Staff sideline ICT minister

Written by Writer on Saturday, October 25th, 2008

Staff sideline ICT minister

KOMSAN TORTERMVASANA

The information and communications technology (ICT) minister has suspended work at the ministry after TOT unionists and employees vowed to oust him and the government, who they allege are responsible for the Oct 7 suppression of anti-government protesters. ICT Minister Mun Patanothai planned to go to work on Monday, but scrapped the idea after hearing about the move by TOT union members and staff.

The ICT Ministry shares the same compound with the headquarters of the TOT on Chaeng Wattana road.

TOT president Warut Suvakorn held a meeting with his management yesterday to discuss the incident on Wednesday when Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat was pelted and booed by more than 400 TOT staff and union members.

A shoe was also hurled at Mr Somchai when he was about to leave in a van.

Mr Warut said the TOT had asked for video tapes from television cameramen to determine whether the protesters were outsiders or its own staff.

After watching all the tapes, he said most of the protesters were TOT staff, and some were senior management.

He said the TOT would not take action against its staff as he believed any punishment would widen the rifts and the ICT minister and prime minister had also asked that they not be punished.

He said the incident had triggered a protest by the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship followers at the TOT’s Chiang Mai office.

It had also spread to Udon Thani and Khon Kaen, he said, adding, however, that the protest in Chiang Mai was quickly calmed down peacefully.

He had earlier asked TOT staff not to use megaphones to attack the ICT minister when he arrives on Monday to work at the ministry as it was impolite.

Bangkok Post
Saturday October 25, 2008