Bangkok Post Plc deputy chief operating officer Nha-kran Loahavilai has issued a statement to clarify an interview former Bangkok Post editor Umesh Pandey has given to India-based The Wire.
Mr Nha-kran explained Mr Umesh's interview did not mirror facts.
The consideration surrounding the issue of whether Mr Umesh's contract as editor should be renewed was taken up in November last year. He was deemed unfit for the editor post on account of his suspected abuse of duty for personal interest and for the interest of people he knows. However, the executive board decided to give him a chance to remain as editor as Mr Umesh's contract is due to expire in July this year.
During his tenure as editor of the Bangkok Post, Mr Umesh experienced problems, an example of which is in his pledge to organise an event where he mentioned a plan to invite figures of international stature to attend. However, he failed to deliver on the promise.
His editorial management was fraught with various problems, which is the reason many reporters, rewriters and subeditors have resigned during Mr Umesh's tenure as editor.
In a recent executive board meeting, it has been emphasised with Mr Umesh the Bangkok Post's bedrock principle in conducting journalism in the more than 70 years of operation -- which is to present balanced news stories for the sake of fairness to all parties. At the same time, Mr Umesh also explicitly showed he had no plan to renew his contract as editor and had spoken about this to many individuals, including some executive board members.
Mr Umesh's appointment to serve as assistant to the COO amounts to no dismissal from the editor post. In the meantime, the board is looking for a suitable replacement. The timing is coincidentally close to the expiry of Mr Umesh's tenure as editor.
Had Mr Umesh assumed the position of assistant to COO, it would not have been a relegation of duty. The employment contract also states that the company can transfer Mr Umesh without reducing the employment benefits accorded him.
Soon after his new position was announced, Mr Umesh gave media interviews which were untrue and slanderous to the company. In truth, the majority of editorial staff have found Mr Umesh's departure far short of regrettable.