Thaksin fights for airport wriggle-room

Bangkok Post reporters, BangkokPost.com

With new problems surfacing every day at Suvarnabhumi Airport, the lawyer for ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra has begun an attempt to distance his client from the project to build and open the showcase airport.

Thaksin 'not aware of all airport snags'

Noppadon Pattama, legal adviser for Mr Thaksin, said on Friday that the former leader was "not aware of every detail about the trouble-plagued Suvarnabhumi airport".

Mr Thaksin, then prime minister, delegated responsibilities to the relevant parties and acted as a policy supervisor, said Mr Noppadon.

Most people remember Mr Thaksin was the leading advocate and strong force behind a final rush to finish construction and open the airport. Then, Mr Thaksin was taking credit for the airport.

Now, Mr Noppadon says Mr Thaksin didn't do that at all.

According to Mr Noppadon, the former prime minister made it clear he wanted the best for the new airport, but it was impossible for him to be aware of every detail.

The Thaksin government had planned to make the airport the region's aviation hub.

Mr Noppadon lashed out at graft investigators' recent comment that the corruption-rife Suvarnabhumi airport would be Mr Thaksin's grave.

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Bangkok Post
Saturday January 27, 2007