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BANGKOK: Thai Interior Minister Aree Wongariya said
Wednesday he would resign over allegations of improper stock
holdings, becoming the third minister to quit recently amid a
growing shares scandal.
His announcement came after a
powerful antigraft body set up by Thailand’s junta said last week
that his stock ownership exceeded legal limits for cabinet
officials.
“In order to take
responsibility . . . I am quitting my ministerial position and I
will submit my resignation letter on October 1,” he said on
national television.
Aree maintained he was innocent
of any wrong doing, and Thai media have widely reported that his
departure paves the way for junta leader General Sonthi
Boonyaratglin to launch a political career.
Sonthi, who led a bloodless
military coup against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra last
September over claims of conflicts of interest among the
billionaire’s business dealings, must quit as army chief at the
end of this month.
While he has been coy about his
future plans, Sonthi has dropped some strong hints that he plans to
enter politics.
Media reports suggest that
Aree’s departure opens the possibility of Sonthi joining the
cabinet as a senior security adviser.
Aree must submit his resignation
to Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, who is in New York to attend
the United Nations general assembly and is scheduled to return to
Thailand on September 29.
Two other cabinet members,
Information Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudoom and Deputy Commerce
Minister Oranuj Osathananda, have also announced their resignations
after being targeted by antigraft officials.
--AFP
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