DPM assures fairness to Thai diplomat in alleged assault case

MANILA, June 21 (TNA) - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will treat all parities fairly without any discrimination in a case in which a female Thai diplomat in Cairo was alleged to have assaulted a female Egyptian lawyer. Surapong, who is currently on a two-day official visit to the Philippines from June 20-21, told TNA from Manila on Friday that his ministry recalled the Thai senior diplomat, who is the first secretary to the Thai Embassy to Egypt, following the reported case and she arrived in Bangkok on June 19. As the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs is investigating into the case, Surapong said the case should not affect bilateral relations between Thailand and Egypt and security of Thai diplomatic officials at the Thai Embassy to Egypt, as Egyptians appear to understand that it was a personal problem, but the Egyptian government has beefed up security measures at the Thai Embassy in Cairo as a precaution following the incident. According to the Thai deputy premier, his Ministry of Foreign Affairs will fully inform the public of the incident once the investigation into the case is completed. The Thai female diplomat was accused of verbally and physically assaulting the female Egyptian lawyer in the Egyptian capital on June 13. (TNA)