Scholars demand that minister protects students’ right to protest
A group of Thai academics have called on Anek Laothamata, minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, to protect students’ right to free expression.
The Thai Academic Network for Civil Rights (TANC) made the demand three days after Anek urged university directors around the country to clamp down on student protests that raise the topic of the monarchy.
The TANC made a similar plea to defend students’ freedom on August 13, backed by more than 350 academics, but faced public threats.
The rights-defending scholars also noted that Thailand had slipped into the lowest tier of the Academic Freedom Index 2020, reflecting a lower quality of education and the less freedom to express cultural and political opinions.
However, Anek previously called teachers, lecturers and academics to abide by restrictions on political gatherings.
TANC responded by demanding that the ministry allow students to voice their opinions and permit teachers and lecturers to teach lessons that are not restricted to political propaganda.
It urged the ministry to show confidence in the public and academia, rather than ignoring education as an important arena of free debate and solution-seeking.
The TANC has now repeated that demand after students from universities around the country claimed they were harassed by teachers and local officials for participating in political movements.
