From: kamol@munnari.oz.AU (Kamol Hengkietisak)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Aug 19: Pattaya gets a facelift
Date: 19 Aug 1992 07:04:39 +1000
Organization: Mail/News gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: munnari.oz.au

 
Paiboon transferred from TOT
THE Cabinet yesterday approved the transfer of Telephone 
Organisation of Thailand Director Paiboon Limpapayom to facilitate 
an investigation into possible corruption involving the 
two-million-line telephone deal.
     Earlier in the day about 500 TOT workers protested the 
transfer, branding it unfair because the Counter Corruption 
Commission had still to establish whether any wrongdoings were 
committed.
     The workers gathered in front of the Transport and 
Communications Ministry where they demanded an explanation from 
Minister Nukul Prachuabmoh before moving to Government House to 
present a petition calling on the Prime Minister to treat Mr 
Paiboon fairly.
     Mr Nukul said Mr Paiboon's transfer was approved by the TOT 
board of directors at an urgent meeting at the ministry yesterday 
called to consider his request for Mr Paiboon to perform official 
duties at the ministry.
     The minister said Mr Paiboon would help the ministry plan the 
development of the nation's telecommunications network.
     He will be replaced by Chumpol Herabat, his deputy, as TOT 
director.
     The transfer will help the CCC after it was asked to 
investigate possible corruption involving the two-million-line 
telephone deal which was signed during the last Anand Panyarachun 
government.
     Mr Nukul said Mr Paiboon had to be moved because the deal was 
signed while he was TOT director.
     Mr Paiboon can return to his TOT post if the CCC finds him 
innocent of any wrongdoing.
     The previous Anand government ordered the division of the TOT 
telephone expansion plan into two parts -- two million lines for 
Bangkok and one million lines in the provinces -- to prevent its 
monopolisation by a single investor.
     The TOT had previously chosen TelecomAsia to install all 
three million lines, but it was subsequently granted the contract 
covering Bangkok only.
     The provincial component was awarded to Loxley Consortium 
during the early stages of the present Anand government. The 
Government has criticised the TOT of favouring a certain bidder, 
resulting in huge earnings losses which the state should have 
obtained from the two-million-line contract.
     TOT Employees Association president Mitr Charoenwan and eight 
other worker representatives tried to meet with Mr Nukul yesterday 
to discuss Mr Paiboon's transfer.
     The minister later told reporters Mr Paiboon was not being 
sacked but simply "borrowed" as an adviser attached to the 
Communications Ministry.
     He said this was necessary because some TOT workers had asked 
the ministry to call on the CCC to investigate the three million 
phone line project for corruption.
     Those being investigated must first be removed to facilitate 
the investigation and await the outcome of the probe.
     The transfer took effect when the Cabinet acknowledged the 
order at its meeting yesterday.
     Mr Mitr said Mr Paiboon could be sacked immediately if there 
was any evidence of wrongdoing, but otherwise the transfer was 
inappropriate.
     He said the order appeared to be an act of personal revenge 
as Mr Nukul was in conflict over the phone project with former 
communications minister Gen Viroj Saegsanit during the first Anand 
government.
     The TOT workers yesterday handed out leaflets attacking Mr 
Anand for trying to further his own reputation by stepping on 
people.
     They said that the TOT only checked the bidding 
specifications.
     It was the Premier himself and the Communications Minister 
who negotiated the benefits with the bidder -- TelecomAsia. The 
content of the contract was also checked by the public prosecutor, 
they said.
     Mr Nukul refused to say if the protest defied state 
enterprise regulations, but said it was inappropriate for 
employees to come out and "cheer on" any person.
     He said Mr Paiboon was the key person in control of the TOT 
and it was normal for him to be transferred temporarily pending 
the investigation findings.
     He said he had not discussed the matter with Mr Paiboon and 
dismissed criticism that it was an act of harassment of a civil 
servant by a political official.
     "You know that there are great vested interests in this 
matter," he said.
     "The action of the ministry, the Prime Minister and myself is 
to protect the interest of the state. It is at risk and, if no one 
makes a sacrifice, similar actions will be difficult to undertake 
in the future."
     Mr Nukul said he did not understand why the TOT workers had 
protested against the transfer of Mr Paiboon when the transfer of 
senior government officials with other state agencies had always 
proven acceptable.
     "Or is there so much interest at stake that the workers have 
been forced to protest?" he asked.
     He said the TOT staff were within their rights to demonstrate 
as long as they did not cause hardship for other people.
     But he warned that the TOT had regulations enabling action 
against workers who took time off from their normal working day to 
join protests.
     The minister then said he would not yield to pressure to 
reverse the transfer order against Mr Paiboon.
     TOT board chairman Rungroj Sriprasertsuk yesterday informed 
Mr Paiboon officially about the board decision.
     Mr Paiboon is expected to report for his new duties at the 
ministry this morning.
     The protesters yesterday moved to the TOT offices on 
Ploenchit Road before dispersing about 5.30 p.m.
     Mr Mitr said the workers had protested to air their view that 
the transfer was unfair.
     "We've done our duty and we will return to work tomorrow," he 
said.

Note: TOT association (formerly a union) is none other than a gathering of
those employees who want to protect their vested interests without regard
to the organisation or govt's benefits. All state enterprise associations
(formerly unions) have this kind of reputation. But TOT is one of the worst
concerning corruption, etc.
	I also would like to apologise for not feeding news so long because
 of the machine's failed connection. Will try to feed news regularly if I do
have free time. I realise the importance of local news to you guys because
I used to be abroad for several years too.