Many irked by Panadda's comment on PAO officials
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PM's Office permanent secretary ML Panadda Diskul yesterday defended his Facebook comment about local leaders living in the lap of luxury, saying he said this because he wanted to see local and central governments provide checks and balances for each oth
However, officials from provincial administrative organisations (PAO) nationwide chose to wear black in order to protest against Panadda’s claim that they were living in luxury, flying first class, drinking wine that cost Bt100,000 per bottle and owned vacation homes in Europe.
Panadda said he had worked as a deputy governor in several provinces and as governor in two provinces and that he had always got on well with PAO executives.
“I did not intend to upset anybody, but just want to see a strong checks-and-balance system between local and central governments. The public is the boss. If you economise, you are the face and honour of your organisation,” he said.
He added that he was ready to apologise to anyone who thought he was stereotyping them, adding that his remark did not mean all PAO executives were living in luxury. However, he refused to elaborate, saying he could not name the person he was referring to due to the circumstances. He added that Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha did not ask him about the matter.
Meanwhile, Udon Thani PAO adviser Prasit Wiratchai said he wore black to work yesterday because he wanted to show his disapproval of Panadda’s comment. He went on to say that he expected more people to wear black once they came to know about the matter.
In response to a statement from the PAO Association of Thailand, more than half of the PAO executives in Phichit province chose to wear black indefinitely. In its statement, the association said Panadda’s remark had tarnished PAO’s image and called on all PAO officials to join the protest.
Later yesterday, Panadda posted a message on Facebook saying his remark was not politically motivated and did not refer to all PAO officials. He said that he wrote the comment after realising that though many leaders adopt the sufficiency philosophy, several provinces still splurge on unnecessary spending. However, he said, since the National Council for Peace and Order leader did not wish to see more conflicts in the country, he wanted to offer his apology to any PAO executive who may have taken umbrage.
Mit Kaewpradit, a local leader in Songkhla, led a meeting yesterday to discuss steps that can be taken to protest against Panadda’s remark. At the meeting, a PAO official said wearing black was not enough to protect PAO officials and that the remark affected everybody, especially since Panadda has refused to identify the person he was referring to. Nipon Bunyamani, PAO president for Songkhla, called on Panadda to identify the person, while Phattalung’s PAO president Wisut Thammapet said the problem was with one individual, yet Panadda’s comment covered everybody. Wisut said his agency would take further action after the PAO Association of Thailand decides on its next move.
Meanwhile, PAO association of Thailand president Chaimongkol Chairob said Panadda called him and apologised, saying he would also offer an apology on his Facebook page, hence the association has decided to lift the protest. Chaimongkol added that the PAO protest did not violate martial law.
