Social critic rejects seat on Smart City panel

Social critic rejects seat on Smart City panel

Social critic and writer Sarinee Achavanuntakul. (Photo from @SarineeA Facebook account)
Social critic and writer Sarinee Achavanuntakul. (Photo from @SarineeA Facebook account)

Social critic and famous writer Sarinee Achavanuntakul has furiously turned down an order by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha appointing her to a committee on smart cities.

Showing a copy of the order on her Facebook account with her name on the three-member list on Monday, Ms Sarinee made her position clear. She said she had not been approached to be a panel member and even if she had, she would reject it.

"All approaches for me to work in any committee appointed by dictators are 'not welcome'," she added.

The copy of the order she showed was signed by the prime minister on Dec 29, 2017, appointing her an expert on social issues for the Smart City Committee.

Smart cities is a policy of the government aiming to integrate digital technology, energy and transport to improve quality of life for residents.

Ms Sarinee is a general manager of Sal Forest, a social enterprise for sustainable business. She regularly writes about social issues and social business in several publications.

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