University rectors urge 310 MPs to apologise over amnesty bill
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University rectors Friday urged 310 MPs who passed the amnesty bill to apologise to the public for trying to whitewash wrongdoers.
The rectors made the call during a meeting with Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang at the Office of the Higher Education.
Chaturon invited rectors of all 153 universities nationwide to a meeting to try to convince them that the government has already aborted the plan to enact the blanket amnesty bill.
The meeting was also participated by PM’s Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn and Deputy PM Phongthep Thepkanjana as well as Samart Kaewmeechai, the chairman of the panel that vetted the amnesty bill.
Assoc Prof Doctor Chalermchai Boonyaleephan, rector of Srinakharinwirot University, said the 310 MPs who voted for the bill in the second and third reading should come to apologise to the people.
Chalermchai said the rectors could not tell lecturers, staffs and students of their universities to stop the demonstrations. He said the problem must be solved at its cause or at the government and 310 MPs.
“Now, it became clear that most people of the country said no to the bill. The 310 MPs who voted for the bill in the second and third reading must come out to take responsibility by apologising,” Chalermchai said.
Assoc Prof Somdet Nilphan, rector of Ratchabhat University Nakhon Pathom said that so far the government and MPs have not yet say sorry to the people.
“Since the opposition mounted up against the bill, we have never heard the government or MPs say sorry,” Nilphan said.
“If the government wants to solve this problem, it must stop saying that the people do not understand or Thais are not ready. The government must come out to say sorry. If the government does not know how to say it, we, rectors, will teach you.”
Chaturon started the meeting by telling the rectors that he wanted to explain the situation to them to set a correct understanding and to listen to their opinions on solving the country’s problems.
“The Education Ministry would like to listen to your opinions and useful advice. We don’t’ want to warn or prevent universities from campaigning. We understand well that the universities have liberty in thinking and academic affairs,” Chaturon told the meeting.
Samart told the rectors that the government would like to withdraw the draft but it could not do it now that it has been passed in the third reading. Samart said the House would have to wait for the Senate to reject the bill and wait for it to lapse in 180 days.
Prof Dr Sujin Jinayon, rector of Naresuan University, said the Cabinet should issue a resolution to promise the bill would not be revised after 180 days.
Dr Ratchaneeporn Pukkhayaporn, rector of Sripathum University, said the prime minister and leaders of all coalition partners should issue a public contract that they would let the bill lapse.
At the end of the meeting, Chaturon promised to convey their proposals to the prime minister.
