Uthen Thawai's claims to campus land unfounded: Chulalongkorn
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Chulalongkorn University (CU) presented evidence yesterday, refuting claims by Rajamangala University of Technology's Uthen Thawai campus student union that the land it rented from CU for the campus was legally transferred to Rajamangala University.
Following Uthen Thawai student union’s call for the CU to “return” the land to Uthen Thawai, CU history expert Dr Sunet Chutintharanont told a press conference at Chamchuree Square yesterday that the union’s claims the land was transferred to Rajamangala University was a misinterpretation of historical documents.
He said CU couldn’t return the land to Uthen-Thawai because there was no record the land had been transferred to Rajamangala in the first place.
Sunet cited King Rama VI’s decree providing CU with legal rights over the 1,309-rai area in central Bangkok’s Pathum Wan district, and said it was surprising that Uthen Thawai’s student union hadn’t mentioned this key piece of evidence.
The dispute between CU and Rajamangala University erupted earlier this year, after CU asked the university’s Uthen Thawai campus to move off its land.
During the press conference yesterday, CU reiterated its stance on Uthen Thawai campus’ eviction, saying the decision would not be overturned.
Speaking at the press conference, CU legal expert Khanapol Chanhom said the Chulalongkorn University Act BE 2482, which included a map, also backed CU’s ownership claim over the land.
In addition, he said Article 16 of the Chulalongkorn University Act BE 2551 stated that the university land wasn’t state property and the transfer of the land, provided to build the university, was not allowed.
Khanapol said the evidence presented showed without a doubt that Uthen Thawai student union’s claims were unfounded. He added that the eviction was final and all parties should respect the decision.
CU vice-president Boonchai Stitmannaithum also urged the Education Ministry to clarify its position on the issue and to assist Rajamangala University in finding a new location for its Uthen Thawai campus.
He confirmed that CU intended to use the land to build an innovation centre for the local community and emphasised the university’s need to expand its educational facilities.
Boonchai added that he understood Uthen Thawai’s move would take time, as a new location needed to be found – along with financing for the move.
He said CU, therefore, had no objections to Uthen Thawai continuing its normal-day operations until a new location was found.
A group of 1,200 Uthen Thawai students and alumni marched from their school to CU’s Chamchuree Building 2 yesterday, calling for a response to their demands that CU return the land to the institute.
Boonchai met with the students and a letter was handed to him, outlining their demands. Some 640-city police were dispatched from Maboonkrong Mall intersection to the Sam Yan intersection to ensure order and security.
