Junta wants universities 'to refrain from political satire' at big event
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THE JUNTA yesterday asked students of Chulalongkorn and Thammasat universities to refrain from political satire during a parade today ahead of their famous annual inter-university soccer match at Suphachalasai Stadium, a source from the Thammasat Universi
However, a spokesman for the military’s ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) said it had no intention of banning satire at the event, but only wanted the participants to be aware that politics was a “sensitive topic” right now.
A TUSU source who asked not to be named said the union had not been contacted directly by the NCPO or the military, but had been informed by professors and university officials of the request.
“I first saw the matter in the media, and then we were informed by professors and university officials that there was a request to refrain from making political satire in the parade.”
But the student source said those preparing political satire for today’s event would not be deterred.
“Our political-satire team has been working for almost a month, since January 12, for the parade, and everyone has worked very hard for this. The team agreed among themselves that they will go ahead with their parade,” said the source.
Another source from Chulalongkorn University said that institution had decided not to hold a parade this year mocking politics.
Isra News Agency website reported yesterday that for this 70th annual traditional soccer match between the two universities, the NCPO had asked the organisers to refrain from political satire for fear of reviving political conflict.
NCPO spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvari insisted, however, that the NCPO had not ordered a ban on political satire.
“The junta officials did not ban the parade, but concluded that political satire would be sensitive in the current situation, after which the organisers understood and [said] they would be cautious in the matter,” he said.
“The content of the satire should be in the area of sports entertainment. Moreover, [the military] and officials of the two universities agreed that there was a high chance that this activity could be capitalised on to cause further political disputes,” the NCPO spokesman said.
