'Bangkok Post' stands by sackings
The Bangkok Post issued a statement yesterday defending its decision to fire two senior journalists in 2005 after an internal inquiry into a "misleading" article about runway cracks at the new airport.
The statement came amid growing reports by local and international media about former chief reporter Sermsuk Kasitpradit and former news editor Chadin Thepaval being possibly vindicated for having warned the public about the problem."The truth is, the company's position proceeded in accordance to the [investigation] committee [decision] that the two had not performed their duties appropriately," the statement, in Thai, read. The paper also insisted the fact the runway now has many cracks didn't necessarily mean its page-one story in August 2005 by Sermsuk was correct. When contacted by The Nation, Sermsuk reacted to the statement with a laugh and said the investigation also contained several inaccuracies. "I think they [the Bangkok Post] are being pressured by society. They lost face. Irregularity began when they fired me. Even the [investigation] committee didn't recommend dismissing me but to take disciplinary action. But when it reached [then editor] David Armstrong, he said it was a grave mistake," he said. "The matter is now in [the labour] court. So I now understand there will be no settlement. I now hope the court ruling will set a standard." Sermsuk claimed he was a victim of political interference under Thaksin Shinawatra's administration and unfair treatment by his then editor. "When the incident occurred, Armstrong was acting editor. Now he's the CEO. When I said he must take responsibility, I think he felt bad and upset." The Post statement also said Sermsuk and Chadin "accepted to the investigating committee they were sorry for their mistakes". Sermsuk said yesterday what he said in 2005 was "if some failures took place, then I'm sorry". Sathien Viriyaphan-pongsa, Pravit Rojanaphruk
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