Media report: Thai Foreign Minister resigns

Mathaba
2008/09/04

Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag Wednesday tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej after some 40 days in office, The Nation news website reported, quoting a foreign ministry source.

BANGKOK, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The yet-to-be-confirmed resignation came one day after Samak, embattled with a civil movement led by People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to topple his administration, declared a state of emergency in Bangkok following violent clashes between pro- and anti-government protesters.

The English-language Nation report quoted "a senior ranking foreign ministry official, as well as sources in the Government House" as saying that Prime Minister Samak was trying desperately to get Tej to change his mind. The premier reportedly asked Tej to wait at least until the current political crisis passes by.

There was no official confirmation on the news from Tej himself, the government or Foreign Ministry spokesman yet.

The Nation also quoted sources as saying that Tej cited his wife 's sickness as reason for his resignation.

Tej's secretary Poksak Nilubol resigned Tuesday.

Tej, 65, a veteran diplomat, took office on July 27 as head of Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs days after his predecessor Noppadon Pattama resigned after five months in office over the Preah Vihear border dispute which has arouse a wave of nationalist sentiment in the country.

Noppadon resigned after a Constitutional Court ruling had held Noppadon's signing a Thai-Cambodian Joint Communique to endorse Thailand's support for Cambodia's successful bid to list the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site as unconstitutional.

After appointed, Tej attended two rounds of ministerial talks with his Cambodian counterpart. The talks had not been able to turn out a solution to the border dispute, but both sides agreed to carry on negotiations.

After political tension heightened in the Thai capital as PAD protesters seized state institutions including the Government House on Aug. 26, which they have occupied ever since, Tej explained to diplomatic corps and the press that it was part of political evolution and the democratic process in Thailand.

Observers said the high pressure both from the border issue and the political turmoil could have prompted Tej to quit.

It is not clear if Prime Minister Samak has approved Tej's reported resignation, which would be deemed another big blow to the Samak government, which was facing a dilemma after the premier declared a state of emergency in Bangkok only to see the PAD remain defiant and refuse to disperse its rally in and around the Government House, while the army, appointed to take charge of enforcement of the emergency decree, pledge no use of force against the protesters.

Samak was speculated to prepare a statement on Thursday. Government critics were hoping it would be a declaration of resignation. Some observers expected a House dissolution to pave way for a snap election.