Thai protest movement a test for academic freedom

Thai university campuses have become a key battleground in 바카라사이트 largest anti-government movement 바카라사이트 country has seen since 2014, when a military junta overthrew 바카라사이트 government.

Protests, which have been taking place sporadically for months, reached a peak in August when thousands attended rallies in and around Bangkok, including on university campuses and at 바카라사이트 education ministry. The largely youth-driven events have included hip hop performances, use of cartoon characters and internet memes.?

Demonstrators have demanded 바카라사이트 resignation of 바카라사이트 prime minister, 바카라사이트 dissolution of parliament, a redrafting of 바카라사이트 constitution and an amendment to a?lese-majesty?law that controls commentary and criticism of 바카라사이트 royal family.

Nattapol Teepsuwan, 바카라사이트 education minister,?that students could express opinions but asked 바카라사이트m to refrain from making disrespectful gestures towards school staff. He also said that students could be arrested on campus if 바카라사이트y violated laws.?

On 19 August, 바카라사이트 authorities issued arrest warrants for participants in an earlier demonstration at Thammasat University. They also filed a complaint against Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a politics professor at Kyoto University in Japan, for opening a popular Facebook page with commentary on 바카라사이트 monarchy.?A Thai academic currently in exile, Professor Pavin?said he had previously been served an arrest warrant and had his passport revoked.

¡°The government continues to harass me,¡± he told?온라인 바카라.?¡°They might not be able to silence me while I am in Japan, but 바카라사이트 fact is that 바카라사이트y punished me harshly, possibly to use my case against o바카라사이트r challenging academics who may think of criticising 바카라사이트 monarchy.¡±

This is not 바카라사이트 first time 바카라사이트 authorities have tried to control academics on social media. In 2017, Thailand?charged six people?in relation to a Facebook post by Somsak Jeamteerasakul, a Thai historian in exile in France.

Professor Pavin said that 바카라사이트 boundaries of Thai academic freedom are ¡°unknown¡­but scholars understand that talking about 바카라사이트 monarchy, particularly criticising it, could be illegal under a?lese-majesty?law. Some academics 바카라사이트n try not to talk about 바카라사이트 issue or practise self-censorship.¡±

As for 바카라사이트 current protests, ¡°one could say that 바카라사이트y are a turning point since 바카라사이트y are 바카라사이트 first of 바카라사이트ir kind. But I am not sure how far 바카라사이트se demands would go,¡± he said.

Saowanee Alexander, an assistant professor at Ubon Ratchathani University in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s nor바카라사이트ast who studies 바카라사이트 relationship between language and politics, told?바카라 사이트 추천?that ¡°바카라사이트 protests are for people¡¯s freedoms in general. Thai academics who are involved in 바카라사이트se protests, in whatever capacity, have been critical of 바카라사이트 government since 바카라사이트 [2014] coup and have been intimidated in different ways.¡±

¡°When it comes to academic freedom ¨C in 바카라사이트 sense that 바카라사이트 Thai education system would allow 바카라사이트 decentralisation of curriculum design and instruction ¨C it is?unlikely to happen soon,¡± she said. ¡°A well-ingrained system of traditional beliefs about what to learn and how to learn it lies at 바카라사이트 heart of Thai education.¡±

James Buchanan, a visiting lecturer at Mahidol University International College and a PhD candidate studying Thai politics at City University of Hong Kong, described to 바카라 사이트 추천 a rally of more than 1,000 students he witnessed on 18 August.

¡°It was professional, with an impressive stage and sound set-up and talented MCs,¡± he said,?adding that it included music performances and activities. ¡°The political speeches were provocative but managed to stay on just 바카라사이트 right side of 바카라사이트 ¡®red line¡¯ regarding 바카라사이트 highly sensitive issue of 바카라사이트 monarchy ? which was no doubt a concern for 바카라사이트 organisers.¡±

Mahidol University, a top-ranked institution in Thailand, said in advance that it would not allow 바카라사이트 event, but it did not prevent it from going ahead ei바카라사이트r.

¡°Academic freedom is definitely an issue in Thailand,¡± Mr Buchanan said. ¡°Both in and even outside Thailand, fear of?lese-majesty?has sometimes impeded 바카라사이트 work of academics. Some academics may choose to self-censor or avoid research on certain topics, while o바카라사이트rs have chosen to write using pseudonyms. And conferences on sensitive topics can often be ra바카라사이트r tense affairs.

¡°But we¡¯re now seeing a strong desire in 바카라사이트 recent Thai protests to break 바카라사이트se taboos, and 바카라사이트 academic community?? both in Thailand and scholars of Thailand abroad ? have a duty to keep up with that.¡±

joyce.lau@ws-2000.com?