 24, the last day of the one-year statutory period, THAI sources said.

Named defendants in the lawsuit include Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, Sondhi Limthongkul, Pibhop Dhongchai, Suriyasai Katasila, Somsak Kosaisuk, Chaiwat Sinsuwong, Somkiat Pongpaiboon, Amornthep Amornrattananond, Samran Rodphet, Maleerat Kaewka, Praphan Khoonmee, Gen Pathompong Kesornsuk, Therdphum Jaidee, and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya.

The lawsuit states that on Nov 24 last year yellow-shirted demonstrators led by the 36 blockaded Don Mueang airport, which the then government under Somchai Wongsawat had used as a temporary office since the PAD had occupied Government House.

BP: Interesting they wanted until the last possible day, but what will this mean for the PAD and Kasit, in particular? Piyasvasti was the Democrat's choice to become THAI President so will be interesting to see who the PAD finds is at fault here and how they respond...

ASTV Manager, the PAD's unofficial mouthpiece, has more details, in Thai, of the case including the list of all the defendants. In the comments and what the PAD say elsewhere is that hey didn't close the airport, it was the airport authorities that closed the airport. As blogged previously though this argument is unlikely to be accepted:

On a semantic and clintonian level, he is right PAD didn't close the airport, but I am not aware that anyone is saying they closed the airport or that there is a criminal offence of "closing the airport". However, the airport didn't close until PAD had breached police lines and were entering the airport. You can't have armed thugs roaming the airport. What is important is that PAD caused the closure and not who ordered the airport to be closed (there were certainly grounds to close it).