Thai PM's Office Minister resigns over lese majeste charge_English

Thailand's Prime Minister's Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair announced resignation on Friday, after police investigation found ground to pursue a charge of lese majeste against the minister. in Bangkok, Thailand, May 30, 2008. This is a file photo of Jakrapob Penkair at a rally in 2007.(Xinhua/Lin Shuo)
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BANGKOK, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Prime Minister's Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair announced resignation on Friday after police investigation found ground to pursue a charge of lese majeste against the minister.

He would tender the resignation to Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej later on Friday, and the resignation was expected to take effect next week, said Jakrapob at a press conference at noon.

He insisted his innocence over the lese majeste accusation regarding a speech he made last year, and vowed to fight through all legal procedures to defend himself.

He said he resigned to prevent political rivals like the opposition Democrat Party and People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD)from further instigating political tensions and damaging stability of the current Samak-led government using his case as an excuse.

Jakrapob, a member of parliament of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) who took office as PM's office Minister this February in charge of media affairs, had on Monday announced a seven-day leave from the minister post under pressure from the military top brass, opposition camps as well as coalition parties to push for his step-down over a highly sensitive issue in the country.

Pol. Lt-Gen. Adisorn Nonsee, Central Investigation Bureau chief, announced on Thursday that a preliminary investigation has found evidence to prove Jakrapob committed lese majeste when he made an English speech titled Democracy and Patronage System in Thailand at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand in Bangkok on Aug. 29 last year.

The country was then run by a junta-installed interim government after a bloodless military coup toppled the elected government led by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in September 2006.

Jakrapob, then known as a leader of an anti-coup group Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship (DAAD), was alleged to have tried to challenge the monarchy institution during the speech.

In the speech, Jakrapob mentioned that Thai people have been living in "guided democracy" under the monarchy. He also criticized General Prem Tinsulanonda, a leading statesman in Thailand and President of Privy Council, the top advisory body for the highly-revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Jakrapob said the speech was of an academic nature made in an open atmosphere, and was not meant to offend the monarchy.

He said his resignation only involved an insignificant portfolio in the cabinet and it does not matter so much to lose his job, but it was aimed to save the government and the country’s democracy in the long run.

Responding to questions at Friday's press conference, Jakrapob said his decision to resign was not related to anyone's influence, including former Premier Thaksin, whom Jakrapob had worked for during his administration, and who had reportedly asked Jakrapob to sacrifice his post to ease political rifts.

Jakrapob had faced strong criticism from various sides after opposition Democrat Party publicized a translated version of his speech in Thai language and a police officer filed a lese majeste complaint with the police against him last week.

Military leaders, including Supreme Commander Boonsrang Niumpradit and air force chief ACM Chalit Phukphasuk have voiced concern over the issue, suggesting Jakrapob take responsibility to ease rising political tensions.

Members of political parties in the current coalition government led by Prime Minister Samak, have reportedly pressured Jakrapob to step down to seal the controversy for the stability of the coalition government.

Lese majeste is a crime in Thailand, in which loyalty to the royal institution is stipulated in any version of constitution ever born in the kingdom since it was transformed from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy system in 1932.

Offenders will face 3-15 years imprisonment, according to Thai laws.

Police are expected to summon Jakrapob to answer the charges next week and question more witnesses to gather more evidence before officially filing the charge with the court.