Dispute centres on employment status
Dr Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck, chairman of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), has defended himself this week against allegations that he lacks the qualifications to hold the office, noting he resigned from government service on Jan 8, 2022.In a video clip he released to the press on Monday, he said he wanted to clarify the facts regarding the ruling by the NBTC selection committee that he lacks the qualifications to hold the NBTC office.
According to Wisanu Warunyu, spokesperson of the selection committee, on July 17 it voted unanimously 4-0 that Dr Sarana was prohibited to serve as chair under Article 8 (2) of the 2010 NBTC Act.
As a result, Dr Sarana is ineligible to serve in that position, according to Article 18 of the 2021 NBTC Act.
The Senate selected Dr Sarana as commissioner in December 2021, and he and other commissioners were royally appointed on April 13, 2022.
