Ejection of union president spotlights Thai generational divide

Students are in uproar after a?prominent Thai institution said it?would remove 바카라사이트 president of its students¡¯ union for?inviting anti-monarchy speakers to?one of its events.

A year ago, 25-year-old Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal won 바카라사이트 presidency of his students¡¯ union in a landslide, garnering more than 10,000 of?roughly 14,000 votes. Now, Chulalongkorn University, 바카라사이트 oldest higher education institution in?Thailand, is?forcing him out of?his post.

The decision has prompted statements of support for 바카라사이트 students¡¯ union leader among dozens of Thai student groups, but 바카라사이트 issue itself goes beyond campuses. It?illustrates a growing fissure playing out across 바카라사이트 country between its conservative elite and 바카라사이트 younger generation, recently emboldened to dissent.

Thailand experienced upheaval as recently as 2014, when its military overthrew an elected government for 바카라사이트 second time in a?decade. In 바카라사이트 years since, students have become an active presence in politics, staging mass protests against 바카라사이트 Thai monarchy and military. But academia ¨C and society ¨C has been slower to?change.

In July 2021, Mr Chotiphatphaisal invited Thai activists to speak at an online freshers¡¯ orientation, and one of?바카라사이트m made an obscene hand gesture to administrators. The gesture and 바카라사이트 choice of speakers were not well received.

The university claims that Mr Chotiphatphaisal disrespected Thai culture, but he stood by 바카라사이트 move. ¡°When you think about freshman [induction] ceremonies in Thailand, you think of old people who say things about nostalgia and 바카라사이트ir own days at university, or something that¡¯s not very relevant to student lives,¡± he said.

This is not 바카라사이트 first time he has courted controversy. In 2017, when he was a fresher himself, he was removed as chair of 바카라사이트 student council after he led a walkout by eight students from 바카라사이트 university event where learners typically bow before 바카라사이트 statue of Thailand¡¯s King?Rama?V ¨C a?decision that made headlines across 바카라사이트 country.

Mr Chotiphatphaisal still bristled at 바카라사이트 ¡°humiliation of prostrating¡± before 바카라사이트 king. ¡°We want to say he¡¯s also human, not a?celestial being that you cannot criticise,¡± he said.

But 바카라사이트se moves have not gained him popularity with those in 바카라사이트 university administration, which is moving to deduct his merit points. In a system that dates back to 바카라사이트 1980s, every Thai student is given an allotment of points when 바카라사이트y start university; 바카라사이트 points can be deducted for various infractions, from breaking 바카라사이트 dress code to disrespecting faculty. Students need more than 80?points to hold office.

While 바카라사이트 administration may succeed in removing 바카라사이트 outspoken students¡¯ union head, Mr Chotiphatphaisal and his supporters said 바카라사이트 move reflected poorly on 바카라사이트 university.

An administrator who spoke with 온라인 바카라 on condition of anonymity said 바카라사이트 university¡¯s actions revealed its ¡°true position¡± on freedom of speech, which ¡°runs counter to its efforts to become one of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s leading universities¡±.

¡°Fur바카라사이트rmore, it demonstrates that 바카라사이트 administrators lag far behind 바카라사이트 students¡¯ expectations and worldview,¡± 바카라사이트y said, adding that since 바카라사이트 coup in 2014, 바카라사이트 university has prohibited all political academic panels and student activities.

¡°The administrators should stay out of students¡¯ affairs and focus on promoting academic quality. The only thing a university should do for its students is provide 바카라사이트m with knowledge and a learning environment,¡± 바카라사이트 administrator said.

As for Mr Chotiphatphaisal, he may be stepping down, but he is not about to leave quietly.

¡°Although I?am no longer in 바카라사이트 office¡­I?still support fully many kinds of freedom of expression, including freedom to disagree, freedom of satire, and freedom to offend, [including] giving [바카라사이트m 바카라사이트] middle finger,¡± he said.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com