THAILAND:THAILAND'S FOREIGN minister Noppadon Pattama has resigned after a top court ruled he violated the constitution by signing a deal over a disputed temple on the Thai-Cambodian border. He is the second minister to leave the cabinet in two days.
The row is over a decision by Mr Noppadon to support Cambodia's bid to seek World Heritage status for the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple on the Thai-Cambodian border.
The verdict and the decision by Mr Noppadon to resign is a major setback for prime minister Samak Sundaravej's government and adds to growing tensions in Thailand, which has been embroiled in a two-year political crisis since a military coup in 2006 that ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Mr Noppadon is a friend of Mr Thaksin, whose allies in the People Power Party, or PPP, won a general election when democracy was restored in December 2007 and now lead a six-party coalition government with a strong majority in parliament under Mr Samak's premiership. His cabinet approved the Preah Vihear decision, even though the Hindu temple has been the subject of a border dispute for decades.
The courts in Thailand now have major powers under a new constitution, drafted under military rule, which is aimed at keeping a tight rein on the power of elected governments after widespread accusations that Mr Thaksin was corrupt and abused his position.
Mr Thaksin's corruption trial began in the supreme court this week, while the constitutional court also banished former parliamentary speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat from politics for five years this week for buying votes and removed health minister Chiya Sasomsub from office after ruling that he had illegally concealed his wife's assets upon taking up his post in February.
Mr Noppadon's support for the temple's listing sparked a wave of nationalist anger because some Thais saw the move as a surrender of sovereignty.
"I insist that I have done nothing wrong. I have not sold out the country. I love Thailand, and would not cause any damage to the country," he said in an emotional appearance on Thai television.
"I want to see national reconciliation. In order for the government to continue working to solve the country's problems, I resign." Another minister resigned in May over allegations he had insulted the king.
The opposition Democrat Party had already used the verdict as the basis for an impeachment motion against Mr Noppadon and is still considering whether to seek the impeachment of other cabinet members as well.
The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia. It has been at the centre of a bitter dispute ever since.
