Forums for reform 'not attacks on govt'

He also said that although the government would provide forums for students and academics to express their views on reform, it could not urge them to come to the forum against their will.
He urged any speakers who might express opinions at the forum to refrain from criticising the government’s work or calling for martial law to be dropped.
The government’s move to open stages for students to air their views on reform has been initiated to pre-empt protests. Government intelligence expects a spike in protests after five Khon Kaen University students were rounded up after staging an anti-coup protest before Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha last week. The students were later released unconditionally without being charged.

Graffiti reappears
Meanwhile, “No Coup” graffiti was yesterday found at four different faculties of Chiang Mai University.
Some messages were on buildings and some on the road. University security guards removed the painted graffiti from the area.
A pro-democracy Facebook page posted a message about the spray-painted slogans at the university. The page attracted supporters and opponents of the protest to air their views.
The free public education Midnight University announced it would issue a statement on freedom of expression.
Assoc Prof Dr Somchai Preechasilapakul said the university had no plan to mobilise masses but to express opinions peacefully.
He said the graffiti incident was caused partly by the state’s attempts to block freedom of expression.
“If the government continues to tighten its grip, people will be forced to go underground and that would be harder to deal with,” he said.
Somchai called on the government to accept criticism, saying having people who like and dislike any government policy is normal.
High-ranking police and military officials in Chiang Mai warned the Midnight University it must abide by the law and can organise a press conference to issue a statement.