THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Academic freedom ‘hit by all Thai govts’

Academic freedom ‘hit by all Thai govts’

ACADEMIC freedom, be it under a military-installed government or a civilian one, has never fared well in Thailand, lecturers said at a panel discussion on Wednesday.

While academic freedom under this military-installed government had been undermined, the situation was not necessarily any better under elected governments, Pongkwan Sawasdiphakdi, a lecturer on international relations in Thammasat University, said.
The key reason for this, she said, is that Thailand’s Constitutions have failed to protect such freedoms, with the latest charter containing protections that are vague and difficult to interpret. Speaking at a panel discussion on “Academic Freedom under the Military” on Wednesday at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand, Pongkwan also blamed the lack of freedom on the fact that lecturers were now working on a contract basis, which left their careers in the hands of their supervisors. 
However, she admitted that the situation had worsened under this government, with academics having to seek permission to hold public seminars or events. She added that the military’s intervention in university affairs in order to put pressure on political activism did not help. 
Titipol Phakdeewanich, a lecturer from Ubon Ratchathani University, agreed, saying the military made his work very difficult and also affected other lecturers and students. 
As a political science lecturer, his job has a lot to do with politics, he explained, adding that his lectures often dealt with freedom, human rights and democracy. Now, however, has to explain why he has to discuss such topics in class, even though he is merely doing his job as a lecturer on political science, he said. 
He added that like other scholars, he too has had to seek permission to organise events related to his field and has often been visited by military officers. Titipol pointed out that the sight of military trucks in the university campus was a clear reminder that academic freedom here is very limited. 
Ekachai Chainuvati, a law professor from Siam University, said there were clear boundaries to academic freedom in Thailand and people like him stood to lose their job if they ever crossed that line by saying something they should not. 
The three lecturers also shared their concept of academic freedom. 
Pongkwan believes that it covers – but is not limited to – the freedom of expression, extending to the scope of research granted to scholars and freedom from political, business and other influences.
The speakers also said that university rectors and deans should remain politically neutral, so the freedom of academics working under them is not compromised. Pongkwan said academics should have the freedom to do their work for the benefit of society without interference from authorities.
Universities should also protect scholars and students from external interference, something that is lacking in Thailand, she said. 
Ahead of the event, a group of military officers visited FCCT to voice concern that the panel discussion could cause protests. However, the discussion was given the go-ahead after a 90-minute chat between the junta’s legal officer Colonel Burin Thongprapai and FCCT president and BBC correspondent Jonathan Head. Despite this, there were still some five officers in plainclothes sitting with the audience to observe the event. 
 
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