Health secretary Dr Narong 'ready to fight probe into alleged offences'

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Health secretary 'ready to fight probe into alleged offences'
Poungchompoo Prasert
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Dr Narong Sahametapat, the permanent secretary at the Public Health Ministry, is preparing to fight an order that he undergo a probe for alleged grave disciplinary offences.

"He is going to petition the Merit System Protection Commission," Nakhon Si Thammarat public-health chief Utumporn Kambhu Na Ayudthaya said yesterday.

She was among Public Health Society (PHS) representatives who submitted the letter to caretaker Health Minister Pradit Sintava-narong via a senior official yesterday.

The order against Narong came from Pradit last week, in the wake of Narong's clear stance against the government.

Narong welcomed People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) secretary general Suthep Thaugsuban when the latter showed up at the Public Health Ministry compound with demonstrators recently.

Narong is also a prominent member of PHS, which had pressured then-caretaker PM Yingluck Shinawatra to resign. Narong's supporters view Pradit's move as a form of intimidation. PHS members yesterday called on the minister to review his decision.

In an open letter, the PHS questioned whether the probe was launched to hurt Narong's reputation and clamp down on free expression by government officials.

"Do you see PHS members' opposition to a corrupt government as a grave disciplinary offence?" the society asked.

It said Pradit's latest move would only turn health officials against him. "We are ready to fight back," the letter read.

"We have come because we need to prevent political interference," she said.

She added that by ordering the probe, Pradit could face criminal action for defamation and abuse of authority. Her group also handed a petition to the Office of Civil Service Commission yesterday.

The Friends of Public Health for Democracy, meanwhile, released a statement calling for government officials, plus employees of state enterprises and the government to stay neutral. It also said it would not accept an unelected prime minister.

The group wants the government to engage the United Nations and the European Union as mediators.


-- The Nation 2014-05-13

[NongKhaiKid]

" We need to prevent political interference . "

Not in a million lifetimes my dear, it's not Thainess

[noitom]

The Thai laugher continues. Thais are relentless in suing and challenging each other for crimes. It's preposterous and they know it and the Thai press knows it, but no one calls it out. Astonishing.

[chainarong]

So what is the offence , in a democracy anybody can talk to who ever they want ,though not the wisest choice from a senior government officer , but a reprimand would be sufficient , Thailand administration sure pull out some weird charges , the best they could achieve would be a resignation , but then again isn't Thailand a democracy

[geriatrickid]

So what is the offence , in a democracy anybody can talk to who ever they want ,though not the wisest choice from a senior government officer , but a reprimand would be sufficient , Thailand administration sure pull out some weird charges , the best they could achieve would be a resignation , but then again isn't Thailand a democracy

Playing cute are you? The political activities were not undertaken in a private capacity. He used his position as part of his political activities. How can a permanent secretary who's duty is to implement the public health policy of the elected government, perform his job if he is opposed to that public health policy and is an active proponent of overthrowing the government?

Get real.

[smedly]

The man has a backbone for sure, if he does his job effectively what on earth is there to talk about

[klauskunkel]

"He is going to petition the Merit System Protection Commission,"

What is that? Never heard of it...is it a Buddhist institution protecting your merit points when you go tamboon? No?

No way! It can't be..., I am hesitating to say it: is it a system of placement/advancement based on individual ability, aptitude, experience, expertise? If so, man, that needs protecting, and nurturing and a carefree environment to grow...but, I am dreaming again, huh?

[londonthai]

narong politicised health service, which should be neutral, by ordering to hang out banners supporting the protesters, over the matter not related to hospitals, and encouraged to participate in rallies, including bkk shutdown, so abandoning their duties.

in effect many hospitals denied medical services to the public, injured policemen and soldiers.

he also boycotted official meetings, thus obstructing works of the government.

he also warmly greeted the protesters at the ministry, when they came to pressure on the ministry officials and employees, to stop working

Edited May 13, 2014 by londonthai

[Melyn]

So what is the offence , in a democracy anybody can talk to who ever they want ,though not the wisest choice from a senior government officer , but a reprimand would be sufficient , Thailand administration sure pull out some weird charges , the best they could achieve would be a resignation , but then again isn't Thailand a democracy

Playing cute are you? The political activities were not undertaken in a private capacity. He used his position as part of his political activities. How can a permanent secretary who's duty is to implement the public health policy of the elected government, perform his job if he is opposed to that public health policy and is an active proponent of overthrowing the government?

Get real.

More lies...

What did he ever do to prevent the implementation of policy?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Metisa]

"He is going to petition the Merit System Protection Commission," Nakhon Si Thammarat public-health chief Utumporn Kambhu Na Ayudthaya said yesterday."

Be careful doctor, with a name like Na Ayudthaya on your back, you might get run over my a school kid.

[Scamper]

" Do you see PHS members' opposition to a corrupt government as a grave disciplinary offence?" the society asked. "

Apparently Pheu Thai does. Pheu Thai and the UDD have always had a novel definition of free expression. It's called don't do it.

[hidavey]

t's not what you know but who you know....you know? Who's on second?

[citizen33]

Many of the senior MoPH staff involved in this are dedicated people, but I can't help feeling they have made a big mistake in siding openly with one political faction against another. Most Western countries practise one of two approaches; either the civil service is neutral and works with government ministers of whatever colour without favour, or otherwise the officials are appointed by the elected government of the day according to their political allegiance and change when the administration changes. It seems to me that officials such as Dr Narong are looking towards a Thai third way which harks back to the old days of a 'luaang' that owes its allegiance to the network surrounding the monarchy, and only supports the government insofar as this does not challenge the values and interests of the royalist elite. Quite simply that is not how a modern constitutional monarchy operating within a Parliamentary democracy works. I think that Duncan McCargo was right when he pointed to the disagreement about the nature of the Thai state that lies behind the present conflict. Some appear to believe that Thailand's true constitution is an unwritten one based on monarchy, the wider royal network and religion, and that sits uneasily with Western notions about constitutional legality, the separation of powers and electoral majorities.