The chairman of Thai Airways International is overturning a board decision to sack president Apinan Sumanaseni, exposing a split in the board of the state-owned national flag carrier.
Chaiswasd Kittipornpaiboon's decision came after a meeting with pilot representatives and the powerful Thai Airways Labour Union, which represents over half of the company's 26,000 employees.
"The decision (to strip Apinan of management responsibilities) has created confusion among staff," said Chaiswasd, who is also permanent secretary of the Ministry of Transport. "If I let this problem go on, it could lead to disunity within the organisation. So, as a chairman, I have issued an order to cancel the board's decision."
According to a statement issued by the pilots group, they and the labour union threatened to take action to express their objections to the decision by the 15-member board and also called for the dismissal of four directors who were involved in what they characterised as a plot to get rid of Apinan.
"If the majority of the board don't agree with my call, then I'm ready to take the responsibility," said Chaiswasd.
Under the decision announced Thursday afternoon, executive vice-president Norahuch Ployyai was to immediately take over Apinan's management responsibilities, Chaisawasd said.
Apinan, who was appointed in May 2006, was to keep his title but have no decision-making role. His contract is due to end in May next year.
He has been criticised for appointing people in his circle to management posts in the carrier, creating conflicts among staff.
But the airline's labour union, and pilot representatives, said the decision was politically motivated and could hurt the airline's financial performance.
Thai Airways labour union president Chamsri Sukchotrat said the move to appoint Norahuch smacked of being politically motivated because of his links with Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted as Thailand's prime minister in a bloodless September 2006 coup.
The current government is led by the Thaksin-allied People Power Party, a reincarnation of the Thai Rak Thai party, which was banned in the aftermath of the coup.
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