Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya met German foreign under-secretary Cornelia Pieper in Berlin to discuss the matter of the impounding the prince's plane.German court rejects plea
By The Nation on Sunday,
Agencies
Published on July 17, 2011
Judge not convinced about government's plane ownership argument; RTAF submits documents to argue the case
A German court yesterday declined a Thai government request for an injunction to release a Thai-owned plane impounded at Germany's Munich airport early last week.
Judge Christoph Fellner said the court was not fully convinced the plane was HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn's personal property as asserted by the lawyer for Thailand. The court is to sit again on the case this week.
The Royal Thai Air Force yesterday confirmed the Thai government's contention that the RTAF in 2007 presented the Boeing 737 jet to the Prince for his personal use, RTAF spokesman Air Vice Marshal Monthon Satchukorn said.
"The RTAF asserts that the plane in question does not belong to the government because it was presented for royal use. There is an official document to prove the presentation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked for that document to be presented to the German authorities and the RTAF has supplied that document," the spokesman said.
The plane has been grounded by a writ in a long-running business dispute between the German building company Walter Bau AG and the Thai government.
Caretaker Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said he had instructed relevant authorities to find out whether the documents submitted by Walter Bau AG in opposing the Thai petition was up-to-date.
"I instructed the Aviation Department director-general to verify the objection documents of the German company as I understand that they may use non-updated versions from websites saying the plane is under the supervision of the Royal Thai Air Force," Abhisit said. He also said that the German government expressed regrets about the case and facilitated the work of Thai officials.
"Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya is now in Germany to coordinate the issue. Thailand will do its best to protect the prestige and reputation of the country," the acting prime minister said.
Kasit met German foreign under-secretary Cornelia Pieper in Berlin to discuss the matter, Germany's foreign ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer told reporters yesterday.
Pieper expressed regret over "the inconvenience caused to the crown prince by this seizure" but she reiterated German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle's position that the matter was in the hands of the German courts. Before the Thai minister's arrival, however, the spokesman said the government could not comment on the affair "because we respect the independence of the judicial authorities" handling the case.
Kasit, speaking in Bangkok, said Thailand wanted "the German court to act on our request to revoke the seizure immediately".
He added that the plane belonged to the Crown Prince, not the government. "If this takes too long, it might affect the feelings of Thai people towards German people and the country because this is related to the monarchy," he warned.
Werner Schneider, the insolvency administrator of Walter Bau, yesterday called the court decision not to issue an injunction a victory.
Schneider said his objective was to force the Thai government to pay out a settlement, as ordered by arbitrators.
He had urged Bangkok to offer a cash bond in place of the jet, but this was refused. "This attitude surprised us, because we were willing to cut a deal," he said.
In the 1990s, Walter Bau was part of a joint venture to construct the Don Muang Tollway. A row erupted over the tolls to be levied, as a result of which the German construction company said contractual obligations were not being met. After years of negotiations, an international tribunal in Geneva awarded Walter Bau US$42 million (Bt1.26 billion) in compensation, an award the Thai government rejected.
Published on July 17, 2011
Judge not convinced about government's plane ownership argument; RTAF submits documents to argue the case
A German court yesterday declined a Thai government request for an injunction to release a Thai-owned plane impounded at Germany's Munich airport early last week.
Judge Christoph Fellner said the court was not fully convinced the plane was HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn's personal property as asserted by the lawyer for Thailand. The court is to sit again on the case this week.
The Royal Thai Air Force yesterday confirmed the Thai government's contention that the RTAF in 2007 presented the Boeing 737 jet to the Prince for his personal use, RTAF spokesman Air Vice Marshal Monthon Satchukorn said.
"The RTAF asserts that the plane in question does not belong to the government because it was presented for royal use. There is an official document to prove the presentation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked for that document to be presented to the German authorities and the RTAF has supplied that document," the spokesman said.
The plane has been grounded by a writ in a long-running business dispute between the German building company Walter Bau AG and the Thai government.
Caretaker Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said he had instructed relevant authorities to find out whether the documents submitted by Walter Bau AG in opposing the Thai petition was up-to-date.
"I instructed the Aviation Department director-general to verify the objection documents of the German company as I understand that they may use non-updated versions from websites saying the plane is under the supervision of the Royal Thai Air Force," Abhisit said. He also said that the German government expressed regrets about the case and facilitated the work of Thai officials.
"Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya is now in Germany to coordinate the issue. Thailand will do its best to protect the prestige and reputation of the country," the acting prime minister said.
Kasit met German foreign under-secretary Cornelia Pieper in Berlin to discuss the matter, Germany's foreign ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer told reporters yesterday.
Pieper expressed regret over "the inconvenience caused to the crown prince by this seizure" but she reiterated German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle's position that the matter was in the hands of the German courts. Before the Thai minister's arrival, however, the spokesman said the government could not comment on the affair "because we respect the independence of the judicial authorities" handling the case.
Kasit, speaking in Bangkok, said Thailand wanted "the German court to act on our request to revoke the seizure immediately".
He added that the plane belonged to the Crown Prince, not the government. "If this takes too long, it might affect the feelings of Thai people towards German people and the country because this is related to the monarchy," he warned.
Werner Schneider, the insolvency administrator of Walter Bau, yesterday called the court decision not to issue an injunction a victory.
Schneider said his objective was to force the Thai government to pay out a settlement, as ordered by arbitrators.
He had urged Bangkok to offer a cash bond in place of the jet, but this was refused. "This attitude surprised us, because we were willing to cut a deal," he said.
In the 1990s, Walter Bau was part of a joint venture to construct the Don Muang Tollway. A row erupted over the tolls to be levied, as a result of which the German construction company said contractual obligations were not being met. After years of negotiations, an international tribunal in Geneva awarded Walter Bau US$42 million (Bt1.26 billion) in compensation, an award the Thai government rejected.
4 comments:
What an embarrassment! As you can see, Thai lie, cheat, steal and trick everyone. They think they can push Cambodia around. Now they got the taste of their own medicine. They are dealing with a country that are very discipline and very tactful and smart. You cannot fool the German government.
Thailand sent Kasit to do a man job that what happened. Everybody knows this joker doesnt fit for foreign minister. Any way good luck on you way out of the door. Dont let the door hit your head Mr. Kasit. Threatening German court system won't work like in Thailand's court. Tomorrow you will find out that ICJ doesnt beleive Thailand's lies either.
Never sent a boy to do a man jobs.
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