GPO board member urges court action
APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL
State enterprise board members should stand up against political intervention and fight unfair removal of officials by the government, to protect the national interest, Chuchai Suphawongse, who has been reinstated to the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation board, said yesterday. Dr Chuchai urged fellow state enterprise officials who fell victim to abuse of power by politicians to follow the GPO board's move by taking their cases to the Administrative Court.
His recommendation came a day after the Administrative Court ordered the reinstatement of former GPO board chairman Vichai Chokewiwat and the five other former board members sacked by cabinet last month to pave the way for the new board appointed by Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsab.
Mr Chaiya said his decision to remove the officials was based on the GPO's falling profits. He later appointed Thirachai Wuthitham, a former manager of the national football team, as the new board chairman.
But Dr Vichai and the five board members accused the public health minister of having dishonest intentions in sacking them and took the case to court.
''You have to fight for justice and you will succeed like us,'' said Dr Chuchai.
He said board members of state agencies should not bow to any unjust removal order by the government, which he said put its own profits ahead of the national interest.
Cabinet never gave a reason when ordering the removal of any state-owned agency board member.
It only claimed that the change was based on appropriateness and legitimacy.
Those who felt that they had been victims of abuse of political power should stand up for their rights and the public interest, he said.
He attributed the GPO's board victory in the case to growing public participation in monitoring the government, particularly its alleged intervention in state agencies, independent organisations such as the Election Commission, the Assets Scrutiny Committee and the judicial system.
Mr Chaiya said he would appeal against the order with the Supreme Administrative Court.
Dr Vichai said he would meet the former GPO board on Monday to tell them of their reinstatement and will resume work, starting with unfinished projects, including the import of the cancer drug docetaxel for patients under the universal healthcare scheme.
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