Union wants answers on THAI axing

Thai Airways International's labour union is pressuring airline chairman Ampon Kitti-ampon to clarify the removal of president Piyasvasti Amranand or face an ouster bid.

Jaemsri Sukchoterat, the union chairwoman, said Mr Ampon needs to come up with an explanation that is better than Mr Piyasvasti having "communications problems".

She said THAI's operations under Mr Piyasvasti's leadership were satisfactory and the president passed his performance evaluation, so the reason given for his removal was not justified.

She said Mr Ampon has until tomorrow to clear the air over the issue, otherwise he will be considered unfit for the position.

On Tuesday, the Transport Ministry claimed Mr Piyasvasti had communications problems with the board over its authority to acquire aircraft. Mr Piyasvasti believed acquisitions could proceed without cabinet approval while the board saw otherwise.

Ms Jaemsri stressed the union was not resisting or objecting to the removal of Mr Piyasvasti and it has no objection to whoever will succeed him.

"The board has the authority to remove [the president], but its decision must be justified. Every policy of THAI comes from the board's decision-making. All financial decisions are made by the board. When a question arises, the board must answer," she said.

"If Mr Ampon wants to stay on as board chairman, he needs to clear all the doubts."

Ms Jaemsri yesterday lodged a petition with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in a bid to step up the pressure on Mr Ampon, who is secretary-general of the cabinet.

"The government has appointed him as the board chairman, so it has to take responsibility for his actions," she said.

Ms Jaemsri also dismissed as untrue criticism that the move is personal. She and Mr Piyasvasti were primary school classmates. "That we went to the same school has nothing to do with this. I am acting as the union president," she said.

Mr Piyasvasti said yesterday he could not make sense of the board's decision. He insisted he did not object to the board's new fleet acquisition programme.

He declined to say if the removal was politically motivated, saying Mr Ampon would know best.

Ms Yingluck said the government would leave it to the THAI board to clarify the matter. "The government is not in a position to clarify the issue because the THAI board made the decision. The decision was unanimous and we must respect it," she said.

She said the government would assign Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan to communicate with the union to ensure fairness and impartiality.

"There might be some misunderstanding, so I ask all sides to talk and I believe all Thai people have good intentions towards their organisation and the country," Ms Yingluck said.

She also urged the union to hold talks before making any move to pressure the government.

Meanwhile, THAI has appointed national police chief Priewpan Damapong and finance permanent secretary Areepong Areepong Bhoocha-oom as vice-chairmen of the board.

The new appointments, effective from Monday, were reported to the Stock Exchange of Thailand yesterday.

The exchange was also told that THAI has appointed Chokchai Panyayong, executive vice-president for strategies and business development, as acting president, also effective on Monday.

The national flag carrier reported the appointment of three members to its audit committee _ chairman Chulasingh Vasantasingh and committee members Weerawong Chittmittrapap and Chutinant Bhirom Bhakdi.

According to the report, the employment contract between the company and Mr Piyasvasti ends on June 21.