EC secretary general to appeal against termination

He said that if the EC insisted on removing him, he would turn to the Administrative Court to seek justice. He claimed that his work was met with interference, adding that EC members also freely allocated funds to appoint advisers and specialists, with the office shouldering up to Bt2 million per month to cover their salaries. 

He said the EC had also delayed or suspended some projects his office carried out, and that he was not given a chance to defend himself. Puchong also called on Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) members, including Apichart Sukhagganond and Prapan Naikowit, to ensure the new charter clearly identifies the authority and responsibility of EC members and the commission itself in order to prevent interference. 

He was speaking to the press yesterday with tears in his eyes, and some EC officials gave him flowers in moral support. 

Apichart said that though an EC secretary-general’s term is five years, the law stipulates that the position is subject to annual evaluation. He added that when he was an EC member, Puchong had been evaluated twice and his performance was found to be satisfactory. However, he said, all EC members are entitled to pass judgement and dismissed Puchong’s claim of interference. He also said Puchong might not be able to appeal against the EC’s decision. 

“I believe Puchong is a decent person and devoted to his job. He did not create any problems during his termwhile I was with the EC. I am sorry that he is being dismissed,” he said.

PM Prayut Chan-o-cha said he would accept Puchong’s petition, adding that he would have to look to see exactly why Puchong did not pass his evaluation. “Was he able to work or did he not deliver good work? This must be the point, not that he is failed out of harassment,” he said. 

The PM added that if Puchong believed the EC members were not using state funds transparently, then he should also include this complaint in his petition.