Pailin governor stands by dismissal decision

PAILIN provincial governor Ban Sreymom is standing by her decision to dismiss former provincial health department official Khem Monykosal who was fired over a Facebook post concerning negligence he encountered while on duty at a Covid-19 quarantine centre.

Sreymom reaffirmed her stance as the provincial committee for dispute resolution for civil servants at the subnational level is slated to announce its decision on May 24.

The committee, which was set up to gather evidence and mediate the case, summoned Monykosal and provincial administration officials to find a solution in a meeting on May 21.

The meeting took place after Monykosal was summoned to testify on May 18.

Sreymom – herself chair of the dispute resolution committee – told The Post on May 23 that what the provincial administration had decided was irreversible.

She added that if Monykosal is disatisfied with the decision, he can appeal.

Monykosal told The Post on May 23 that he remained hopeful because his mistake is disproportionate to the punishment.

“I still wish for a settlement as soon as possible, because I do not want to go any further and disturb the leadership who is busy with Covid-19. This mistake shouldn’t get me expelled from the framework [state job]. The committee should find another solution,” he said.

However, Monykosal said he would continue to seek justice if the committee’s decision is unacceptable for him.

Monykosal was dismissed on March 19 after posting a

This mistake shouldn’t get me fired. The committee should find another solution

message on Facebook regarding issues at Covid-19 quarantine centres which allegedly incited discontent and disrupted internal unity.

Prior to the dismissal, he had posted a number of messages and pictures related to a Pailin quarantine centre prior to the dismissal.

His latest Facebook post said a female medical staff member at the provincial referral hospital had food packages thrown in her face by people who were in quarantine there and that the standby medical staff was doing a “hundred different jobs” at the centre while officials from other department sat around.