Thai PM denies politically-influenced dismissal of THAI president

BANGKOK, May 22 (TNA) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has denied reports that the dismissal of Thai Airways International (THAI) President Piyasvasti Amranand, in a THAI board resolution by the majority vote on Monday, was politically-motivated and a person close to her Pheu Thai Party-led government will take up the post. Yingluck insisted Tuesday that the dismissal of Piyasvasti was solely the THAI board's decision, pointing out that the board of the national airline had been appointed by the previous government led by the now main opposition Democrat Party; so it was impossible for her incumbent administration to influence the decision. Yingluck also strongly denied the opposition’s accusation that a person close to her government would succeed Piyasvasti, saying that she did not know who should be the successor, as the matter depends solely on the THAI board and suggesting that concerned parties negotiate and conclude the issue smoothly. The THAI board’s decision to dismiss Piyasvasti has, meanwhile, upset the THAI Labor Union, whose chairperson, Jamsri Sukchoterat, told journalists that the THAI Labour Union will ask the government to sack THAI board chairman Ampon Kitti-ampon for allegedly creating conflicts within the national flag carrier and its staffs. Jamsri vowed that the THAI Labour Union will also ask the Ministries of Transport and Finance, as the major shareholders of the national airline, as well as the ombudsmen to pressure Ampon to unveil the real reasons for the dismissal of Piyasvasti, before planning its next movements on the issue. (TNA)