POLITICS
WASSANA NANUAM
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej reportedly secured his return to Bangkok from Brunei yesterday by choosing his pilot himself. Mr Samak, however, told the media upon his arrival that there was no plot to arrest him at Suvarnabhumi airport and topple his government as he told them earlier.
The plot to arrest him was only a rumour that a reporter had brought to him and that he did not see any irregularity with Air Force staff, he said.
Mr Samak had visited China for four days and on his way back he stopped over in Brunei before reaching Bangkok yesterday.
Some reports said Mr Samak's plane would be rerouted from the Air Force's Wing 6 in Don Muang to Suvarnabhumi airport where he would be arrested as part of a coup attempt.
 |
| Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej greets reporters at the Air Force base at Don Muang after his return from Brunei yesterday. — THITI WANNAMONTHA |
According to a source, Mr Samak, who is also the defence minister, received a warning from his military staff officer so he chose his pilot for his flight.
The pilot is the son of a former classmate of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra from Class 10 at the Armed Forces Academy Preparatory School.
Mr Samak had revealed the plot to arrest him on Thursday only to avert it, the source said.
The prime minister arrived at Wing 6 in Don Muang at 3.40pm yesterday, along with Army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Mingkwan Sangsuwan and Theerapol Nopparampa, secretary-general to the prime minister.
In a reception room, Mr Samak, Gen Anupong and Air Force chief ACM Chalit Phukpasuk, who received the prime minister, discussed the import of missiles and gunpowder from China, according to a source.
However, Mr Samak told reporters that he discussed with ACM Chalit aircraft capabilities.
ACM Chalit said that Mr Samak did not talk about the rumour of the plot to arrest him, but did discuss the airplane that he eventually flew back to Bangkok on.
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Next
