Reinstatement of director draws protest



BANGKOK: -- Reinstatement of a former director of Satreewithaya 2 school drew protest from 300 students, parents and teachers holding placards and posters to voice their opposition.

Meanwhile another group of parents and former students also were seen holding posters and placards supporting the reinstatement, reasoning the protest was just a matter of conflict of interest.

Protesting students and their parents gathered in front of the flag pole opposing the order of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) to reinstate Mr Pajarapong Treetepa as director of the school after he was transferred to the OBEC pending investigation in a scandal which the marching band of the school was found to seek financial funding from a green tea tycoon to contest in the United States in 2014.

The contest was later proved to have no competitor in the category that the team entered.

The news of the funding went viral in the social media with questions of why the 17-member team had to seek a 3-million baht fund to support from the green tea firm tycoon.

Besides it was also revealed that the team would make a one week tour in Europe before flying to the United States for the competition.

The tycoon later scrapped the request for fund and pledged to give the fund for charity purpose instead.

Investigation was launched and Mr Pajarapong was then transferred to OBEC pending investigation as he was also held responsible.

But without any revelation of the probe, the OBEC has reinstated him to the director.

Protesters read a statement strongly opposed the reinstatement.

But another group of supporters also held rally to support the reinstatement saying those who protested had hidden conflict of interest.

The rallies of both sides were watched by police and soldiers. But nothing serious happened late this morning.

Earlier the team sought a huge fund of 13 million baht from OBEC to support the team to the competition but was rejected as the team did not meet requirements and consisted of large group of up to 50 members. It then turned to private funding and scaling team members.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/reinstatement-director-draws-protest


-- Thai PBS 2015-02-11

Corruption??

Let me check, he isn't an elected (red) MP.

He's paid his money for the job now suck it up...

I did not know that they were so......... principled!

I wonder in which manner they drove home that day; after the protest.

"protest from 300 students, parents and teachers holding placards and posters to voice their opposition"

And the military just watched? Twenty rubber farmers threatened a protest over rubber prices and Prayuth says, "Don't do it." Three university student hold three fingers up in protest and they're detained. Teachers wanr of protest for higher wages and the Junta says "no." Prayuth's use of martial law seems so fickled - difficult to know exactly what is allowed and not.

How can anyone follow the rule of law when the law follows no rule?