Bangkok: The controversy surrounding the status and qualifications of Clinical Professor Saran Boonbaichaiyapruk, Chairman of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), continues to raise questions about legal and procedural issues. A previously released video of Dr. Saran's clarification has resurfaced, particularly the beginning of the clip where he addresses the "accusations" against him before explaining the facts regarding his employment status prior to assuming the NBTC chairmanship. The key point of his clarification is that Dr. Saran wants to distinguish between being a "government employee" and occasionally returning to his medical profession. He affirms that he resigned from his previous position before assuming the NBTC chairmanship through proper procedures, and that after resigning, he was not a permanent employee of Ramathibodi Hospital, nor did he receive a salary as a permanent government employee.
According to Thai News Agency, prior to January 8, 2022, Dr. Soran was a regular employee of Ramathibodi Hospital. However, between January 8 and April 12, 2022, after submitting his resignation, his employment status ended. Some patient care was provided as part-time medical treatment, with compensation received only for each session and without a regular salary or compensation as a government employee. After being appointed Chairman of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) by Royal Decree on April 13, 2022, Dr. Soran stated that his continued medical work was as a volunteer physician assisting patients without receiving any compensation.
This issue makes the opening statement of the clip, "I am being accused," more significant, as the dispute does not stem from allegations of accepting benefits from the telecommunications business or abusing the power of the NBTC chairman for personal gain, but rather from the interpretation of his status as a doctor during the transition period before assuming his position. At the same time, the dispute has expanded from questions about Dr. Soran's qualifications to questions about the verification process, with key debates about whether the selection committee still has the authority to re-examine the qualifications of the officeholder after the selection, Senate approval, and appointment process are complete, as well as questions about the composition and status of some members of the selection committee.
Another question raised is: if the qualification issues existed before the appointment, why weren't they detected or resolved during the initial recruitment process? Checking qualifications is the direct responsibility of the recruitment committee. Looking back at Dr. Soran's statements today, what he was trying to convey wasn't just a denial of the allegations, but a request to separate "alleged opinions" from "facts" and allow documents and legal processes to provide the answers. Dr. Soran emphasized that all the facts are verifiable, including the date of resignation, the date of termination of employment, and the date of receiving the royal appointment. He expressed his willingness to cooperate with all agencies and respect legal processes, leaving a crucial message: he wants society to consider all sides of the information and allow the legal process to unfold without bias.