Santi quits as FTI's 'other chairman'
Santi Vilassakdanont yesterday announced his decision to step down as the "other chairman" of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) because the ongoing rift about who is the leader is becoming the worst threat to the group's unity in its 45-year hist
The resignation came shortly before a ministry committee was to announce its final decision on the FTI conflict.
Santi’s resignation was sent to Industry Minister Prasert Boonchaisuk yesterday, according to the ministry’s permanent secretary Witoon Simachokedee. Despite Santi’s resignation, the ministry needs to continue considering the issue before deciding whether appointing Santi on November 26 was the correct decision or not.
According to Witoon, Santi said he had decided to step down for the sake of the organisation and its unity. However, Witoon said the Industry Ministry will look into the relevant laws and try to find a resolution to the conflict between the two groups by this week. There are two factions among FTI members who are fighting over who should be their leader.
Witoon went on to say that the ministry did not want to interfere in the dispute of a private organisation.
“Santi’s resignation would be good for both parties because it won’t create any further conflicts. However, it needs to look into the relevant laws to see if his resignation can be accepted or not,” he said.
However, FTI secretary-general Tanit Sorat said that its official chairman, Payungsak Chartsutipol, should step down as well.
“Payungsak should also resign in order to pave the way for democracy because we don’t want to see the row weaken the FTI’s operation and force political intervention,” he said.
The 384 members of the FTI board will be voting for their new chairman on December 24.
Petcharat Ekseangkul, vice chairman of FTI, said there was no reason for Payungsak to resign as he has done nothing wrong and there is no need for Santi to quit because he is not FTI’s chairman.
“Members of industrial clubs have been strongly supporting Payungsak and he was transparently elected as chairman by the FTI board,” Petcharat said.
In a meeting with 37 of the 39 FTI industrial clubs on Tuesday, Payungsak was told that they fully supported him as chairman and wanted him to stay for his entire term, which ends in March.
